My trip to India - Part 8
posted Saturday, 21 January 2006
I start walking back to SUNTEC. Something is wrong! I have walked one block in the wrong direction. I stop. I look at my map and walk back. I pass the front of the Raffles Hotel. A magnificent old world colonial european hotel. I stand in awe. Got to keep moving. It's getting closer to 4:30 (bus departure time back to the airport). Couple of long blocks to go. More magnificent city scapes. I need to keep pushing. Time is running out. Finally, I'm at SUNTEC with 30 minutes left to spare. Now where is the bus stop? hmmmmm
It's a mall maze. All of the stores look familiar. But, where did I put that stinkin' bus stop? Around and around I go. I ask two official looking people of the mall. No luck. 4:30 comes and goes. The "Oh NO" level has clearly jumped up. Hey, how about getting in a taxi queue (line). There's a long queue. From nowhere, the rain is now pouring. It just started coming down - big drops - monster drops. The taxi queue isn't moving. I wait for 10 minutes and I get impatient and start walking again. Maybe I'll find a shorter taxi queue. Guess what? No luck. Time is passing ... tick ... tick ... tick. Back through the mall maze. The number of people inside has suddenly tripled. Back to the original taxi queue and wait. I'm praying for a taxi. Slowly the line moves, but time is winning the race. Finally, I'm at the front of the line. An eternity passes. How am I going to explain I missed my flight. This is an "ED Adventure" at it's finest. Finally, a taxi pulls up with my new best friend (sorry Ken you've been dumped). His name is Bok Ho. He's friendly. Just what my dad ordered for me. The panic is gone. It's replaced by knowing I'm still ok and on my way to the airport with just enough time to catch the flight.
During the height of my internal panic, I talked to Jennie and the kids. Their voices are mine. Their voices are love. Their voices fill me with happiness. I miss them so much.
...
I get to Gate 42 and my feet ache. But I don't care. The day was worth it. Ken told me about the feet massagers (just like Laurie got for Christmas) in the airport. The first one I spot is occupied. The second in front of my gate is also occupied. I wait. Finally, one is open. Boy, does this feel good. Two girls walk by and one asks if she can take my picture while I am sitting in the massager. I say "Sure". They are young kids from Peking China. They are on their way to Australia. I tell them I'm from California. The talkative one who struggles a bit to find the right English words, tells me I should come to China. I would love to go. They move on and take the picture of a security guard in a motorized cart. They are living one of their life's adventures.
I have to leave massage paradise because I'm thirsty.
...
FYI: Tiger beer is the Bug of Singapore. It's all over TV.
...
My family is safe. Christopher is with them. He has always been my joy. He is a fine young man. I love him so much.
How does a father help a son get the most from life? Does a father need to push a son? Does a father need to challenge him? How does a father allow a son to make his own mistakes so he can grow stronger? How does a father know when to protect and when to allow a son to fall? My Christopher is so much stronger then I was at his age. How does a father help a son see his own strength? I missed so much of my early years scared to death of people. Nothing ever happened to me to cause my emotional fear. It is just who I am. And some how I'm going to a country over flowing with people. Pops, take your time. It will come. It isn't easy . But getting out in the world is worth it. Explore the world, explore your emotions, explore your life. Explore!
...
Jennie, I love you for making me whole. I love you for the home and family life you have built for me and the kids. I love you for giving me a life I cherish. Jennie I love you.
It's a mall maze. All of the stores look familiar. But, where did I put that stinkin' bus stop? Around and around I go. I ask two official looking people of the mall. No luck. 4:30 comes and goes. The "Oh NO" level has clearly jumped up. Hey, how about getting in a taxi queue (line). There's a long queue. From nowhere, the rain is now pouring. It just started coming down - big drops - monster drops. The taxi queue isn't moving. I wait for 10 minutes and I get impatient and start walking again. Maybe I'll find a shorter taxi queue. Guess what? No luck. Time is passing ... tick ... tick ... tick. Back through the mall maze. The number of people inside has suddenly tripled. Back to the original taxi queue and wait. I'm praying for a taxi. Slowly the line moves, but time is winning the race. Finally, I'm at the front of the line. An eternity passes. How am I going to explain I missed my flight. This is an "ED Adventure" at it's finest. Finally, a taxi pulls up with my new best friend (sorry Ken you've been dumped). His name is Bok Ho. He's friendly. Just what my dad ordered for me. The panic is gone. It's replaced by knowing I'm still ok and on my way to the airport with just enough time to catch the flight.
During the height of my internal panic, I talked to Jennie and the kids. Their voices are mine. Their voices are love. Their voices fill me with happiness. I miss them so much.
...
I get to Gate 42 and my feet ache. But I don't care. The day was worth it. Ken told me about the feet massagers (just like Laurie got for Christmas) in the airport. The first one I spot is occupied. The second in front of my gate is also occupied. I wait. Finally, one is open. Boy, does this feel good. Two girls walk by and one asks if she can take my picture while I am sitting in the massager. I say "Sure". They are young kids from Peking China. They are on their way to Australia. I tell them I'm from California. The talkative one who struggles a bit to find the right English words, tells me I should come to China. I would love to go. They move on and take the picture of a security guard in a motorized cart. They are living one of their life's adventures.
I have to leave massage paradise because I'm thirsty.
...
FYI: Tiger beer is the Bug of Singapore. It's all over TV.
...
My family is safe. Christopher is with them. He has always been my joy. He is a fine young man. I love him so much.
How does a father help a son get the most from life? Does a father need to push a son? Does a father need to challenge him? How does a father allow a son to make his own mistakes so he can grow stronger? How does a father know when to protect and when to allow a son to fall? My Christopher is so much stronger then I was at his age. How does a father help a son see his own strength? I missed so much of my early years scared to death of people. Nothing ever happened to me to cause my emotional fear. It is just who I am. And some how I'm going to a country over flowing with people. Pops, take your time. It will come. It isn't easy . But getting out in the world is worth it. Explore the world, explore your emotions, explore your life. Explore!
...
Jennie, I love you for making me whole. I love you for the home and family life you have built for me and the kids. I love you for giving me a life I cherish. Jennie I love you.
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