Friends , Family, Foes,
Before I dwell on my activities in the US nocturnal , (actually not, because the sun sets at 10PM), or daytime, I must assure you that I have not been affected whatsoever by the company I am keeping. The 'Sardar Jee' (Mr.Ratanjit Sondhe) I am with, is a gentleman who has very profound thoughts, of how to earn millions and not drink alcohol. This next line vindicates my earlier statement-"Since I have been walking to the local bars, the authorities here don't know whether 'drunken walking' is a FBI offence."
On a serious note, landing in the US was deja-vu , same buildings, cars, typical restaurants - (How you doin tonite. Table for two- ahem..follow me). Damn, now someone will ask who is this second person. Different names for different people. Consider this, If my wife calls she's worried it could be a mem- friends call they are worried-damn he's got a mem-mom calls she's concerned if i am close by where I can get an egg-beater-and for dad and Adi they're visiting me so they can see for themselves. Visiting? Guys, I have my own little house in greater Cleveland. I mean the gentleman I am staying with has provided one. Typical Punjabi mindset-even a rented house seems like your own. Pushpi and Hydra, nothing to worry- we are gonna complete our Chandigarh house by October. Malu's working hard.
Work is OK and I should have the first typescript of 'Mending Souls' (my second book)ready by end of June. The weather's been moody. However, the good part being that I haven't sneezed in a month. Spent couple of days in Denver, and sure enough there was this little girl aksin her mom-what sort of a Cowboy is this mom? Any answers? He's the Rodeo from Chhauni(my native village), I wanted to tell her but then you never know who you offend in this country. Never even do 'puch puch' to someones pet -you could be charged of tormenting the poor little Saint Bernard.
Mr.Sondhe is calling , I must go.More later.
Hope everyone is fine and the heat is not bothering you guys too much. And by the way, has Punjab become 'Power Surplus". Pardon me for my ignorance but that's the last I heard when I was leaving. Kaka Ji saying something to the effect-Apna Punjab to be power surplus.Power , no power or Power Struggle, I care a damn-I'm gonna be back next month-Back home -to be amongst my own.
Cheeran te Beeran
Komal/Khushwant
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Letters from America-2
Friends, Family, Foes,
As we bid our final 'byes' to folks in Cleveland, a note with a US dateline isn't a bad idea. Anyways who cares if it's a good or a bad idea-an idea is an idea. Oops, did I touch a wrong nerve with all those who bought Idea stock. What a bad idea.
Since, Ideas no longer flourish in an ever mechanising US, (some say from the day you are born till you die you ain't need to use your hands and brains- yes, there's a machine to do all that) there are a few lessons to be shared.
Lesson number one, if you are a tourist, remain one. Don't plan to jump your visa. This advice comes from none other than the Nawab of Saharnpur. Well he thought he was one, till he touched base with Uncle Sam. He came here twenty five years ago and hasn't taken off his apron.
'Karchi maar Nawab,' he is now.
The moment he heard someone order 'scotch' in his restaurant 'India Garden' he came out running to give his tip, for scotch meant, desis had come visiting. Ironical, how desi and scotch go hand in hand. And how tips in America can come in word form too. By the way the new tip rate is 20%.
I must confess I took this tip business to a new high-from mere words to distributing books. Sikhs Unlimited, I mean. All the bartenders including the mems around my neighbourhood have the book by now. And the last I heard was, they were trying to figure out why my host had a net around his beard.
The second lesson folks is don't get deceived by the words' Fat –Free'. What it actually means is- Fat is freely available so accumulate it as much as you want. So much so for Bush saying it's because of the Indians that the world is hungry. A sale banner at a shop- 'Rock Bottom prices-Even lower than Bush's IQ' perhaps explains my point.
The third lesson friends, is culinary in nature. Of shoving a beer can in a chicken's backside, when bar-be cuing it. The logic is that it keeps the meat tender and juicy. Adiraj promises to share this master recipe with his class teacher –Cookie Marawah. Those from Chandigarh would know that besides teaching, class four children, she teaches cooking to housewives...I mean house makers. You never know where the moral police has its beat-box.
Well the fourth advice is if you are visiting a water-park carry your swimming trunks. Getting caught with clothes in a water-park is like you wife catching you with your pants down. You know what i mean. I paid 40$ to for a swimming trunk.
My book Mending Souls is complete. It seems enough of soul hemming has taken place and I need to get back to Chhauni at the earliest. That's where they transform you; back to human form-teaching you to live to the hilt. I'll be there next week onwards, so feel free to drop in for the final lesson-Chak de.
Cheers
Khushwant to some Komal to many.
As we bid our final 'byes' to folks in Cleveland, a note with a US dateline isn't a bad idea. Anyways who cares if it's a good or a bad idea-an idea is an idea. Oops, did I touch a wrong nerve with all those who bought Idea stock. What a bad idea.
Since, Ideas no longer flourish in an ever mechanising US, (some say from the day you are born till you die you ain't need to use your hands and brains- yes, there's a machine to do all that) there are a few lessons to be shared.
Lesson number one, if you are a tourist, remain one. Don't plan to jump your visa. This advice comes from none other than the Nawab of Saharnpur. Well he thought he was one, till he touched base with Uncle Sam. He came here twenty five years ago and hasn't taken off his apron.
'Karchi maar Nawab,' he is now.
The moment he heard someone order 'scotch' in his restaurant 'India Garden' he came out running to give his tip, for scotch meant, desis had come visiting. Ironical, how desi and scotch go hand in hand. And how tips in America can come in word form too. By the way the new tip rate is 20%.
I must confess I took this tip business to a new high-from mere words to distributing books. Sikhs Unlimited, I mean. All the bartenders including the mems around my neighbourhood have the book by now. And the last I heard was, they were trying to figure out why my host had a net around his beard.
