Report of 23 April 2006
Hello there from the Carmel public library -
It is nice to finally put down temporary roots, and we have done so at the hospitable Tabers' in Carmel. Last week, we were w/ Scott's family. We flew from San Antonio after being wined and dined by Linda and Richard Luduena, and spending some quality time w/ our former neighbors, the Freemans. We also got to see Gabi and Lamont Potter, and their daughter Jasmine (who has cerebral palsy). The Potters are delightful, inspirational folks: Lamont's stories of growing up in abject poverty provide great perspective in our lives.
We spent Easter w/ Scott's sister, Diane, who'd invited the entire clan over for a meal. It was great to see everyone in 1 spot w/o travelling. All children of Scott's mother, Jan, were there w/ children-in-law and grandchildren; thus, plenty of photos were taken. We stopped and saw the Ruizes, who are family friends of the Weisses, and that was a treat. We also went to the cemetery where Scott's Dad is buried and paid our respects.
We spent 2 days w/ in-laws and then went to Brecksville, Ohio, to the home of my friend, Carrie Cassidy, and her family. We spoke at a Kiwanis gathering and were delighted to have the Key Club (high school portion of Kiwanis) present there. Naren spoke as well, and Navin and he spent the evening gabbing w/ the local teenagers, which was a treat for all. We headed back to Jan's farm, but not before visiting every major city in Ohio: Columbus, where we had lunch w/ our friend Michael Monteiro and his son Chris (we hadn't seen Mike in 12 years, so this was a treat tho' his wife Cathy and daughter Jessica couldn't be there, it being a working day); Dayton, where we saw the Ruizes again; and Cincinnati, where Scott said bye to his aunt and uncle, and grandparents. Scott's cousin, Deb, came to the farm w/ her sons and an enjoyable time was had by all.
We returned to Indy on Sat the 22nd, and had a great dinner w/ Kris Rea, her husband Gabe and daughter Isabella. Kris is a friend from residency days and it was great to see her happy and content. The next day, we had brunch w/ Mary and Sam Remster, friends from Special Olympics days (b.c. - before children); the meal was spectacular and the company great, thus making for a memorable morning. We had dinner that night w/ the Jani family, who'd kindly invited our other friends Kurt and Kati. It was a wonderful time, and we stayed the night there also. We spent the evening (after almost 3 weeks of traipsing the country and eating folks out of house and home) marvelling at the fact that our 5 year-old pants had suddenly shrunk in the wash.
We were at St. Vincent Hospital on Monday morning, and met w/ my former advisor and mentor, Dr. Robert Love, whom both Scott and I hold in very high regard. I've been privileged this week to follow Dr. Love on rounds - every word out of his mouth is a clinical pearl. We also visited Purdue on Monday and got to see some of Scott's former professors, which was great fun: engineers have a unique sense of humor! We had dinner that evening w/ Brenda and Jim Hillman; annually, the Hillmans welcome us to a huge meal, divinely cooked by Brenda, and we sit and eat and talk and laugh. B and J are avid gardeners, so their beautiful property is also a treat.
Ah, yes, the Immigration saga - had to go in to the local office, on the instructions of the Immigration officer at Philly airport, who'd foreseen dire consequences unless I went in and got my green card issue resolved (out of the country routinely for longer than six months at a time). Ostensibly, an appointment has to be made over the Internet to be seen and when I'd tried the previous night, the computer screamed a warning that the website was not secure. So, being accustomed to the Indian milieu, and being an inveterate optimist, I told Scott we'd explain the issue at Immigrn and go in and be seen. No chance - the security officer at the Immigrn office checked us in, and told us not to go up to the counter and "bother" anyone as no one would talk to us w/o an appt. I did go up to the window after seeing another person in my situation go up to ask a question, and was asked to leave by the security officer. (Dr. Love was incensed at this report, seeing no cause for rudeness; I considered it a person doing his job, sort of a little inflated w/ power.) In the meantime, Scott had fled to the local public library to make said appt, did so w/o any dire computer warning (preferring the distant lib over the office of the lawyer next door who'd make it for $10), and we were seen after I apologised to the security guard and a genial relationship was re-established. (Scott was pretty relieved I wasn't thrown in jail by this point.) Ostensibly, there is no issue w/ my green card other than a caution to expect to be questioned every time I enter the U.S. if I've been out longer than 6 months. I asked if I could get something in writing to that effect, esp considering the Philly warning, and was told that I was argumentative, that nothing would be given to me. Scott muttered a piece of advice to me that we ought to leave, and we did. I've not generally encountered rudeness at Immigration, but felt a total environment of mild paranoia on the part of the Immi officers this year. And I'm a legal immigrant!!
Wednesday, we had lunch w/ the good folks at Citizens Health Center, where I worked last year. It was great to see everyone - lots of hugs - and we stayed a while. We returned to the Tabers' and went out for a lovely dinner, Scott packed and took a Megabus to Chicago to catch his plane. His aunt got him a $1 (yes, $1) fare (www.megabus.com) and Scott found the bus deserted (5 passengers) but comfy.
More next week. It is great to catch up on medical stuff that I would not otherwise see and can easily forget. Also, perhaps my pants will un-shrink.
