An Incredible Kindess and A Wedding Video - Sunday, 6-27-10

Many of you have already discerned that India, some 8,000 miles away from San Francisco, is the home of my heart.  My brief ten day visit there in 1997,  and the friends I have made over the years, endear this country to me.  I have longed to return ever since my friends said goodbye to me at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport ( it was Sahar International Airport at the time ).  I was bound for Bangkok and the start of a 12 day southeast Asian cruise, praising the Lord that I had survived India's horrible traffic ( especially on the drive from Delhi to Agra to see the Taj
Mahal ). 

Just like one forgets being in labor at the joy of giving birth to a beautiful baby, one forgets the problems with India because there are so many wonderful and positive things - its history, culture, gentleness, beauty, the kindness of its people, to name a few.  I think that's partly why I am drawn to some of the Indian bloggers I've encountered in the eight months I've been writing
Carmen's Chronicles.

Still, I was really blown away last week when a blogging friend, Mitesh, who writes from India,
From Politics to Fashion, asked if he could make a video of Laura and Alex's wedding for me...just like that!  Having never set eyes on me in his life, not knowing either Laura or Alex, just out of the kindness of his heart.  I am sure he's as busy as can be, with plenty else to do in his life but, today, on his blog there it was and, in my email, he enclosed the links for me.  Now, I shed only a tear or two at the wedding but, as I watched this video at 7AM this morning, I cried and cried.  I thought it was so beautiful, set to the music Mitesh chose, and I cried that a friend I'd never met in India could give me such a special gift from the heart.

Laura and Alex, I am sure that you will like it.

To Mitesh, I say again - Dhanyavad. Namaste.



I promise you, this will be the last post about Laura and Alex's wedding!  I just had to show you this lovely video.  Just think what I will be like when I have my first

GRANDCHILD!

Magpie Tales, 4-13-10 Harlot Red

He barely glanced at her as he sipped his coffee and read the New York Times.  She had gotten up early to fix a nice breakfast and to put on a bright sundress, with makeup skillfully applied.  She was even wearing eyeshadow and a new shade of fire engine red lipstick.  She fought back tears.  What had happened to their marriage?  They used to talk over breakfast,

enjoy their few minutes together before he headed off to work, discuss plans for dinner, kiss each other goodbye. with fervor, at the door.  They seldom spoke at all anymore. 

Once Jared left for college, it was as though their life had ended.  Paul stayed later and later

at the office.  He never called to say he wouldn't be home for dinner.  The lovely meals she planned would sit, artfully displayed on the dining room table in a congealed mess, until she finally gave up and put the food away.  Then, when he did come home, he would berate her for not having dinner ready.

Alissa stayed trim and fit, using her days to exercise, jog, enrich her mind.  She could discuss current events, politics, world affairs.  She was well read and the consummate hostess.  Paul no longer wanted her to entertain and they gradually withdrew from their circle of friends.  Alissa felt as though she was losing her mind.

She tried to reach out to him this morning.  He lowered his newspaper and looked at her scornfully, "I'm leaving now.  I have to get to work.....and, really, that lipstick makes you look like a whore!"

She waited until his Mercedes pulled out of the garage, then she went down to the basement and took out her suitcases.  Once they were packed and put into the car, she returned to their glittering bathroom with its floor to ceiling mirror.  She took out her new tube of lipstick and wrote firmly in fire engine red on the mirror - "I'm gone!"