Report of 6 Dec 2019
Blogging after so long!
I have missed it.
We were at a wedding our last week after I blogged, returned on Sunday and then got ready for a busy clinic on Monday. The wedding - of my cousin Ben's son, Gautam - was fun and we danced, ate, talked, revelled. Especially danced.
Scott and I left later that week for Istanbul.
Our friends, Aydan and Nusret, arranged for us to travel to Eskesehir, and we spent the weekend there. Turkish hospitality is geared specifically to the guest: gracious serving, delicious food and solicitous attention. We had a spectacular time. We met Nusret's nephew, Ugur, and he was a hoot. He ferried us from airport to station for the train to Eskesehir and - even in our jet-lagged state - we fully appreciated his joie de vivre. Back in Istanbul, on Monday, we saw the standard tourist attractions and sampled some Turkish Delight: the standard fare and the staggeringly delectable gourmet version.
From Turkey, we went to Philadelphia, where Navin picked us up from the airport. That was nice - same jet-lag, and all. We stayed at our favorite hotel, now a tad worse-run, and Navin joined us for dinner every night. We caught some movies and shopped, getting Christmas presents and the works, and that was nice. On the bucket list was catching some sporting activity, and we saw our beloved Spurs play the Sixers; that was enjoyable, though the Spurs lost. We drove to Ohio and saw Scott's family, which was also fun. We spent Thanksgiving with Scott's cousins, Anne and Jeff and family, and that was lovely - so much fabulous food, and laughter, and joie. Navin was with us for T-g.
We returned via Istanbul and saw Ugur again. This was the usual fun-fest. We came home to Chennai on Tuesday and I returned to the Banyan on Wednesday. This set my cosmos right again. As it always does.
There was a medical emergency in Delhi, with a poorer patient feeling unwell. She did not get the attention a wealthier and more vocal patient might have, but her coterie of friends rallied around, even fetching a wheelchair, though they were not savvy air-travellers. It was impressive and I rejoiced in the triumph of the human spirit. I treated her cough and reassured her and friends, but she looked very ill and I reiterated - with the assistance of a helpful interpreter - the need for her to go to the doctor that very day on arrival at home. The friends voiced understanding.
Are poor lives less valuable and less worthy of attention? To an airport security man's great credit, he procured a cup of hot water for the patient from somewhere on my request. Hot water is quite a panacea in India, and the patient's relief was palpable. I am hopeful she went to a doctor and is better now.
We saw a few movies and enjoyed them. We are now sitting at our favorite Writer's Cafe, having eaten, and are mooching off the Wifi as ours at home is makkarfying (malfunctioning). I spoke to my Dad from Frankfurt and after return, and that was the fun-fest it always is.
Unw -
R
I have missed it.
We were at a wedding our last week after I blogged, returned on Sunday and then got ready for a busy clinic on Monday. The wedding - of my cousin Ben's son, Gautam - was fun and we danced, ate, talked, revelled. Especially danced.
Scott and I left later that week for Istanbul.
Our friends, Aydan and Nusret, arranged for us to travel to Eskesehir, and we spent the weekend there. Turkish hospitality is geared specifically to the guest: gracious serving, delicious food and solicitous attention. We had a spectacular time. We met Nusret's nephew, Ugur, and he was a hoot. He ferried us from airport to station for the train to Eskesehir and - even in our jet-lagged state - we fully appreciated his joie de vivre. Back in Istanbul, on Monday, we saw the standard tourist attractions and sampled some Turkish Delight: the standard fare and the staggeringly delectable gourmet version.
From Turkey, we went to Philadelphia, where Navin picked us up from the airport. That was nice - same jet-lag, and all. We stayed at our favorite hotel, now a tad worse-run, and Navin joined us for dinner every night. We caught some movies and shopped, getting Christmas presents and the works, and that was nice. On the bucket list was catching some sporting activity, and we saw our beloved Spurs play the Sixers; that was enjoyable, though the Spurs lost. We drove to Ohio and saw Scott's family, which was also fun. We spent Thanksgiving with Scott's cousins, Anne and Jeff and family, and that was lovely - so much fabulous food, and laughter, and joie. Navin was with us for T-g.
We returned via Istanbul and saw Ugur again. This was the usual fun-fest. We came home to Chennai on Tuesday and I returned to the Banyan on Wednesday. This set my cosmos right again. As it always does.
There was a medical emergency in Delhi, with a poorer patient feeling unwell. She did not get the attention a wealthier and more vocal patient might have, but her coterie of friends rallied around, even fetching a wheelchair, though they were not savvy air-travellers. It was impressive and I rejoiced in the triumph of the human spirit. I treated her cough and reassured her and friends, but she looked very ill and I reiterated - with the assistance of a helpful interpreter - the need for her to go to the doctor that very day on arrival at home. The friends voiced understanding.
Are poor lives less valuable and less worthy of attention? To an airport security man's great credit, he procured a cup of hot water for the patient from somewhere on my request. Hot water is quite a panacea in India, and the patient's relief was palpable. I am hopeful she went to a doctor and is better now.
We saw a few movies and enjoyed them. We are now sitting at our favorite Writer's Cafe, having eaten, and are mooching off the Wifi as ours at home is makkarfying (malfunctioning). I spoke to my Dad from Frankfurt and after return, and that was the fun-fest it always is.
Unw -
R
posted by Renu at
2:09 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home