Unexpected Visit

Trees at the back of sis’s home.

It had been a year since I last saw my sister. Son was coming to New York for two cases. I was hesitant in making up my mind about coming with him. Traveling is not my forte. Nola (daughter) made up my mind for me in leaving home. I watered my plants before we left. It isn’t that hot anymore, so there is no danger of any water deprivation for the plants. He dropped me last evening at her home in Long Island, NY. I get to spend two days with my sis, before going back to New Bedford.

I had two of my favorite veggie dishes made by sis. One was okra, and the other one bitter gourds. They were simply yummy. Son doesn’t like bitter gourds, so I avoid making it for myself. At long last I had my heart full of eating it.

Sis wanted us to eat outside on our second night. To that end she took us to Cheese Factory. I’ve never been before disappointed that much in life. I could only order a salad, whatever I looked at in the menu was either (non halal) chicken, or raw fish, or shrimp — foods I couldn’t eat in good conscience. I wish I had known it before, I would have opted out of going there.

The Guacamole, beans, cheese salad I ordered.

…

Terminal Changes

The picture Naming Things hangs at Boston Logan Airport.

The airline people did a complete turn around. At the last minute the terminal changed from 18 to 29. There I was ready to board the plane from La Guardia to Fort Worth when Son came back to tell me my terminal had changed. We rushed from one end to another. I would have missed my plane. Son took me to the correct one, and then took leave to catch his plane to New Orleans.

Brooklyn, New York. A view from above.

Flushing- Queensboro Hill, New York from above.

M1, and M2 (grand daughters) reached our place in New Bedford at midnight. They had started from Washington DC. M1 had enlisted M2’s help in getting her things from storage there. It was M2’s first visit to us here. M1 had come to collect her stuff which she had left with us. The freezer contained some of her frozen food too. Son, and I were going to leave at seven in the morning. It was quite a hectic beginning of the day. Son helped both the girls in loading the truck with M1’s belongings. We managed to leave on time to catch our bus to Logon Airport. Son, and I were traveling together for the first part of our journey, and from La Guardia in New York, we went in different directions.

Son will be visiting his children in Houston after New Orleans. After that he will Insha’Allah come to spend the morning of Eid with us at Dallas, and then leave for New Bedford before noon. The plan for me is to spend two weeks with Nola (daughter). Initially I wanted to leave with Son, but Nola didn’t like my plan at all for a short stay. Nothing will please her more, till I come to stay permanently with her. That can only happen if, and when Son marries. I hope it happens soon.

Dilemma

As I flew to New York to see Nola (my daughter), and her family, and spend Eid with them, my son Shelly left for Haj. I went prior to his leaving. Made him food for the few days I wasn’t there to cook for him, and put the boxes in the freezer for him to have home cooked meals. Unlike me, he loves to eat outside. The only thing is, it doesn’t agree with his digestive system.

Both my children have created a dilemma for me. Nola wanted me stay with her in Hartford, Connecticut. She has moved back from Saudi Arabia. Her youngest is not yet three, and Nola is scared of baby sitters, and daycare centers alike.

Shelly looks haggard, and is on the verge of a collapse. Back from Haj, he coughs like an old man. He is understandingly going through a lot of stress because of his divorce. He misses his children, specially the youngest one IB.

I want both my children to stay in one place. Whoever needs me, I will be able to spend time with him, or her. Nola is a snowbird. She is like her late father. The colder the climate, it’s the better. Shelly likes warmer places. They are poles apart.

A day befor my flight back to Houston on the 24rth of September, I was wavering between what to do? I felt monsterous on leaving. I told Shelly, I was thinking of changing my ticket. My son’s voice shook as he answered, “what about me?” 

Is there anyone who can create a doppelgänger of me?

…..

DAILY PROMPT

Dilemma

Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt. 

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Sidewalk

Pequonnock River

Yesterday I took a ferry to Port Jefferson, New York. My daughter dropped me at Bridgeport. My sister lives in Medford, Long Island. It took one and a half hour to reach Bridgeport from Hartford, Connecticut. Going by ferry is a lot cheaper than traveling by air. It saves hours too spent at airports.

