ARTICLES
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By Nalini Bhalerao
1)Believe it or Not!
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( The Indian Film Music Legend Manna Dey singing before members of the 'Chaubara' on the 5th of July 06)
We got married on 29th May 1967. The minutes, hours, and days of our new exciting, enjoyable life were having the colorful wings of butterflies.
In Maharashtra there is a custom that after marriage the elders of the newly married couple will celebrate the immediate first Ganpati and Mahalaxmi festival falling in the month of Bhadrapad on very large scale.
My husband and my self were staying in Pune as our jobs were at National Chemical Laboratory, Pune. Our elders were staying at Ahamadnagar around 90 miles away from Pune reachable by road journey. Every passenger had to depend on state transport buses, as the private bus services were not established that time.
The seat reservation was not available at that particular time because of rush of festival days. We thought we would manage to get some place in bus as number of buses pass via Ahmadnagar our destination.
A big crowd was there on Pune ST stand with a heavy luggage’s. Everybody was rushing towards the buses as soon as it used to arrive.
We were going to our elder’s place for first time after marriage and that too for Mahalaxmi the Goddess of wealth festival. I was carrying all my jewelry, expensive marriage Sarees and Photoalbums along with us in a suitcase that I had kept at the side where I was standing in a waiting crowd. My husband was on the lookout for bus. I was alert and trying to keep the track of him.
Finally he came hurriedly to tell me that we might get some place in the bus. We rushed inside the bus. Somehow we could get two seats though at different places. We were happy for getting the journey started and little unhappy as we were not sitting together. Three hours passed and we reached Ahamadnagar ST stand. He got down by front door and came at the backwards bench where I was sitting to get the suitcase and--------------
I thought that when he came to tell me that time he has taken the suitcase and he was under impression that I carried that suitcase to the bus when we got in to the bus at Pune bus stand. Alas------. The suitcase filled with all precious things remained at the ST bus stand Pune. I was very much frightened. My husband started his journey towards Pune immediately.
I was feeling very guilty to go elder’s place with the sad news about our precious suitcase. In a depressed mood I started walking towards my elders house and suddenly it occurred to me that I should call the controller of Pune ST bus stand.
That was the time when STD booths were not in existence like to day for making public telephone calls. I searched from the post office for public telephone and then for the particular phone number. I talked to the controller in charge of Pune ST stand and narrated him about the incident and gave the description of that particular suitcase. I do not know how i got the idea and courage to do that.
I reached home and burst into tears as soon as i saw my in-laws. My father in law was very thoughtful and kindhearted person. He consoled me and offered me a cup of tea. I could not forgive myself for not taking the care of such precious suitcase.
The seven more hours of torturing period till my husband arrives home! No communications till then as hardly anybody use to have telephone (Which is most essential amenity!) at home. I was remembering the great God and weeping during those weird hours.
At last I heard my husband’s voice and rushed to him running forgetting that i am at my elder’s place. He was carrying the historical suitcase. He explained us that as soon as the controller received my telephone call he went to the particular place on the Pune ST stand and to his great surprise he saw the prescribed suitcase. Nobody noticed that unattended suitcase for almost four hours! Because of great rush everybody was in his or her own hurry
The verification would have been the main problem but our marriage Photpalbums were there inside the suitcase. We received our precious suitcase in tact after dramatical incidence!
“The Almighty God is Great!”
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2)Mary & Bill
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Our grand daughter’s school closed on 16th June & a real summer vacation started for both of us too at home. My daughter had planned a trip to Crater Lake & Mt. Shasta in advance for 4-days weekend. She had arranged for our stays at Klamath Falls, which is a little place between Mt. Shasta and Crater Lake.
We left quite late from home on Saturday to start the 400-mile journey with 2 kids, 5,5 yrs & 2.5 yrs old. We realised that we will reach late at the resting place at night. Hence my daughter called the land lady& informed her about our late arrival.
By the time we reached Klamath Falls, it was almost 10.30pm & was very dark. We had difficulty in finding the place. We reached by almost 11pm, which was past midnight time as per American standards. We were amazed to find Mary, an 80 yr. old woman waiting for us to arrive & even more surprised to know that her 80 yr. “young” husband had also gone out for finding where about us.
She showed us our rooms on the ground floor & asked us not to worry about her husband, assuring us that he will soon come back if he doesn’t find us for a while. She informed us that breakfast would be ready at 8am next morning.
We were fast asleep after a tiring journey. I was pleasantly woken up at 5am by the chirping of birds and a fresh cool breeze through our window. We freshened up & proceeded upstairs to the kitchen on the first floor where Mary was to serve breakfast.
When we reached upstairs Mary & Bill greeted us with a pleasant smile, and I immediately developed a feeling of attachment to these warm people. I will never forget that moment. No grudges, no complaints or no enquiries of our delayed arrival the previous night. They had put it behind all inconvinience caused by us & presented themselves as the happy couple with smiling faces. A big dining table, beautifully decorated was ready with tea-coffee, fruits, fruit-juices & cereal along with home made waffles and pancakes with maple syrup.
The couple served us with smiling enthusiastic looks on their faces & an energy in their voices as they chatted freely with us.
The dining hall was full of decorative pieces that Bill & Mary had collected from their travel all over the world. That room had a huge clear glass window from where we got a breathtaking view of the Klamath Lake surrounded by lush green grass & the snow capped mountains at the distance.
Mary very energetically sat down as we ate our breakfast & asked us about our professions, our country & even was curious about our own background. She then explained to us the history & some background of Klamath Falls. We were so amazed to see the personal touch they gave when doing business with every customer.
They had lovely open-air terraces with different plants, flowers and bird feeders.
I knew now from where that chirping came from. The birds were happily flying from a grain feeder to a water feeder or just resting in the nests that she had put up on the trees.
She then got some animal food & placed in at the bottom of some bushes. To our surprise, within some time 2 deer came by & were eating the food & leaves fearlessly & walking joyfully! Mary told us that she does not spray any pesticides on those bushes since the deer feed on them.
I felt she has such a big responsibility of owning such place & maintaining with homely touch. The most amazing part was that they were doing this at the age of 80!!
Mary told us that she & her first husband, Thomson, had a small house at Klamath Falls. Mr. Thomson was an Engineer. He bought this place with a Bed & Breakfast idea in mind after his retirement. He built this place but unfortunately passed away due to cancer. Mary gathered courage & started running the place herself. He then met Bill Pohll at the age of 55 & married him. Together, they expanded their business to what it is today. They independently manage the business by themselves. Bill cleans the rooms, makes the beds and helps to serve the breakfast, while Mary prepares the breakfast & manages all administration, contacting customers etc. They seem to enjoy doing this personally as well as professionally.
Mary still continues to pursue her personal interests like hiking, dancing, kitty parties, and relations with her children & grandchildren with great enthusiasm & freshness.
Though we were enjoying our stay with them, we took a decision of checking out a day earlier than planned so we could start our journey back home early. We decided to take a break somewhat closer to home for the kids’ convenience.
This resulted in some financial loss for Mary. However she was very understanding about our situation & readily agreed. She did not charge us any amount for a late cancellation. This came as a pleasant surprise to us. She later on called us and informed that she did get a new customer for that day.
This put us at ease as well. I am sure we all will get a wave of new fresh lifestyle from Bill & Mary’s example!
(Writer is also a good poetess)
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