IS THIS ALL ABOUT MY BAGS??? LOL!!

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Sometimes its amazes the kind of people I meet... and the series of episodes that happen in couple hours. I can only ..simply.. stop ...absorb and observe.....

It was 7pm when I collected my bags at Phily airport. I was still debating if I should take the train or take the taxi into downtown.  I was coming from Pittsburg (it was a long work week for me) into Phily to take the train to NYC. I was so looking forward for this weekend and was too excited / happy that evening.. I was going to NYC after a month and meeting my friends for the weekend.

 Finally, I decided I will take the taxi and collect my bags that I had left at the Mariott Courtyard the previous weekend I stayed in Phily (ya, I am on a project that requires lot of travel and I am living out of suitcases...home for me is Bangalore.). So, waved for a cab... a white cab stopped and a short sardarji (maybe in his late 30s) got off and opened the cab door for me (this was unusual). I told him I wanted to go to the city centre Marriott Courtyard to collect my bags and then to Amtrak station. It was 20min ride to Phily downtown, I had grabbed a Twix (was hungry) at the airport and chewed into it while i checked my messages on my phone. It was a quite ride with lot of silence. When we entered into the city I looked out to admire Phily downtown and saw we were nearing to city center. I realised I had asked for two destinations.. one to the hotel first and then to continue to the Train station. I thought it would be fair to start a fresh fair after we picked the bags at the hotel (usually any destination from airport into downtown was a flat rate). So, as he stopped by the hotel. I told him I will only take 5mins to grab my bags that I had parked in the hotel so, he can charge for this journey and start a new one for going to the train station (anyone else, I am sure, would have agreed for this deal). But he said, no Madam...its alright its hardly 8 or 9$ ..don't worry we will continue with the same meter. I was surprised and insisted again, but he did not agree. I went in got my bags and he quickly helped me board the bags. We reached the Train Terminal and I (ofcourse) paid him his extra fare (that I would have normaly paid) in the form of tip. He offloaded my bags and was too concerned about the fact that I was alone with lot of bags and no help. So, he asked me wait at the taxi, while he went in and got some guy to help me. By the time I thanked him for his help; he wished me 'safe journey' and disappeared into the pool of taxis.

I then followed the guy who was helping me with my bags. He was a young African American guy. He quickly got a big luggage cart and loaded all three bags. He took me to a helpdesk counter called 'Red Hat Service'. He asked me to wait there and someone with a 'Red Hat' will come help me load the bags into the train. I said I need to get a ticket and asked him if he can stand by my bags. He obliged while I went and got my ticket. I thanked him and took out a few dollars to tip him. He politely said no with a smile and went back on his duty. I stood there looking at him walk by till I was interrupted by the 'Red Hat' guy. The 'RedHat' guy was short middle aged Italian...he had think accent and always smiled. He looked at my bags..raised eyebrows but said don't worry, we will make sure this is taken care till you get a taxi in NYC (that was such a relief). He hit up a conversation with me while he put up tags on my bags. When I said I was basically from India...his face lit up, started talking about his liking for Ayurvedic Medicines etc etc. Then he said his grandfather was from Italy, who moved to America in his teenage..etc etc. In that 15mins of time….he spoke so many things, told me about his daughter, spoke about today’s youth, about eating healthy, abt ayurvedic medicines (again). At the end he made quite a statement, he said - 'I do not understand why everyone living here are so possessive about this country. This country does not belong to any one person. Everyone has come from some or the other place. So then why can not every one live happily'.  My train arrived; he boarded all my bags and showed me to my seat. This time I made sure this guy (atleast) accepted the tip. He gave a big wide smile and said it was nice talking to me.

It was a 1hr ride into NYC, I sat there reading this novel that I picked up at the Pittsburg Airport (haven’t finished yet but its keeping me hooked on to it. Its called ‘That Hour I First Believed’). When I got to NY Penn station, (as the Italian ‘Red Hat’ guy promised that my bags will be taken care… yes it was indeed) there was another ‘Red Hat’ guy in NY was waiting at the Train for me. He came in asked for my last name and boarded my bags on to his cart .. asked me ‘Taxi?’, I said ‘Yes’ and he said ‘Follow me’. That’s it… I just followed him to the street and he waved for a taxi that stopped, boarded all my luggage, stood there fiddling with my bags (waiting for the tip actually). I took out few dollars, politely said thank you and gave him a smile. He just took the money and left (not sure if he even noticed my smile). 

