Memories of Mine at age 69

Memories of Mine at age 69

Our times are in His Hands who says ' A whole I planned, youth shows but half, trust GOD - see all, nor be afraid " Robert Browning.

So having faith in Allah, having long lost youthful vigour and energy to travel, at long last when an opportunity presented itself, I was

overjoyed at the same time aware of the ground realities. Youth had only shown me half, and I wanted to see and experience the other half.

The journey of thousands of miles, which I had been dreaming for

years, finally materialised at age 69. The only change was instead of long walks, baggage hassles, long waits for Security checks and frisking, I was wheeled in and out of several Airports.

As I enjoyed the experience the true meaning of Kabir Doha was understood in its totality.

' bhala huva meri gagri tuti

mein to' panya bharan se Chhuti

Translated meaning it is really a blessing in disguise that my water

pitcher broke, now I need not go each day to the well to fill water !

I feel so relieved.

Preparation for the journey had begun months in advance. Round

journey multi city air tickets were booked on e dreams. I found the portal to be good as thousands of itinerary combinations are

crunched in a few minutes to give you the best options for you to select.

As for USA and UK visas applied on line after some real learning

experience ( after filling several pages of information when I tried to add my wife's Passport Number as travelling companion for joint interview date, the USA online portal refused to accept. Tried

several times, so much so that I started to have doubts on my martial status :)). There was no prompt window to guide, where I went

wrong. However, finally I found out that in all attempts I was giving 'space' after the Alphabet. On removing the 'space' between the

Alphabet and Numerical, the online portal accepted my spouse !!)

Except for the above amusing set back, getting USA Visa was

pretty smooth, and I was confident that we will surely get the Visa

based on my limping gait and age. As I walked towards the Interview

window, with my noticeable gait, she smiled sweetly, asked a few non probing ordinary questions, took our Passports and wished us to have an enjoyable trip.

As I smiled back the Doha of Kabir came to mind ! 'Tuti gagri'

Let me clarify to those who may be wondering why I refer to the

Kabir Doha - those who may still be wondering. On account of my medical disability - lumbar stenosis I am unable to maintain my

balance in crowded places and stand for more than a few minutes. It

has been a blessing in disguise, as at the interview centre I saw many young smart well dressed gents and ladies with sullen faces, when they have handed back their Passports.

With our Passports carrying USA visa getting U.K. and Egypt visa

was easy, and we will also be getting on arrival 14 days UAE visa by just paying the 100 dirham fees, as our Indian Passport has USA visa.

Now I started dreaming of my upcoming visit : 'Somewhere over the sky as I fly high

There's a land that forever had dreamt to see somewhere out there as I will fly the dreams I dared to dream

really are going to come true'

There was nothing much to plan as my sister Farida was going to take care of us during our entire USA stay, but just to enjoy the dreams.

However, tragedy struck in the form of severe intestinal infection.

Blood tests, Sonography and high medicine doses made me frail,

weak , and the consulted Doctor advised Biopsy and if need be an operation. As expected dreams evaporated and as we had booked cheap economy air tickets, the thought of getting a pittance as refund looked a reality.

In the gathering dark clouds a silver lining appeared in the form of my son in law Dr. Aliasgar (KMC H - Abu Dhabi ) who prescribed

medicine and advised me to take the Tests after a month, and more important not to worry.

Alhamdolillah ! I was able to do all the Sehrullah fasts and attended

the daily Namaz. After Eid the Tests came out positive, and I started

to dream again, and finally I was wheeled into the state of art CSIA Mumbai terminal 2 for a long haul 21 hrs 25 min Turkish Airlines flight with 4 hrs stopover at Istanbul, which would land me in the land of my dreams on Sat 5th Oct : 2017

Here I would like to share Istanbul AP experience. Although our

stop over was four hours long, the young energetic guy with the

wheel chair literally took me through the long corridors at such a

fast pace, as if the Boarding gates were about to close.

My poor wife Rabab who is just 3 years younger to me was literally running as her pleas to slow down the energetic guy fell on deaf

ears. Again the Kabir Doha came to my mind and a faint smile came to me as I saw the plight of my wife trying to keep pace. :))

The guy took us to the far end but thanks to him, he had made enquiries and made us sit at the correct Boarding Gate.

