USA Diary--- Day 3----- ( 22 Jun 2103--- Saturday)

Got up at 6 AM and polished off the emails ( only 125 of them--- since it was a Saturday).

Finished breakfast ( Dosa and Chutney) and waited for Sachin to come.He came around 10.30 AM and then Sachin, Madhura, Geetha, Malathesh and I headed off to Dallas. We went straight to the Texas Book Depository from where Lee Harvey Oswald is supposed to have shot President  Kennedy on 22 Nov 1963.

I was a 12 year old boy then and still remember the "Deccan Herald" headlines on 23rd Nov--- " President Kennedy Shot Dead".

We went to the X marked spot on the road  where President Kennedy was supposed to have been shot and took photos there. We then went to the President George W Bush Museum and went through the exhibits--- including a replica of the Oval office and a replica of the Roosevelt Desk which is supposed to have been made from the timber salvaged from HMS Roosevelt.

We then headed out to Kalachandji's--- a Hare Krishna Restaurant. A terrific place with a great ambience and heavenly food.The girl who served us was from Israel and dressed in a saree. Such a beatific smile and an air of inner calmness!!!! Sandeep, Greeshma and Sudha had joined us there and we all enjoyed the meal.

There is also a temple in the premises and the interiors are simply superb.

At 2.30 PM, we headed out to Fort Worth to see the Wild West Show.Fort Worth was a trading post and a staging post in the days of the wild west and the old part of the town has been preserved very nicely.

They have a walk of fame and it was nice to see the stars of Wyatt Earp, Kit Carson, Lone Ranger,Tonto etc. I had read a lot of Western comics as a child and it was nice to see these names appear before me.

The Wild West Show was all about trick shooting, trick riding, herding the cattle, lassoing etc.

The show got over at 6 PM. We strolled around a bit and then headed out to the Saravana Bhavan Restaurant in Irving. Very nice place and lots of Indian shops in the complex. I'm sure non-Indians are a minority in this town. The food was heavenly--- 14 Idlis, Rasa Vada, Sambar Vada, Butter Masala Dosa, Pongal, Mango Milkshake, Madras Filter Coffee, Poori Bhaji, Onion Uthappam, Combo Dish including Kesari Bath etc etc.

I then came back in Sandeep's car.Got back around 9 PM and then rounded off the day with strawberries and vanilla ice cream.

Can one ask for more?

End of day 3.

USA Diary--- 2013----- Day 2 ( 21 Jun 2013---- Friday)

Got up at 7.30 AM.It was the summer solistice--- supposed to be the longest day of the year.

I caught up with my e mails ( all 250 of them) and disposed them of.

Sudha made coffee and we sat down in the patio to enjoy the coffee and spend a few moments together.The scene outside is very peaceful.There is a small creek running through and there are ducks waddling .We also saw a small tortoise. Big fat squirrels dart here and there and the birds sing in the tree near our house.

A very calm setting and guaranteed to bring down the blood pressure.

After breakfast ( idli and sambar), I headed down to the leasing office.There was a pool table and I practiced for some time.I also borrowed a book ( " A Matter of Honour"-- by Jeffrey Archer) from the Leasing Office library.

At 11 AM, I sat down to watch " West Side Story" with a glass of Moscato and a bowl of trail mix nuts. Ah!!! Heaven!!!

Sandeep came back for lunch and once again Greeshma and I dropped him back at the office.At 4 PM, Greeshma, Sudha and I headed out for some shopping. We went to Walmart, picked up Sandeep and again came back to Target, Starbucks, Old Navy, T J Maxx and then Target again.We came back by 8 30 PM. Sandeep and I headed out to the tennis court.Sandeep wanted to observe how his likely opponents are playing so that he could prepare himself better in the on going tournament.

Came back to the aprtment, had dinner and crashed.

End of Day 2.

USA Diary--- 2013------ Day 1 (20 Jun 2013)

The Dubai-Fort Worth leg of the Emirates flight had its share of adventure.

I had chosen Seat 25D because this was closer to the bulkhead and I could stretch my legs.Little did I realize that this was also the row where women with toddlers were given preference because they could hang a bassinet up front to make the babies sleep there.

Mine was aisle and next to me was this young mother with a 7 month old kid----- travelling alone to boot.Next to her was another young mother with a 1 year old kid---- also travelling alone.What had I gotten into, I wondered? I was soon to find out.

