The butcher, the stone workers, the boy on the bike, and other people I met as I ambled about beneath the gaze of Mahishasura and his cobra

Sujitha and I took a little trip and wound up at a temple where our foreheads were marked with red and orange tumeric and a crow rose over us. Inbetween, tears were shed and important things happened, but I will save my account of our journey for another time. I am so far behind on my blogging here in India that I will never catch up. As always, the blogs I most want to post are the same ones that would demand the kind of time from me that I can't give them right now.

So, instead, I will just introduce you to a few people I happened upon as I took a walk the other day. Not a single one of them spoke much English and I can't give you any of their names, but here they are, beginning with these Muslim stone workers, who were cutting and hauling big slabs of stone to be used in one of the many construction projects booming around here.

They also cut markers for Muslim graves.

I really love the brightly-painted trucks they use around here. Last time, when Melanie traveled with me, I told her I wanted to bring one home.

Why? She asked.

So I could park it in the yard. I said.

Why would you want to do that? She asked.

So people could admire it as they passed by. I answered.

That's so Wasilla! She observed.

And yet, I have never seen such a truck in Wasilla.

Sidewalk shop keepers.

I hear that there are a few big US-style stores here, and that Wal-Mart has leveled its sights on this area, but basically big, huge, box stores of the kind that dominate the US are not here, nor do you find big supermarkets. What you find is small shop upon small shop, all within an easy walk no matter where you are, offering every kind of good and service that you can think of, stretching on and on and on, seemingly forever.

I don't know why anyone would want a Wal-Mart here.

And here is a fellow who I believe works in a butcher shop. He was unable to tell me, but there was one close by. Given the remnants of meat and blood on the knife, it must be so. I didn't ask him if I could take his picture, but through gestures and the word, "photo!" he made it clear that he was asking me to take his picture. 

That happens a lot around here. Afterward, I showed him the picture on my LCD. He was very pleased. That's how it usually goes. I wish I had some kind of tiny printer that I could easily carry around that I could use to whip out some decent prints.

Mahishasura, a demon, who stands near a bus stop.

The butcher. He is Muslim. My family here is all Hindu and they do not eat meat. I have not had a bite of meat to eat since I arrived - not even an egg. But it is so hot and my family members all know how to cook and prepare such delicious food that I have not missed meat.

Not even a little bit.

This will change when I get home, but here I don't miss it.

Ganesh wants to come up and roam about Alaska with me. I want him to, too. Out where I go, and in the climate I work in, no one is going to be able to last for long on a vegetarian diet. We will figure that one out when we get to it.

He was pretty proud of these little cars.

He pedalled his bike beside me for probably close to a mile. We spoke to each other the whole time, but, except for some very basic things, neither of us really knew what the other was saying.

I was hot and thirsty when I returned. I needed something to drink. So Murthy produced a coconut. I drank its water.

As she takes her morning bath, Ada Lakshmi is adored from half-a-world away; Vasanthi's wonderful coffee; Suji's first wedding gift

All those gathered around grin in adoration as they look at the computer screen... Bhanu, Ravi, Sujitha, and Murthy. Bhanu and Ravi are Sujitha's parents, Murthy her uncle. 

The unfinished tattoo on Sujitha's arm contains the names, "Anil" and "Soundu," framed between angel wings. When finished, a portrait of Soundarya and Anil will also be framed within.

And this is who they so adore - Ada Lakshmi, the daughter of Murthy and Vasanthi's son, Vivek and my niece Khena - the two people who took an American family and an Indian family and with their love made us one family - that family love extends also into Apache and Navajo. Although they have not met, Sujitha has connected with Lavina and everybody on Facebook.

Ada is taking her bath at the family home in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Every day, Murthy, Vasanthi, Ada Lakshmi, Vivek and Khena get together like this over a Google connection.

Khena and Ada Lakshmi, after the bath.

Have I mentioned Vasanthi's coffee? If you have never had south Indian coffee prepared by one so skillful as Vasanthi... it is... wow! I just cannot come up with the proper adjectives to do it justice. She does not make it with water but with milk. It is smooth, it is rich, it is... wonderful.

Ganesh, son of Ravi and Bhanu, makes a coffee toast.

The little girl in the picture on the wall behind is Vaidehi, Vasanthi and Murthy's other granddaughter, from their son Vijay and his wife, Vidya. We had dinner at their house a couple of nights ago. As soon as I get the chance, I will make a post and all who view it will see that Vaidehi is an energetic, enthusiastic and mischievous girl.

Truly, she is.

Suji and her coffee. People here have their coffee in tiny cups... usually even tinier than this one. Last time I was here, Murthy gave me a set of tiny Indian cups. When I am home, I usually have my morning coffee in a tiny Indian cup - both because I love the cup and to help keep me from drinking too much.

Here, Vasanthi keeps a larger, American cup, just for me, and fills it at least twice, maybe thrice, each morning and then again in the afternoon and also at night. I drink every drop.

To drink Vasanthi's coffee is kind of like taking a short trip to heaven.

After her trip from London to Mumbai, Pune and then here, Suji was left a little tired. Her brother gives her a place to lay her head, but, being a brother, teases her a little bit.

After I returned to the US following the wedding of Vivek and Khena, Soundarya sent me a link to an online album she kept of pictures of family, friends, cows, puppies, dogs and bugs. I was taken by that album. There was tremendous love in the photos... so much love... plus a good dose of fun and mischief.

Right now, the groom, Manoj, or "Manu," remains in Pune. The bride and groom will not see each other again until the wedding, which will begin March 12 and continue on into the afternoon of March 13, with many rituals to follow over the next week. It is customary for an aunt to give the bride her first wedding gift.

So Aunt Vasanthi does just that.

Then all present followup with their blessings and well-wishes.

Among her gifts - what will be a most beautiful saree. After I spend a little time in India and then return to the US, I kind of miss seeing the beautiful clothing Indian women adorn themselves in every day. 

During my first two visits here, no one in the family had a car - they all got around by motorbike, bus, taxi and auto-rickshaw. Now Ganesh has a car - a cute one, made by Tata. At $4000, it is billed as the cheapest car in the world and it gets better than 60 miles per gallon. Ganesh just got it. Tiny as it is, even the back seats have more leg room than many American cars I have ridden. There is not much room for luggage, though. Like a Volkswagen Beetle, the engine is in the rear.

I love it. I want one. But they don't sell them in the US.

I want one!

Ganesh drives off with his father and sister and mother, Bhanu, who waves from the back seat.

Tonight, I will shift from Murthy and Vasanthi's house to Ravi and Bhanu's.

I should note that I am keeping this blog on Alaska time. So, this will post at 6:10 PM Sunday, but here in Bangalore it is 8:40 AM, Monday.