See you later...not farewell

One thing about leaving anyplace whether it is leaving a home or leaving a family reunion, goodbyes are hard for me. I cry at the drop of the hat! Saturday night our dear friends Alan and Juliet hosted a party in our honor, the last time we would all be together in India. Over the past year we have gotten together with 4 families, 10 adults and 10 kids for dinner and drinks every Friday or Saturday night...sometimes both! We have made such good memories and have had so much fun together. We have learned to understand British and Scottish people talking. Yes, they speak English but it sounds a wee bit different than the Midwest English we were used to. We have learned a lot of terms and phases. The evening began with some cocktails on Alan and Juliet's rooftop while hearing the ocean waves crash and the warm breeze blowing. Then we headed down to dinner where Juliet once again set a lovely table! She should be a party planner because she can make a table look gorgeous! We toasted with champagne flown in from London (thanks Ian!) and started dinner. I had no clue what we were in for after dinner. They presented us with a beautiful collage of photos from our travels we have taken! Everyone knows how I love photography and I always wondered how I could display the photos, now I know! Ted had managed to sneak our hard drive over to Yan's house where they all spent hours cutting photos apart. It is awesome! But the evening wasn't over...they gave me a beautiful Saree as well as some head decorations and some beautiful decorated rubber gloves so when I have to go back to doing my own dishes I shall feel like a queen! Of course to go along with it Ted was presented a Maharajah hat and a flashing ganesh decoration. To complete the evening we were given a list of things that we could do back in Illinois to make it feel a bit like India.

1. Stop the local garbage pickup and sprinkle it liberally around your yard.
2. Allow the cows to roam freely about your property and neighbors property.
3. When asked for directions always give directions even if you don't know where they are trying to get to, and simply point them back in the direction that they just came from.
4. When having repairs done in your home, insist that the electrician or plumber, be accompanied by a small boy and only allow them to use a single screwdriver while doing the work.
5. While driving your car use the horn liberally.
6. Put up a guard shack at the end of the drive complete with a log book and record everyone who comes and goes.
7. Have your morning constitution overlooking the stream in the woods.
8. When driving just drive down the center of the road. Make sure to use your horn a lot.
9. Stop and pee along side the road frequently.
10. Throw any trash we may accumulate in van out the window.
11. When giving an answer refuse to answer yes or know, just bob your head sideways.

The great group that helped make India a great experience