The sensation of dead insects crunching underfoot grew more intense as we made our way to the second floor. The odor of pif paf, (bug spray) rancid heat and crumbling tiles permeated the air and would later become a reminder of our year in the villa.
Foof wiggled out of my arms and walked up the last few stairs waving her hands in anticipation. She bravely navigated the steps, gingerly moving among the dead cockroaches, a sight that had terrified her in the car port area where hundreds of desiccated bugs remained after a recent fumigation.
For the previous seven years we had lived in Renton Washington, just one hour south of Seattle in a modest starter home. Odds and ends from friends who returned to their native countries were secured in order to furnish our residence. A tan sectional with bits of loose knobby fiber, 1 queen bed and several worn, pink floral pads were the only furniture that he allowed in our house. I was reminded frequently that we were temporary in this home, country and in this life and until we had a permanent place there was no need for more than rudimentary essentials.
The 25 hour journey wore on my sagging belly, contractions pounded from my abdomen to my lower back. Mother had warned me about taking such a grueling trip while 8 months pregnant, but I had already delivered 4 babies successfully and needed to make this trip. A job was waiting and as a dutiful wife and mother I had to follow.
We made our way to the top of the stairs where a large brown door stood before us. It was clear it had been painted a dull brown, most likely hours before we arrived. Two panels met in the middle and overlapped leaving a large crack which would later serve as an entrance for lizards and cockroaches.
He opened the doors and led us into the hall, indoor outdoor rough black carpeting covered each room, and jagged edges met intermittently with tan and brown speckled walls, threads unraveled making the carpet look askew in its placement. Lines traced the dingy walls highlighting the exact location where a couch, loveseat and table had been positioned, proof that this place had once been inhabited.
A single brown plastic window stood strategically next to a large piece of plywood haphazardly nailed over a gaping hole. This was the space where an air conditioner would be placed but unbeknownst to me it had been declared a forbidden luxury. I stood staring at the desolation of this place, my scarf drenched in sweat; a steady pattern of drips fell down my nose and onto my lips.
The bedrooms appeared to be replicas of every room in the villa, dull carpet, speckled walls and lines where beds, chairs and dressers had once stood. A brown window, gaping hole and ragged plywood replaced air conditioners in each and every room. The stagnant and putrid stench of bug spray was barely noticeable as we searched for beds, blankets and pillows.
One last area remained and with it the hope that a sleeping area had been arranged for us. Pink tile, cracked and spackled with darkened grout spread out over the large room. A sink stood directly opposite the door surrounded by a tiny counter. Buzzing could be heard from a fan that circulated air and dust. I looked around for appliances, food or water, but found nothing on top of nothing.
That sound like a really tough start for you and the kids.
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It was tough
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Looking forward to hearing that things got better 🙂
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it was a journey and one that made me who I am! I had good friends and lovely people along the way! Wouldn’t trade it !
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I have finally made it here after all your loyal following. You are a great storyteller. I have to admire you having nine children and being a fascinating cook. I have two daughters and that’s enough for me. Can I use the excuse that I have a hectic career? Great post. Best. Chevvy
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Of course!
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You have successfully sucked me in. Your writing is terrific. What an experience already, and a huge change for you and you children. I wish I had the time to read all of these right now, but I will get to them.
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Please keep in contact you are a light for me!! noone understands why? Why stay but I was busy having these awesome kids, raising them and felt everything was my fault! thanks so much!!!!!! do you have more of your story ?
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Oh my! This really excites me, because I DO understand. It was always my fault too, or at least that’s what I thought. He was so wonderful, so what was I doing wrong? Crazy… I will definitely keep in contact. My email is mewhoami77@yahoo.com if you want to write too. Maybe I should write more of my story.
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yes you should! It helped me because each day I think, should I continue writing this, what if, etc. so reading your story wow made me feel so validated! Thanks for your email!
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I’ll seriously consider it, but as you just mentioned on the other post it’s hard to do. You’re welcome!
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whatever makes you feel good and comfortable! Just reading yours is enough for me! so helpful
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That sounds really rough…
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I have just read one post of your time in Saudi Arabia, but I want to come back and read more. You have such a gift for writing. I am sorry for the difficulties you experienced in this post. I appreciate you sharing it with us.
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thanks, I started a cooking blog and ended up opening up about my life! Thanks Shari!
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I’m glad you are sharing about your life. I like that blogs can have a multitude of purposes…….
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thanks
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A fascinating intro to your journey. I will be back to check out more.
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Starting from the beginning. Thank you for being so open and sharing your story, Lynz.
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Thanks Jasmine!
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I have some very lean year chapters in my life also, and you inspire me with your ability to so honestly speak of yours. I think the importance of this is that it can be reassuring to anyone in their ‘lean life chapters’ that our lives are long and open to many changes for the better. Excellent series you are undertaking.
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thanks so much!