To my surprise before Boarding Time I saw US Security officials taking control, and in Turkey all passengers on Boston flight underwent USA Security Check before boarding. Wow !

Finally as the American sun was setting ( now do not rush to

conclusions in the Trump Era) I am simply describing the natural phenomena our plane landed and I was elated and immediately called up my nephew Joher who was supposed to receive us.

I got the first American experience on landing. I had travelled by

flight many a times in India - UAE etc: where on landing the plane

cruises to the parking bay. Here after ten minutes of wait, the Pilot announced that there would be a delay of 20- 30 min as many

planes have landed and once he gets a parking bay, the plane will

move- so from my plane window I enjoyed the American setting Sun and waited. Thus ended the first day of my dream vacation.

Hope you enjoyed reading it, as much as I enjoyed writing it and

such memories will become my pillow to rest on as the years go by.

The first step accomplished wheel chair bound I emerged from

Logan International Airport to the welcoming arms of my nephew Joher Ghadyali who drove us through Boston night to Franklin which was to be our home for a full month.

Before the start of the journey it was well drummed into me that

given my condition I will be spending most of my time at my sister

Farida's home. As many younger members of my family had been to Franklin I knew that it was a laid back suburban town in Norfolk

county with a population of 33000 approx. No public transport with the Railway Station a 20 min drive from home. 80% homes were occupied by owners themselves.

I had worked out a strategy and that was to learn to be more laid

back than the laid back town of Franklin where my sister owned a beautiful home, if I was to make the best of my one in a life time holiday.

Now it is not easy to live a laid back life. Challenge any city dweller to live a life like that. To live a laid back life you have to have a nice home, a lot of pampering and care, good healthy food, love of

reading, a lot of open space to let your mind wonder, no cares no

worries and if not your money, some one like my sister and brother in law Bhai Murtaza Ghadyali to foot the bills.

I was blessed to have all these in plenty, and friends, each day of my stay I was inhaling love and exhaling gratitude.

The following pictures will give readers an idea of my laid back life in Franklin.

Any one in this set up can live an enriching laid back life, but there is a catch. You have to be a senior to enjoy. During our stay two more relative families came calling but had packed itinerary and did not last for more than a few days.

Morning walk in Stone Gate followed by healthy breakfast, some day dreaming on the deck with whistling pines and a tall glass of fresh juice, reading , music, movies , snacking, lunch and prayers followed by afternoon siesta, an evening ride around the scenic

neighbourhood - what else does a man want. We had families and friends visiting and an occasion to have barbecue on the deck.

Thus the days passed in living the American experience. The

morning walks in the Stone Gate Community of beautiful homes with manicured open spaces will for ever remain as one of the beautiful

memories.

Sharing a few pictures and videos for those who may be interested to know how I spent my days at Franklin.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ob4NcK6ud4cIFpAT2 As most of my time in Franklin was to be spent pottering around the house, my sister Farida rightly so had some apprehensions that

after a few days I will get BORED. It was about me she was a little

worried, as for my wife Rabab who is good with stitching and being a

great help in the house and kitchen, my sister was sure both of them will hit it out together.

However, I found ways to keep my self enthusiastically busy in

myriad different ways. Sharing my first Franklin Video on my reading of a very meaningful poem.

https://youtu.be/xzCOgsijv1A

The Ray Memorial Library 1904

Franklin was first settled by Europeans in 1660. It is home to the country's First Library started with a donation of 116 books by

Benjamin Franklin in 1790. The books are there as exhibits in Ray Memorial Library. Franklin is also home to the oldest school Croydon started in 1780.

Cambridge and Boston area have many Ivy colleges – there are in all two lacs students studying in 50 institutions.

I know US nowadays has many famous educational institutions, but

being an old world guy, all my growing up years has fantisized about Harvard.

Sunday 14 th August 2017 will for ever be etched in my memory as I

undertook the pilgrimage towards the hallowed grounds of Harvard College.

My hosts much younger in age to me were a little amused at my fantisizing with Harvard.

I would like to share with my readers some history and snippets of Harvard College.

