So, when I was in Mysore, I was hoping I'd get the chance to meet Paneer, the one I had not yet met face to face. We've talked on the phone, we've chatted via Google-talk, we've exchanged emails, and he's been bugging me for 3 years to write a blog. (happy, now? ;) But, he wasn't answering my phone calls, my text messages or my emails, and I just assumed something had happened and I may not hear from him again. So, that thought haunted me all through the days before, during, and after our visit to Mysore, and as we drove out and back to Bangalore, my heart was heavy. But, I had done all I could except for showing up at his door, and I would have probably done that before I left this country, except for the fact that he did contact me, and had been out of town and out of touch and was back and would be meeting me in Bangalore on the following Saturday!! And we did. All is well. And it was good! We had lunch, we talked, we had coffee, and I think I know him better than he thinks I know him, but time will only tell on that. We shall see. And I got invited to his marriage at end of May, so will be extending this trip and taking vacation after May 14 instead of during these months as we were going to do. I may miss seeing Kerala this trip, but I'll get to attend this wedding of a dear friend and meet his mother, too, which will make up for that.
The following weekend, on Saturday I spent the day with other old friends that I had not seen in two years. Srikanth and Ragini, who had just moved back to Bangalore from New York. Srikanth is going to be going to school for his MBA in Hyderabad, so they're back for at least a year. It was SO good to see them again. When they were in Minneapolis, both of their mothers were staying with them for a few months, and they invited my mother and me to lunch. In turn, my mother invited them and their mothers to her home. My mom lives 2 hours away in Wisconsin, on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi river. We had a beautiful drive there, met my mom's partner Elfi, and had a very nice gourmet lunch of Indian food my mother made (cooking is a passion with her) and the moms got to tour the house and the garden and the created pond and waterfall, and the vegetable and fruit raised gardens and the chicken coop, and the huge yard and Ragini's mother asked me " Do they do all of this all by themselves?" and I said, "sure!". They were stunned by what two women could accomplish and manage with not much help. And all 4 of them are about the same age, but way different lives, yet so much in common. See for yourselves.. was an old run down farm house, and they gutted it and put in the pond and the gardens and made it into paradise :)
When we got to the upper floor of the barn that they have been remodeling and turning into a loft, which has a million dollar view of the valley and the river from a deck they put on the back of that barn's 2nd story, Srikanth's mother put her hands on her hips, and stated to all present "I'm staying!". My mother said, sure.. you can stay, we'll have dinner later.. and Srikanth's mom says again, "no I'm STAYING!" which let us know she meant she was moving in! And then Ragini's mother said, "I'm staying too!" Of course they didn't, but it was very apparent that they loved the place and appreciated the work that 2 women can do, did do, and continue to do to maintain a piece of grace and beauty, and that is another moment I'll never forget. Women can be very independent in the U.S. and we are starting to take that for granted. Women can be independent in India, and it's not the norm, but it's growing. Slowly. I see so many of the young Indian women who are privileged and educated take easy choices, and take advantage of that ease. I need to remember they are young, and hope they find ways to take some of those harder choices as they go, and share their experiences and strength. There is a great deal of untapped strength there, and I see them choosing to be pampered rather than strong. I do see some amazing strength too, and for those where it's hidden, I hope it's just temporary.
Anyway, I spent Saturday with Ragini and Srikanth, hanging, eating real Pav Bhaji for the first time (OMG, was that good!) watching a movie, relaxing, going for a walk, talking. Was a very nice day, and so good to see both of them after so long. And real good to know that Srikanth is continuing his education. That guy will run a large company someday. CEO. Mark my words!
Sunday was Palm Sunday in the Christian religion, and I attended a Catholic church with Mathew from my office here. It was a Catholic service like I've never seen, very young, very casual, no hymns but songs with words to the songs flashed up on the walls in a PowerPoint presentation, and very honest and real. I don't usually like a lot of sermons, but this one was great. I loved watching the altar boys and girls, and the vicar bossing them around, and the Sisters in their tan saris giving communion. Everyone had a palm leaf, and there were a group of young folk leading the singing, all with nice voices and one with a spectacular one. Very pleasant way to start Sunday morning. Afterward, we went to Cafe Coffee Day which is the Caribou of India -OK, Starbucks, but I prefer Caribou. After that, we both had nothing planned, so we ended up hanging out and shopping at the new store by my house called HyperCity. It's like a Super Target on steroids!! My eyes about bugged out when I saw the fresh produce! I've been craving a good salad for about a month, and have not had the pleasure of finding really great variety of what I consider salad fixings at the stores we've been to, but here! Amazing! Huge selection of fruits and vegetables, many of which I've never seen before, and some of which Mathew had never seen. So, we help each other out in identifying things, and I have now had my first Alphonso Mango (OMG!) and Jack fruit, and have had 3 salads consisting of sprouts and pomegranate seeds, cabbage, onion, peppers, garlic, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, carrots, and olive oil and lime dressing, with chili powder and salt and pepper. YUM! They have Land O Lakes butter from Arden Hills MN (what?), Ben and Jerry's ice cream, a huge selection of cheeses you just don't see here, a very dangerous selection of sweets and pastries, and furniture, clothing, household items, electronics, bikes, a book store, liquor store, pretty much anything and everything. We were there for a couple of hours, talking and looking around and just hanging.
Turned out to be a very nice day.
Yesterday was Good Friday, and I celebrated by getting a facial, and a manicure and pedicure :) Today, saw the movie Clash of the Titans (not so great) and we ate at an Italian restaurant that had pretty amazing food and sinfully wonderful desserts! We did the movie and Italian with Archit from Lisa's team, and he'd never eaten Italian food before. So, we had some fun picking out a good pasta dish and then a good chicken parmeggiano which was excellent, and then these desserts. The desserts were certainly winners, particularly his first taste of Tiramisu, which is the middle one. For the main courses, noticeably less cheese than in the US, but very good food!And the two of them loved the wine, while I loved the non-alcoholic Mint Mojito!
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. I'm going to the Art of Living Ashram with Meenakshi, one of my team members. May as well mix this all up real good! :) Happy Easter, everyone!
