Stay true to the dreams of thy youth

Got your attention with the title huh?

She's quite a beauty, and we have a long history going as well. I first met her my first week back in Egypt in January. I was walking down the street outside my apartment talking with an Egyptian guy I know who works parking in the area. As I was standing there, out of nowhere this little old grandma wearing all black comes over and starts yelling at me. With an iron-like grip she grabs my arms and starts pushing me away yelling "Get out of here, get out of here" in Arabic. It was love at first sight.

I returned to my apartment love-stricken where I explained the situation to my roommates, who started cracking up. Apparently, they too had previously had an experience with this beautiful toothless lady. They had previously been sitting at a cafe down the street when they saw a guy in a wheelchair rolling past them at high-speed. Soon afterwards, the little old lady was seen chasing him down the street with a large stick. A few minutes later, they returned going the opposite direction.

After hearing about how the guy in the wheelchair had clearly insulted such a sweet old lady, life went on for a few weeks and I didn't see my true love. A few weeks later she surprised me again with her classic iron arm grip from behind. Same situation, talking to a friend when she starts yelling and pushing me down the street again. I was kind of annoyed this time as I was in the middle of drinking my juice at the juice stand, but I complied as I really had no choice.

And then yesterday, it all changed. Cupid was working overtime. I was ordering a new phonecard at a kiosk on the same street when out of the corner of my eye, I saw her. Four foot six, wearing a blue higab, a toothless beauty. I saw her saying something and pointing at me out of the corner of my eye. I was getting ready to run should she pull out the large stick again.

She started talking to me in her sweet melodious voice, something about my Swedish friend who keeps walking around with a big hole in his pants. We spoke a bit in my poor but improving Arabic, and then she said it, "Bahabak" "I love you". It was like sweet music to my ears, no more would this crazy old lady chase me down the street threatening to hit me with a stick. No more would I have to run in utter terror as the love of my life chases handicapped Egyptians and foreigners at all hours through the streets. I am in love. She said she loves me.

I just hope she remembers me tomorrow.