Renu
It is nice to finally put down temporary roots, and we have done so at the hospitable Tabers' in Carmel. Last week, we were w/ Scott's family. We flew from San Antonio after being wined and dined by Linda and Richard Luduena, and spending some quality time w/ our former neighbors, the Freemans. We also got to see Gabi and Lamont Potter, and their daughter Jasmine (who has cerebral palsy). The Potters are delightful, inspirational folks: Lamont's stories of growing up in abject poverty provide great perspective in our lives.
We spent Easter w/ Scott's sister, Diane, who'd invited the entire clan over for a meal. It was great to see everyone in 1 spot w/o travelling. All children of Scott's mother, Jan, were there w/ children-in-law and grandchildren; thus, plenty of photos were taken. We stopped and saw the Ruizes, who are family friends of the Weisses, and that was a treat. We also went to the cemetery where Scott's Dad is buried and paid our respects.
We spent 2 days w/ in-laws and then went to Brecksville, Ohio, to the home of my friend, Carrie Cassidy, and her family. We spoke at a Kiwanis gathering and were delighted to have the Key Club (high school portion of Kiwanis) present there. Naren spoke as well, and Navin and he spent the evening gabbing w/ the local teenagers, which was a treat for all. We headed back to Jan's farm, but not before visiting every major city in Ohio: Columbus, where we had lunch w/ our friend Michael Monteiro and his son Chris (we hadn't seen Mike in 12 years, so this was a treat tho' his wife Cathy and daughter Jessica couldn't be there, it being a working day); Dayton, where we saw the Ruizes again; and Cincinnati, where Scott said bye to his aunt and uncle, and grandparents. Scott's cousin, Deb, came to the farm w/ her sons and an enjoyable time was had by all.
We returned to Indy on Sat the 22nd, and had a great dinner w/ Kris Rea, her husband Gabe and daughter Isabella. Kris is a friend from residency days and it was great to see her happy and content. The next day, we had brunch w/ Mary and Sam Remster, friends from Special Olympics days (b.c. - before children); the meal was spectacular and the company great, thus making for a memorable morning. We had dinner that night w/ the Jani family, who'd kindly invited our other friends Kurt and Kati. It was a wonderful time, and we stayed the night there also. We spent the evening (after almost 3 weeks of traipsing the country and eating folks out of house and home) marvelling at the fact that our 5 year-old pants had suddenly shrunk in the wash.
We were at St. Vincent Hospital on Monday morning, and met w/ my former advisor and mentor, Dr. Robert Love, whom both Scott and I hold in very high regard. I've been privileged this week to follow Dr. Love on rounds - every word out of his mouth is a clinical pearl. We also visited Purdue on Monday and got to see some of Scott's former professors, which was great fun: engineers have a unique sense of humor! We had dinner that evening w/ Brenda and Jim Hillman; annually, the Hillmans welcome us to a huge meal, divinely cooked by Brenda, and we sit and eat and talk and laugh. B and J are avid gardeners, so their beautiful property is also a treat.
Ah, yes, the Immigration saga - had to go in to the local office, on the instructions of the Immigration officer at Philly airport, who'd foreseen dire consequences unless I went in and got my green card issue resolved (out of the country routinely for longer than six months at a time). Ostensibly, an appointment has to be made over the Internet to be seen and when I'd tried the previous night, the computer screamed a warning that the website was not secure. So, being accustomed to the Indian milieu, and being an inveterate optimist, I told Scott we'd explain the issue at Immigrn and go in and be seen. No chance - the security officer at the Immigrn office checked us in, and told us not to go up to the counter and "bother" anyone as no one would talk to us w/o an appt. I did go up to the window after seeing another person in my situation go up to ask a question, and was asked to leave by the security officer. (Dr. Love was incensed at this report, seeing no cause for rudeness; I considered it a person doing his job, sort of a little inflated w/ power.) In the meantime, Scott had fled to the local public library to make said appt, did so w/o any dire computer warning (preferring the distant lib over the office of the lawyer next door who'd make it for $10), and we were seen after I apologised to the security guard and a genial relationship was re-established. (Scott was pretty relieved I wasn't thrown in jail by this point.) Ostensibly, there is no issue w/ my green card other than a caution to expect to be questioned every time I enter the U.S. if I've been out longer than 6 months. I asked if I could get something in writing to that effect, esp considering the Philly warning, and was told that I was argumentative, that nothing would be given to me. Scott muttered a piece of advice to me that we ought to leave, and we did. I've not generally encountered rudeness at Immigration, but felt a total environment of mild paranoia on the part of the Immi officers this year. And I'm a legal immigrant!!
Wednesday, we had lunch w/ the good folks at Citizens Health Center, where I worked last year. It was great to see everyone - lots of hugs - and we stayed a while. We returned to the Tabers' and went out for a lovely dinner, Scott packed and took a Megabus to Chicago to catch his plane. His aunt got him a $1 (yes, $1) fare (www.megabus.com) and Scott found the bus deserted (5 passengers) but comfy.
More next week. It is great to catch up on medical stuff that I would not otherwise see and can easily forget. Also, perhaps my pants will un-shrink.
Renu
posted by Renu Weiss at
4:07 AM
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