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Lynz, you have narrated your life’s story in a beautiful way. Your writing is descriptive and draws in the reader to read more. Best wishes and greetings. 🙂
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Hi Amitav, thanks for reading!
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My pleasure, and thank you for sharing your story.
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let me know please if you read any more and what you think! I would love to hear! you are an excellent and talented writer!
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You writing style is engaging. The way you have narrated your life’s experiences and every detail you portray is amazing and inspiring too.
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thank you I am not a writer but just started talking!! 🙂
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In your Gravatar you not mentioned your blog.
In some of your posts we do not find the comment box.
I think you may see to that, to have more people to share your culinary capacities and a wonderful courageous life that you have lived and are living.
Shiva
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Hmm that is strange thanks! i will see to it
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Wanted to start reading from the very beginning, Lynn. Wow, such huge changes from your life in America! You are an incredibly talented writer — I feel as though I’m climbing up the steps with you and walking through the apartment.
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Thank so much for reading Anna! I was shocked shocked! My son wrote his first English paper at college about that place!! I remember reading it feeling so bad.
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Oh Lynn, I can only imagine the shock you must have felt! I admire your courage so much!
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I was shocked not what I expected!
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I can’t imagine the strength it must have taken to stay composed!
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I was so tired, 8 months pregnant, had spent hours awake, Foof on my lap, the floor, I was contracting, so I just wanted a bed! But no bed, no pillows, no water, no nothing, looking back it was bizarre!!!
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I can feel the travail, the despondency, the impression upon the soul. I imagine there is some kind of comfort that all that is in the past. It’s too early for me to conceive what led you guys there (military???). But it appears to be quite purposeful thus far. Good post.
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Thanks, the man I married is Palestinian and wanted to be near his family in Syria so we moved
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Wow, that was awesome of the both of you.
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🙂
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Hey Lynz,
Your life has been very tough from what I have read.I am so happy you fought all the obstacles,and reached where you are today.My problems seem petty in front of yours.I feel the need to be braver after reading your stories.You truly are an inspiration for many.Thank you for sharing your life story.
Just reading your memoirs made me sad.A new place,and all the kids,and the other problems.But you made it through.And seem to have found peace with all f it.I am happy you have moved back to the U.S now.I hope you are doing well….Take care 🙂
Love your blog.And the recipes and pictures are mouth watering.
Happy blogging 🙂
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Thanks so much for reading! I dont know what is going on in your life but trust yourself:)
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Your welcome.Yes,I should.Thank u for that 🙂
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🙂
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Thanks so much for sharing your story! I just read a bit and will be back to read more.
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oh thank you for reading Magda!! so nice of you
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Inspiring post. You survived the tough times. Well written and inspiration for everyone going through difficulties
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Thanks so much!
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Wow…I can visualize so clearly this scene having traveled through Oman, and parts of South Korea in the 90s. Where are you located now?
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the beautiful northwest U.S.
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My cousin has lived in Riyadh for 20 years. He comes home to see us every Christmas. I’d be interested to read more about your life in Saudi.
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My memoirs are at the top of the page. I lived there for 16 years and raised my 9 kids. I returned here 6 years ago. Nice to meet you! That is interesting!
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What a sad and exhausting start to your new life. You are a very strong woman to have survived so much disappointment and still maintain such a positive outlook. Thanks for taking the time to post this at the Senior Salon. I know you are extremely busy right now.
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Thanks so much for hosting this nice event Bernadette! I remembered haha!
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I don’t know if this is the beginning, it seems I’ve missed some history of what you may have written about how you met your husband or events leading up to moving.. but I’m hooked.. You have extreme talent in writing and I already know this memoir should be a novel in the forefront of bookstores..
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Thanks you are so kind. This is where it begins.
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You are kind to freely share.. and thank you for the starting point.. can you give me the next 10 posts in order ? If I can’t see some or any, I’ll ask for the links as needed, ok ?
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sure no problem, let me know and I will send them
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Thank you !
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Thanks for caring to read them!
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Readers are selfish and are the writer’s goal to inspire to read their work.. And you do an excellent job of placing the reader in your shoes and relating to a life that is otherwise an alien experience to most readers.. It becomes an experience to the reader with you as the proxy.. I’m serious that this should be a novel.. I think there’s a good market for it in this time in history.. I hope you might consider making a profit for basically pouring your life, experiences, tears of joys and sorrows in a written account.. Free is always nice.. But offering your talent in a wonderful book to the world at a reasonable price is nice too.. Well, that’s my two cents on the matter anyhow.. 😊
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Thanks so much Pan! I would like to do that and have lost monetary support from him so that would be nice. trying to figure it all out now but slow going. Thanks for the encouragement!
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The Villa part 1 ? Can’t see it..
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ok maybe this is the problem, under that in this weird format on a phone are the topics, so that tab has nothing but the ones underneath, morning villa, make do, then a crosswalk is a beautiful thing.let me know if those work for you pan
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