Was that really me?

Dear Past Me,

It's time to go over the past and try to understand what it all meant.

I don't think I could have ever imagined that being a very strong, independent, California girl, it would be possible to change my whole life by making a simple decision? Or was it really a major, life-changing decision?

I would not have thought that love would take me away from my home, my family and my faith. But, it certainly did the moment he entered my life. He was the first Egyptian man that I had every met. He was older, sophisticated, handsome and quite a charmer. Everything about him was exciting and adventurous. He was a pilot and scuba diver and ready for any adventure. What did I know at the age of 20? All I could think of was, I will go anywhere with him as long as we can be together.

I was a very devoted Christian girl with weekly bible studies at home and Church meetings. Why was I entertaining a life with this gorgeous Muslim man? What was I thinking? Was I going against everything I believed? I totally believed that God was in this.

He had to be or I would not have loved this man so much. He even had my family in love with him. It's funny what you will tell yourself when you really want someone.

I thought I had lost him when he left me after the two months we spent together. Then a few weeks later I got that call. A call to meet someone at the nearby airport with a package that he had sent me.

That package turned out to be him. Wow! With tears I ran to him as he came off that plane. All of this on my lunch break! Certainly did not expect a lunch trip to McDonald's would end with a proposal! He was with me only a week and said we would work out the details. Details!? I'm not waiting around! I took it all into my hands and gave my notice to my work and let him know I was on my way. Ha! What a crazy I was! He was in Paris and that is where I headed in September of 1975. We spent a wonderful month there before heading to his home in Egypt.

Arriving in Egypt was so different than I could have ever imagined.

I knew he was from a good, well-educated family. They even had a cook and servants. But the modern conveniences that I was used to in my middle class home in California had so much more. It was definitely a culture shock.

We were married a month later and I'm sure with a lot of skepticism from his family, as I was 14 years younger, American and Christian. Certainly not what my mother-in-law would have hoped for.

All of this just the beginning of the most adventurous part of my life.

Only a book could contain all of what happened after this.

Our first daughter Maryam born a year later. The struggle for the grandparents to raise her as a Muslim was real and I fought hard to keep her in the knowledge of my Christian faith.

Our first home was built on a beautiful lake in on the Suez Canal, followed by the birth of our second daughter Sarah at home! I had such an amazing private beach and the only American in the town. I was quite to novelty to all the local people. I learned so much there!

I lived there without electricity or running water for two years. Hard for most people to believe. But what an experience! I cooked everything from scratch, I lived with an ice chest until I got a propane refrigerator! I washed clothes, including diapers in a nearby stream. My husband's friends from Cairo thought this was the craziest thing they had seen and even took pictures of me!

My husband traveled a lot on business and I was left at home with my girls. It was not strange to see the local Egyptian army swimming in front of my home to get a glimpse of the American living on the lake. With a hundred or so men in front of my beach, I was a little worried. Just was smart enough to not go out on the beach when they were there.

Before our home was finished we started the first Egyptian dive center in the Red Sea. Nothing could prepare me for this! Divers from all over Europe, starting with the French, then the Italians, Americans, Germans and so many more.

We invited his American dive instructor, his wife and and American couple to publish a Red Sea Divers' guide.

With my two baby girls we ran dive trips. My husband was able to

draw these divers from all over. We did everything from filling dive tanks, cooking meals and camping on desert islands in the Red Sea.

I know all this really happened, but it seems like a dream. The countless dives in the most beautiful place in the world for diving.

Guiding people through reefs with sharks, all colors of fish and ship wrecks. Meeting so many lives and giving them the thrill of their lives.

Did I really cook enchiladas for the American ambassador to the U.S. and his son while they were out diving with us? Or invited to attend a U.S. Military Ball for doing so? I felt like Cinderella.

Did I really have President Sadat's son to my house for Thanksgiving dinner and my homemade pizza?

Did I really watch the assassination of President Sadat, while at a bar-be-que? Did I have sleepless nights hearing gun shots and wondering if Gaddafi would be taking over the country?

So many stories...

Our third daughter, Hannah was born in the Red Sea town before our life would change again.

The pressure to have our daughters to be raised Muslim by the family became our reason for finally moving back to the U.S.

I think I owe myself so many more letters to keep these memories going.

Yes, it really all happened. The stories are all locked with me now. and I promise to write again soon.

Love,

The Present Me