I ususally try to avoid, if at all possible, to just recount the events of a day. Not today. Sorry. I went shopping this morning. Got a suit for Mendon (yay!) and got salwar kameez stitched for Momma and Maman. Did some bargain shopping and then I went to yoga. Mostly, it was an uneventful day. But, this evening, I had scheduled an outing with a lovely boy named Rajesh. This consisted of a motorcycle ride. I can feel my mother cringing already. : ) The goal of this bike ride was for me to get some footage of Chennai. So, I take my camera, the expensive one that I just bought, and we hop on the bike. Considering that a camera without a tripod takes two hands, a camera on a motorcycle needs about six. Thus, I spent the past hour balancing on the back of a motorcycle, both of my arms and hands in the air with my camera. And, yes, I held my hands over my head for an hour. I was sitting in the back, so I had a freshly shaven head in front of me. We were such a specatacle. If I weren't causing enough excitement, we both had bright yellow shirts on to attract attention as well. I'm not sure that any of that will turn out though, because we may have fed my camera too much at too fast a speed; we may try again. Additionally, my momma has offered to make my wedding dress for me. We found a pattern tonight and it's fabulous. I'm really excited, relieved, and happy.
PS. You may have noticed that I've ceased to post about India. I'm ready to come home. But before that, I'm ready to go to Delhi to see the Lotus temple and maybe the Taj Mahal. I'll be there from tomorrow night until the 19th morning (which is the 18th at night for you in the States). You'll probably hear a lot about that adventure. I'll be on a train for 36 hours to get there. That in itself will deserve an entry.
I'm shocked. You found a suit in India that is going to fit my 6'6" brother!?
I am duly impressed.
Ok, I can be clearer on that: I had a suit made for Mendon. I found a pattern and fabric and a tailor that speaks English well enough to understand my situation: No, it's not for me; No, he can't try it on; yes, these measurements are exact.
And your Maman is also shocked and appalled. I was raised with, and raised my kids with, all sorts of motorcycle horror tales. Ack, ack! I'm glad you wrote after you got back. That way I know you survived the adventure.
Speaking of yellow shirts, I picked one up for you the other day.
Is it an 'Indian' suit as opposed to a 'Western' suit?
Oh, I'm not shocked about the moto ride. I avoid them at all costs. It may sound like I'm just repeating what my mother has taught me, but this time I've actually learned by way of my own moto experiences. Ooof.
Jennifer (Dr.) Chapman convinced me that I should try to avoid motorcycles except in emergencies through her experience in the E.R. Having worked with her for roughly 90+ hours i learned a few things about the survival rate of motorcycle accidents. She said that all she could see when she saw a motorcyclist was "Organ Donor".
Chilling.
Ok, it was lame of me to think that I would be able to post a new entry if I don't bother to remember the url that I need in order to do that. (Duh!). So, here's an extended comment:
I'm in Delhi. I'm tired, and a little cranky from dealing with some of the men here who thing that "I'm engaged" means "I really want to spend the night with you, baby". Ack. But, I've just come from the temple. It's amazing and I'm so happy that I'm on this journey. The train ride was worth much more than I would have been charged for airfare. I'm so glad that I took the train. I've a "room" in the Baha'i House for tonight. TOmorrow I will have a real room. : ) And right now, I'm about to get some food with a few young Baha'i men who are taking me under their wings and making sure that I make it home. : ) One, interestingly enough, is a tabla player from Cali; the tabla is the instrument of choice when accompanying the sitar. So, perhaps we'll get to "jam" some time. Much love to you all, I'll try to get a decent account of my travels when time affords it to me (as in, when I get back from Delhi). Take care of yourselves, and will someone please send me the link so that I can post a real entry, assuming I have the time? Thank you!
PS. Mensch, forgot to add into your email, we MUST go to the Temple in Wilmette when I get back. Thank you, love. ; )