our visit to Liberty Island

The bestest picture on my most memorable trip...ain't i the perfect amalgam of my parents :-))) the two months my parents lived with me were the greatest times i've ever had in my life and been the happiest. i wish hard to re-live those days. i love you and miss you both mom and dad.

About 8 months back in time...

I was excited on my way to the OHare airport- my parents had arrived, completing the long journey from India. i hurried to Terminal 5 to pick them up. After a quick exchange of smiles and hugs, we started driving back to Milwaukee and as we entered my apartment in Juneau Village Towers, a surge of good feelings came over me. I was going to spend 2 whole months with my mom and dad, after 8 whole years and had been looking forward to it so long!!

Slowly they caught up with the jet lag and settled down pretty good to the cold, windy weather and started enjoying the new environment. Days rolled by fast with trips to nearby places almost every weekend and awesome food on week days. Each day I returned from office to some great pudding or hot vadas or something to whet my appetite. Our trip to NYC was quite memorable- the flight journeys in wee hours of the morning, stay at RK uncle's house, rides in the subway amidst the bomb threat, my dad's excitement at the wax museum, mom's zoology fundaes at the museums, our improved map reading skills and so on will never fade from our memories. And right after our trip I went thro a sore time of bacterial infections- but even that seemed less painful with mom bringing me hot mashed rice and water at the right times and her concerned voice constantly reminding me to take my medicines. Not to forget our Sunday routine- a trip to the Chicago church, we used to actually prepare for the trip and start early morning.... after a good time of songs, testimonies and a great sermon- have some good lunch, drop at some mall or Walmart mostly, do the weekly shopping on 27th Street, get home for dinner and then gear up for the next week. Every Sunday had this routine- no additions or deletions. In about 2 weeks time beautiful fall colours started adorning the streets of Milwaukee and long walks to the lake front only made it much better.

But soon time came for my dad to head back home- I knew I would miss him...he is always my source of encouragement- right from sitting with me at the navigator's seat to giving me fundaes on market trends and work life. Even today I miss the long talks we used to have till late at night, chatting about our daily lives and sharing views and discussing every possible topic under the sky. However I put up a strong face and decided to enjoy the remaining few weeks stay with mom. We drove back alone to Milwaukee and as I dropped the car at Hertz that night, thoughts of dad crossed my mind. Monday came by and I got into the mode of working, studying for a LOMA exam, and so on. Mom and myself spent time together on spiritual activies- one of my friends Stephen had invited us to his place for an evening of fellowship and prayer, Christmas not being far away- we attended a musical in the Assmeblies of God church, and so on. She enjoyed every day it snowed and was adapted herself beautifully to the weather and winds, wrapping herself in layers of sweaters and gloves and thermals and mufflers. My mom started attending the church in Milwaukee in all her free time...and my pastor gets a twinkle in her eye, when she makes a remark on mom....Our after service sunday trips included Devon or visits to SouthRidge. The trip I most loved with mom was our visit to the Shedd Aquarium at Chicago on Thanksgiving- she got into the bottom of explaining the sea animals and crabs with the same enthusiam as she used to, when I was a kid...the Dolphin shows, beluga whales, sea anemones and all seemed very exciting to me- only because my mom was with me and elaborating. And slowly the day i hated the most arrived- it was time for my mom to leave...I really really made up my mind to appear strong at OHare when she leaves. that sunday hertz decided to give me a 4x4 subaru sedan to elevate my moods...we went to the church on Jackson St nearby for a quick service and mom prepared my lunch and dinner that morning...our good friend yash decided to accompany us and in a matter of few hours mom left. that night i prayed alone at home.