Well! what am i saying...? now this is NYC… no one has time for such things here...

ALTERATION !!!

"Lucky chengs..is the place I wanna go"....says my Manager standing at my office door. I was like "ya sure...but, what is it??" ....my manager, 'its a place where you will see 6ft tall women entertaining you...' . I asked him, 'are you sure...?? should we go ahead and book a table ...'. He walked away saying 'ya, Mareen is doing the honors...' and we 15 of us landed at this place (it was my manager's send off party and he got to choose where he wanted to go).

'Lucky Chengs' was way downtown (1Ave/2st) NYC and the place looked very shady. My manager and couple more were excited....and rest of us had no idea (atleast me) what this place was like. The place was dimly lit.. and there was nobody yet (it was only 7pm)...we stood near the bar while they checked our IDs and let us order our drinks. Then I suddenly saw something unsual at the bar..the bar attendant was a Drag Queen (A drag queen, usually a man, who dresses, and usually acts, like a women for the purpose of entertaining or performing)...so this place was a drag queen show place. Some of us looked at each other and just continued with the flow. With a little unease I was trying to smile and look away...(this was ofcourse my first time at a place like this).

Our table was set and we all settled in.... the food was a set menu...so the food was served faster (food was not so great though). People started coming in and other tables started filling up. I was still at unease and sat there thinking of an excuse to leave the place early. But then the show started. One of the Drag Queens started talking from behind the scene. Then she (i would like to address as she) came over introduced herself saying she was from Singapore...loves NYC and its been a decade since she moved here(she talked abt her family and how she was distanced because her parents were worried abt the soceity etc). Then she introduced her 2 business partners who run this place along with her. They briefly gave an introduction of how they run the restaurant and they were very grateful to have all of us over to see their show. There were 3 Drag Queens and they were the staff, cooks, business partners ...everything there. All the three performed and then the last step was to call on 2 people from each table and do a performance (two of my colleagues got up). My manager was a happy little kid at the end and we all walked out thanking them for their wonderful show.

I was a bit taken back to see these people so closely and to know their life. I was ashamed of myself for being so ignorant and unaware. They are humans too...if they are not normal its not their fault isn't it or I should say they are normal as per them and we are normal as per us. So, we have no right to say anything. They were such great people I must say....very humble, very human.

I definitely walked out with a different perspective towards life... there is so much beyond our daily lives ...there is so much beyond our career..our own family...our own problems..etc etc..

A small alteration in our own brain takes us a long way...

EEMOTIONS!!!

QUEEN!!! OR BABY!!!

"She wanted to be treated like a QUEEN and when she couldn't become one ...she behaved like a BABY.."

When I got back from work today - (my thoughts have been wondering since morning - from work to what am I doing in life :) etc etc ...)... I sat in front of TV with food. I flipped through the channels till my eye caught at this program called "INTERVENTION" ..(this program is about helping people who really need help and are helpless)...

In today's episode (this is the first time I am watching) they are showing about a girl called Allison, 22yrs, who is addictive to inhalers (used for computer dusters) and her problem was being deserted by everyone from her young age...(she went through a child molestation...and the molester got away...then her parents got divorced..she missed her father...she got engaged 11times and divorced 2 times..all these by the age of 22yrs). She would inhale like 10 bottles in a day. During her college her boyfriend had introduce to inhalers and Allison was addicted since then. She dropped out of college...was divorced and dating an older guy (who was helping her financially)..

Allison, a beautiful girl, was always looking for love ...for attention and felt deserted. She went through a painful life and was living a painful life. Her family came together (mother, sister and grandmom) contacted "Intervention" team for help. But it was not easy (as I see) to convince Allison that she can get better. She refused ...stubborn.. did not care about anyone... she was authoritative... confident ... every member of her family were pleeding her.. the "INTERVENTION" team was being nice to her. But she didn't care for anyone. Then they had bring in police to handcuff her and take her. Allison is now under treatment without drugs for 65days and making good process.

The point is many of us (women) have lived (and are living) with deep emotional scares from childhood to now....they keep coming back in different shapes and sizes in all phases of our lives. One should have the courage to face it ....deal with it ..rather than ending one own self.

Know that you are more than what you think...You are a women! (powerful! and strong!)...