The Trip Home

For my trip home, I chose my peacock saree. Aunty helped me put it on. She put the flowers in my hair, too. Christopher drove us to the airport in his auto. Michael walked me up to door, then I was on my own! I went to the counter, and missed the line where they security check baggage, but a very nice man went back with me, helped me do it, and carried the suitcases back to the counter. The next step was the personal security check. It is way easier in India than in the United States. We even got to keep our shoes on, although since taking off the bangles was too much work I let her do a simplified pat-down! The women at any security checkpoint have their own line with a more private area for the wand exam. I stepped in, and the lady there asked me if I was married to an Indian. I said no, and she told me that I wore the clothes very well. I was so excited by that, I felt like my smile was too big! Those of us on certain domestic flights had to wait for a bus to take us out to the plane. While I was sitting there, the lady behind me leaned up to tell me that she could smell my flowers, and we had a conversation. The flowers are jasmine, and do smell really good. We were talking, and the man next to me looked over. "I thought you were Indian." he said to me, and joined the conversation. When I got to Delhi, the same thing happened. People told me I wore the clothes well and thought I either was Indian or married to an Indian. Once on the plane, a lady three rows up that only spoke Hindi tried to talk to me. The flight home was full. The man sitting next to me was very friendly. We talked quite a bit. He told me purple was a royal color and the peacock was an honored bird in India. He was impressed with not only how I wore the saree, but with the material I picked. Actually, I just loved it. I had no idea of the significance, but now that I know, I like it even more. He asked me where all I had been, and was sorry for me not getting to Kashmir. He has a bungalow there, and very sincerely invited me to stay there the next time I was in India. He gave me his address! He was going to West Virginia for his son's graduation. I really wanted the complete look for John when I got off the plane in Detroit, but as we neared Chicago, the flight attendant told me to leave the flowers on the plane, because customs may slap on a big fine. I kind of expected them to take them, being agricultural and all, but I was planning on giving it a shot. I still thought about it, but then decided they were turning brown and it wasn't worth risking a fine, so I took them out. I am considering buying a jasmine plant now, though. Sad as I was to leave India, it was so wonderful to see John at the airport! This may be my last post, so I switched my color to purple just for fun. I may remember more things to write about, or just continue to blog my life, but really this is probably it. I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing. Thanks for sharing my Great Adventure!