1643 – John Harvard one of the original Pilgrim Fathers donated

£2000 and ‘thus out of small beginning greater things have been produced by HIS HAND that made all things from nothing ( now

this is what I appreciate about the earlier founders) and that one

small candle may light a thousand, so that the light here kindled hath shone ’

Sir Walter Midway to Queen Elizabeth ” I have set an acorn, which when it becomes an oak, God alone knows what will be the fruit thereof”

One of the first fruit was Harvard College in New England built on the edge of the wilderness in a colony just eight years old.

Today Widener Library is regarded as the largest University Library in the world holding 17 million volumes.

The Library is named after Harry Widener – Class of 1907 and avid

collector of books, who did not survive the Titanic tragedy- but his

mother survived and to honour the memory of her son founded the Library.

The mighty Titanic sank but a mother’s love for her avid book reader son, gave Harvard the biggest Library in the world.

Such are some interesting snippets of Harvard that I love to share.

1849 – April 25th Miss Sarah Pellet was the first woman to write a letter to Harvard seeking admission. To her request there is an interesting reply by the Dean – Jared Sparks worth reading.

Excerpt ‘ It may be a misfortune that an enlightened public opinion has not led to the the establishment of the higher order for the education of females ….’

1862 – Dec 9. Thomas Hill – The President of Harvard College

respectfully writes to Hon. Abraham Lincoln – President of United States that Lincoln Junior was publicly admonished for smoking at Harvard Square – the word ‘publicly’ simply makes it my duty to inform you of the admonition ….’

Harvard has a rich past and has the world feels blessed.

Here in below is the link for those interested to take a virtual tour of Harvard College.

https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/visit/virtual-tour I had dreamt of submitting my life passion – ‘ The Theory of

Unification – Spirituality and Science meeting in higher dimension ‘ but being a down to earth guy knew it would be real difficult, but non the less carried it with me on the campus.

There were ‘ no takers’ and returned with Harvard cap and Tee shirt as memento of my first and probably the last visit of Harvard College.

The other highlights of my Franklin stay was a trip to Gillet Stadium with the hope of seeing Tom Brady practising ahead of he start of

the football season. However, it was not to be but was impressed by the stadium surrounded by vast open well laid spaces having branded stores. Entered the Patriot merchandise store with

intention to buy No 12 jersey but the price tag was the undoing.

After Harvard we made the traditional visit to Mike's Pastry to have their famous Cannoli. It is more like our malai khajla but lighter on the stomach having crunchy chocolate chips on both sides. The shop reminded me of Flury's of Kolkata.

To better understand why ladies of all hues go berserk at Vera Bradly stores I accompanied my sister and wife to check it out

myself. During my month long stay in US this is the only store I

visited. I recalled the Whatsapp images of Bohri ladies making a

beeline immediately after Houston Ashara. Thank you Vera Bradly for providing a cosy corner for gentleman like me to enjoy pipe

music and the ambience. I enjoyed more than the ladies who after

more than half hour of pick and drop walked out of the store with a few bags. I am sure they would have walked out empty handed but for the cool 50% discount offered.

After visiting Harvard and MIT it was time to pay a visit to the third

best ranked liberal arts College in USA - Wellesley where our niece Zahra studied and highly ranked US Engineering College - Olin where are nephew Zoher had studied and has landed a job with Microsoft.

Wellesley established in 1870 is on a 500 acre campus overlooking

scenic lake Waban. A stroll around the lake takes an hour and their

are many nooks where benches are placed where students read and

reflect. The student faculty ratio is 7:1. The Wellesley robust alumnae base has been viewed as the most powerful women' s network in the

world.

After an awe inspiring College visit we landed at authentic Italian -

Bertucci. The beauty of eating out in USA is that the person serving is looked with respect and tipped generously. You never know the person serving you may be doing his/her grads at Wellesley or Harvard, and few years down the line he/she may be making headlines.

I end here with some videos and pictures.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/GD1xqINQS3rIMoGA3 https://photos.app.goo.gl/KKVXa5Pubglg3dTg1

After enjoying our Franklin stay it was time to explore the East Coast, which InsaAllah will be covered in the next post.