The second lesson folks is don't get deceived by the words' Fat –Free'. What it actually means is- Fat is freely available so accumulate it as much as you want. So much so for Bush saying it's because of the Indians that the world is hungry. A sale banner at a shop- 'Rock Bottom prices-Even lower than Bush's IQ' perhaps explains my point.
The third lesson friends, is culinary in nature. Of shoving a beer can in a chicken's backside, when bar-be cuing it. The logic is that it keeps the meat tender and juicy. Adiraj promises to share this master recipe with his class teacher –Cookie Marawah. Those from Chandigarh would know that besides teaching, class four children, she teaches cooking to housewives...I mean house makers. You never know where the moral police has its beat-box.
Well the fourth advice is if you are visiting a water-park carry your swimming trunks. Getting caught with clothes in a water-park is like you wife catching you with your pants down. You know what i mean. I paid 40$ to for a swimming trunk.
My book Mending Souls is complete. It seems enough of soul hemming has taken place and I need to get back to Chhauni at the earliest. That's where they transform you; back to human form-teaching you to live to the hilt. I'll be there next week onwards, so feel free to drop in for the final lesson-Chak de.
Cheers
Khushwant to some Komal to many.
Letters from America
Dated-14th, May, 2008.
Friends , Family, Foes,
Before I dwell on my activities in the US nocturnal , (actually not, because the sun sets at 10PM), or daytime, I must assure you that I have not been affected whatsoever by the company I am keeping. The 'Sardar Jee' (Mr.Ratanjit Sondhe) I am with, is a gentleman who has very profound thoughts, of how to earn millions and not drink alcohol. This next line vindicates my earlier statement-"Since I have been walking to the local bars, the authorities here don't know whether 'drunken walking' is a FBI offence."
On a serious note, landing in the US was deja-vu , same buildings, cars, typical restaurants - (How you doin tonite. Table for two- ahem..follow me). Damn, now someone will ask who is this second person. Different names for different people. Consider this, If my wife calls she's worried it could be a mem- friends call they are worried-damn he's got a mem-mom calls she's concerned if i am close by where I can get an egg-beater-and for dad and Adi they're visiting me so they can see for themselves. Visiting? Guys, I have my own little house in greater Cleveland. I mean the gentleman I am staying with has provided one. Typical Punjabi mindset-even a rented house seems like your own. Pushpi and Hydra, nothing to worry- we are gonna complete our Chandigarh house by October. Malu's working hard.
Work is OK and I should have the first typescript of 'Mending Souls' ready by end of June. The weather's been moody. However the good part being that I haven't sneezed in a month. Spent couple of days in Denver, and sure enough there was this little girl aksin her mom-what sort of a Cowboy is this mom? Any answers? He's the Rodeo from Chhauni, I wanted to tell her but then you never know who you offend in this country. Never even do 'puch puch' to someones pet -you could be charged of tormenting the poor little Saint Bernard.
Mr.Sondhe is calling , I must go.More later.
Hope everyone is fine and the heat is not bothering you guys too much. And by the way, has Punjab become 'Power Surplus". Pardon me for my ignorance but that's the last I heard when I was leaving. Kaka Ji saying something to the effect-Apna Punjab to be power surplus.Power , no power or Power Struggle, I care a damn-I'm gonna be back next month-Back home -to be amongst my own.
Cheeran te Beeran
Komal/Khushwant
Friends , Family, Foes,
Before I dwell on my activities in the US nocturnal , (actually not, because the sun sets at 10PM), or daytime, I must assure you that I have not been affected whatsoever by the company I am keeping. The 'Sardar Jee' (Mr.Ratanjit Sondhe) I am with, is a gentleman who has very profound thoughts, of how to earn millions and not drink alcohol. This next line vindicates my earlier statement-"Since I have been walking to the local bars, the authorities here don't know whether 'drunken walking' is a FBI offence."
On a serious note, landing in the US was deja-vu , same buildings, cars, typical restaurants - (How you doin tonite. Table for two- ahem..follow me). Damn, now someone will ask who is this second person. Different names for different people. Consider this, If my wife calls she's worried it could be a mem- friends call they are worried-damn he's got a mem-mom calls she's concerned if i am close by where I can get an egg-beater-and for dad and Adi they're visiting me so they can see for themselves. Visiting? Guys, I have my own little house in greater Cleveland. I mean the gentleman I am staying with has provided one. Typical Punjabi mindset-even a rented house seems like your own. Pushpi and Hydra, nothing to worry- we are gonna complete our Chandigarh house by October. Malu's working hard.
Work is OK and I should have the first typescript of 'Mending Souls' ready by end of June. The weather's been moody. However the good part being that I haven't sneezed in a month. Spent couple of days in Denver, and sure enough there was this little girl aksin her mom-what sort of a Cowboy is this mom? Any answers? He's the Rodeo from Chhauni, I wanted to tell her but then you never know who you offend in this country. Never even do 'puch puch' to someones pet -you could be charged of tormenting the poor little Saint Bernard.
Mr.Sondhe is calling , I must go.More later.
Hope everyone is fine and the heat is not bothering you guys too much. And by the way, has Punjab become 'Power Surplus". Pardon me for my ignorance but that's the last I heard when I was leaving. Kaka Ji saying something to the effect-Apna Punjab to be power surplus.Power , no power or Power Struggle, I care a damn-I'm gonna be back next month-Back home -to be amongst my own.
Cheeran te Beeran
Komal/Khushwant
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Journey Successful
Cheers!
SIKHS UNLIMITED is in its third print.
It's a travelogue from UK to US, featuring extraordinary Sikh men and women.
Get your copy today-
www.amazon.com
www.easternbookcorporation.com
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