A month ago my cousin F who lives in New Jersey had invited me for a family get together. It was to be held on 2nd September. Her sister’s daughter Sehr who lives in London had recently got married, was visiting. This was an occasion to meet the newly married couple. The last I had seen Sehr together with her mom D was in 2011 in Pindi, where my late husband was being treated for cancer.

I had to wait for my sister to come and fetch me from Port Jefferson. It was a long wait compounded with the fact she couldn’t find me. I was at the other side of the building where the passengers disembark, and she was trying to find me where the passengers were boarding a ferry. 

She suggested that I should walk on the broad walk (sidewalk along the side of water). I walked the never ending broad walk. I wish I had taken pictures of the boats cramming the water like sardines in a tin. At that minute all thoughts of taking pictures were forgotten. The sun beat down mercilessly on me as I lugged my bulging carry on behind me. It was a long way to go. Anyone who has been there must be knowing how long it is. At the end there was no sis. 

Perspiring, I felt like a melting jellyfish. I waited for her in the scorching sun to find me. Still no sis. I had to walk the entire way back. Thankfully she was there at last. 

Brookhaven, NY.

……

DAILY PROMPT

Sidewalk

Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt.

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Miniature

Yesterday I had a long wait at JFK airport. I had arrived earlier from Houston. My daughter was coming via Chicago from Iowa. We were to meet there, so that she didn’t have to drive again to fetch me.

I randomly observed people, as I sat in the baggage area. Some had travelled with their dogs. One young couple had a miniature pooch– brown with black patches. He escaped from his mistress, and ran straight at me. He was unbelievingly small with pointy ears, and bulgy eyes. As I got ready to give a shriek, he skidded to a stop, and changed his direction. His mistress ran after him in hot pursuit.

A night earlier I was walking outside the apartment I live with my son. I had come out to dispose our garbage, and after that decided to take a walk. A man with a dog had come to throw his garbage too.  He had several bags. Meanwhile his dog got another idea when he saw me walking there. He excitedly started barking at me, trying to get closer to me, and ready to give me a bite. He wasn’t a miniature, but was a ferocious little thing. I shrieked involuntarily, and waved my hands at him to keep myself from being bitten. 

His owner shouted at him to stop his misbehavior, but  he kept nipping at my ankles. I moved backwards. He took umbrage at his owner from stopping him from having his fun. Clearly in a huff he ran off. His owner dropped his garbage, and ran after him. 

I saw them returning. To avoid them I continued my walk in the opposite direction. After waiting for several minutes, I turned to walk back home.

……….

DAILY PROMPT

Miniature

Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt.

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Cee’s Black &White Photo Challenge: Roadscapes

This week’s topic is roadscapes, the only requirement is that a road must be the main focus of your photo. So have fun with this topic and I look forward to seeing what all you bloggers come up with. Use your imagination and creativity with this topic.

This is my first time submitting photographs for Cee’s Photo Challenge. I don’t take many photos, but I had these on my IPad, so thought why not take part. I took those in August 2013, when I visited New York.

Friendliness Is My Name

Daily Prompt: Middle Seat
It turns out that your neighbor on the plane/bus/train (or the person sitting at the next table at the coffee shop) is a very, very chatty tourist. Do you try to switch seats, go for a non committed brief small talk, or make this person your new best friend?

Dear WordPress, why does your grid stops working now and then?
It happened to me yesterday, and it happens after every few days.

And now for the daily prompt:

I like it when someone next to me starts talking, when I am alone on a journey. How long one can read a book, or play games on an iPhone? My eyes gave up on me. It brightens up a boring time of waiting to reach the end of a journey.

About three months back on my visit to Boston, I sat next to a woman in the airport lounge. She was going to visit her son. She observed that I was alone, and was asking at the desk for flight information. She came to know we were on the same flight.

She started talking to me. Next we showed our respective spouse’s photos to each other. After that we shared our children’s pictures. Pity she wasn’t sitting next to me on the plane. We would have kept talking. We parted when the flight was announced.

While attending marriage ceremonies, sometimes I sit next to total strangers. We strike up a conversation, and enjoy ourselves, till I find my acquaintances.

At times I land in trouble. In Amsterdam, a woman with a child sat next to me in the airport lounge. We got talking. We had seats in the plane, next to each other. It wasn’t peaceful at all. The child kept whining and crying throughout the flight to New York. I had a splitting headache by the time the flight ended.