Since I'd just had dinner on the Chennai-Dubai leg, I declined dinner again and settled down to sleep.I slept quite well---- so well, in fact, that I skipped breakfast as it was being handed out.I woke up famished and asked the stewardess for breakfast.She asked " One more?". I said no, I'd missed the first one.She said to wait for an hour and they'd come around with lunch.So I settled for an orange juice and went to the pantry to fetch an apple to munch.Meanwhile, the baby next to me was in a playful mood and was gurgling happily.I made faces at it and it broke into smiles.

 I asked the girl about herself.She was from Irving, Texas and had gone to Hyderabad to visit her parents.She had arrived in India in March 2013 and was now getting back.The baby started crying and she asked me to hold the kid while she was getting the formula from her bag.The baby became quiet as soon as I held him and the girl was quite happy. I told her that I was about to become a grandfather in Aug 2013 and my daughter-in-law was also travelling to India in Jan 2014 with a 5 month old kid ( but with her parents) and so I was watching how she was managing.

Soon lunch came around.( Ranjita-- that was the name of the girl) said that she would have her lunch when the baby slept. Oh God, I thought----- was this going to be a repeat of the Chennai-Delhi flight in Jan 2001 all over again? Anyway, I finished my lunch and then offered to hold the baby while Ranjita had her lunch.She gave me a grateful look and promptly ordered her lunch.I held the baby to my shoulder and had to keep asking Ranjita for tissues whenever the baby drooled on to my jacket.I also heard suspicious sounds from the baby's stomach and wondered what else the baby was doing.

Sure enough, Ranjita changed the baby's diaper after she finished lunch and I surreptiously checked my jacket for any tell-tale marks.

There was still another 7 hours to go. So I settled down to watch Elvis Presley's "Jail House Rock" ( in preparation for my visit to Graceland,Memphis in Jul 2013 ), "The Desert Fox" ( James Mason as Rommel was terrific) and "Letters from Iwo Jima" ( a poignant story about WWII-- told from the Japanese side).

The plane was coming in the Polar Route over New Foundland and Canada and then straight down to the South.We were served Pizzas for breakfast and then preparations for landing began. Ranjita asked me if I could help her with her hand baggage and I readily agreed since I had only a strolley. The flight landed on time in Dallas at 9.30 AM in bright sunshine.We came out of the aircraft and headed to Immigration.There was no stroller outside the aircraft door ( as is normally the case) and the walk to Immigration was quite long.There was a huge queue and just 4 counters open.The queue hardly moved.The baby was fidgeting and Ranjita found it quite difficult to manage him. So I offered to hold the baby and she took care of my strolley and her bags.

Then the baby again started crying and I asked Ranjita to sit on a bench and feed the baby and to join the queue as it approached the counter.It took another hour to get to the counter.Meantime, I used her phone to speak to Sachin and Sandeep and let them know that I'd already arrived.

I finally got out of Immigration and was heading to the Exit when I told that I would have to put my bags through the scanner again to check for "Agriculture". Oh God, I thought---- have they found out about the karvensoppu that I was carrying for Madhura and Greeshma? Fortunately, I was not asked to open my bags and I was waved through.

I came outside and was delighted to find Sachin, Sudha and Greeshma waiting for me.Sudha had thinned down, Greeshma was looking radiant with her baby bump and Sachin was his usual self. The time was 11.30 AM.

We drove down to Sandeep's house in Plano.I had a shave and a hot shower and felt rejuvenated.Sandeep came home for lunch and then Greeshma and I dropped him back. at his Office.The onion and potato sambar tasted heavenly and I had a good afternoon nap.In the evening, we went to the tennis court and were watching some matches being played there.Madhura rang up to say that she,Sachin and Geetha and Malathesh were coming over.We quickly went to Indian Flavours and picked up some hot samosas.

It was nice to see Madhura and her parents .Greeshma and Sudha had also prepared Bhel Puri and we enjoyed a pleasant evening together.

Had a light dinner and then slept.

End of day 1.

USA Diary--- 2013------ Day 0 ( 19 June 2013)

Today was the start of my long awaited holiday in USA.Everybody in my Office, including the pantry boy, knew that I was off on vacation and quite a few people came to my room to wish me a good holiday.

I was home by 5PM, finished my last minute packing and ready by 6.30 PM when the cab came.One last minute look around to check all the lights were off and then I was also off.

Quick check-in at the Emirates check-in counter and then a relaxing one hour at the Lounge with a drink and a newspaper in hand.

The flight to Dubai took off on schedule at 9.45 PM and then I settled down to watch Vijay's Thupakki.Escapist fare but relaxing to the mind.Finished my dinner and then off to sleep.

Flight landed on time in Dubai at 12.30 AM local time.

End of day 0.Very uneventful but the adventure was about to start on Day 1. Stay tuned.Like they say in the TV commercials " Don't go away".