The woman asked me to help in carrying her bag. I agreed, but to my dismay she lagged quite a few places behind me. I was worried at carrying her bag. Suppose it was searched, and say anything not allowed was found. I was perspiring at the situation I had landed myself.

I gathered my courage, and ran back to her. I deposited her bag at her feet, muttered sorry, and rushed back to my place in line. The airport personal kept shouting at me angrily to pick up my bag, and not leave it behind. The woman was not indicating that it was her bag. Horrible!

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Friendliness Is My Name

Till We were Lost

Daily Prompt: Wrong Turns
When was the last time you got lost? Was it an enjoyable experience, or a stressful one? Tell us all about it.

There are zero chances of getting lost, if you are using Garmin, or Tom Tom. There is still a chance of your going a longer route if you use them, but you can be sure of reaching the correct destination.

There was a time when my son S never used them. He relied on maps.

My husband and I were with Nola (our daughter). She was living in Charlottesville at that time. My sister wanted us to come and stay with her for a while. I promised her that once we spent some time with S in Houston, we will take a flight to New York.

S (along with his family) came by road to take us with him back to Houston. Meanwhile my husband decided to cut short our visit of four months, and take a flight back home.

Knowing my sister would be terribly upset if I reneged on my promise to visit her, I phoned her whether we could come earlier for two days only. I also let her know that S and family will be along with us.

We left Charlottesville early one morning, to drive the 500+ miles to my sister’s home. It was tiring, and the frequent stops for restrooms, and eating stretched the journey more.

Driving through the evening rush hour of New York City cost us an hour. We finally crossed over to Long Island. It was 7pm by the time we got nearer to my sister’s home.

S had been driving the whole day. He was tired and cankterous. My husband and the kids badly needed to go to the restrooms. Alas! There wasn’t any in sight.

S had taken a wrong turn nearer my sister’s home. We were lost, and wandering around. S phoned for directions, and we finally made it after 45 minutes.

The minutes we were searching, were torturous. When I saw my sister at the front door, I was simply glad that our journey was over.

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Till We Were Lost

Manners

Daily Prompt: City Planners
If you could clone one element from another city you’ve visited — a building, a cultural institution, a common street food etc — and bring it to your home town, what would it be?

The one thing I would like to bring back would be manners. There is definitely a lack of manners.

I stayed in Troy, NY, for three months. That was way back. Maybe the people there have changed too.

I do find people here lacking in manners.

If you were going after some person right into the building, the one ahead of you, would hold the door open for you, and let you pass. Nobody does it here.

Another thing is, if you are the one holding the door, the person you let through doesn’t say, thank you. He or she thinks, you are the official doorman, or something like that. Maybe the person thinks, he or she is a royalty.

Total strangers would give you a smile, if accidentally your eyes met. Sorry, there is no smile here. If you smile at them, in return you get a stare which effectively freezes you. Maybe they have Botox in their cheeks, they can’t smile.

People have started littering. On walks I see things thrown on the grass, or near a shrub. That is so annoying.

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Manners

Van Gogh’s Sunflowers

Daily Prompt: Living Art
One day, your favorite piece of art — a famous painting or sculpture, the graffiti next door — comes to life. What happens next?

My first visit to US was in Dec 1992. In Jan 93, I visited my sister, who lives in Long Island, New York. She took me to the Outlet Malls. In those days, I used to be crazy at buying things for my home.

One of those were, two sets of coasters. Each set had six coasters. All of them had Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings on them.

While I parted with quite a number of things (after my husband’s death), I still have those coasters. On one of them is Van Gogh’s famous painting of a vase with Sunflowers in it.

I was expecting some guests for dinner. After getting every thing ready, I made myself presentable. I came to check upon the Pulao (rice), which was cooking on low heat.

I saw a vase with Sunflowers in it on the table. I was perplexed, and kept wondering, from where it had come. I felt that I had seen it before. I had totally forgotten the coaster, which had the painting on it.

The guests came. They did ask me, “how come I was having Sunflowers in winter”. I made some excuse, or the other, which I don’t remember.

After the guests went away, I did the cleanup, and went to bed.

Next morning I checked, the vase with the flowers had gone.

(Part true, part fiction)

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Van Gogh’s Sunflowers