Five years ago, my then-husband, Atul, arrived to USA from India. After obtaining the appropriate papers and passing the driver's license test, he stood in line, waiting for his turn to have his photo taken for the driver's license.
Crossing my legs and arms on my chest, I sat on the first row, waiting. What seemed to be an eternity finally arrived. The flashing number on the upper red box indicated Atul's number.
The woman at the counter started scanning at his papers and driver's test certificate. Looking up at Atul, she asked what his weight was.
Pondering, with his hand on his chin, for a moment, he replied that he could not remember as it had been a while. And he had lost some weight since coming here from India.
The woman leaned over the counter, trying to second-guess Atul's body frame but said she could not possibly estimate.
At this woman's some comment that I did not catch, Atul pointed at me, to indicate I was his wife.
Gleaning at my sitting posture nearby, the woman then asked Atul, "Can you please ask your wife how much you weigh?"
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
An Unexpected Interruption
During my three week trip to England at age 17 in 1985, our group of 15 deaf & hearing were later split into two smaller groups. One group went to Devon and the other in which I was in, to York. (Please click on the word trip for more information about the purpose of my trip and how I won the free contest).
I became friends with few of them, especially with the guys named Rusty and Josh. Rusty was quite tall and had boyish looks who sometimes had impulsive behavior. He became somewhat infatuated with me, often pleading me to take off my huge, awkward 80's style glasses that practically covered half of my face, so that he could take photos of my "cute" face, as he called it.
I never had a boyfriend in high school. It would have been pointless anyway since I was forbidden to date until I was in college. I absolutely had no experience, although my heart would beat wildly whenever I saw any cute guys passing by, especially smiling at me.
One afternoon, after our usual tour of York with the group, I went to my room in the hostel to put away my things and then went to Josh's room which was adjacent to mine.
In his room, Josh was talking to Rusty and I eventually joined in the casual conversation.
Suddenly, someone came in the doorway and beckoned to Josh, leaving me and Rusty alone in the room.
With my back to the doorway and leaning towards the bunk bed railing, I chatted amicably with Rusty.
Somehow the topic turned to face features.
Slowly scanning my face, Rusty signed in a slow motion as if murmuring that he thought my lips looked luscious.
Flirting back, I replied, "Why don't you try 'em?"
Rusty looked at my lips for a moment and moved closer.
I also inched nearer to his face.... with our eyes becoming locked into each other.
The deafening (no pun pardoned) silence could have made anyone nervous.
Finally! I am about to get my very first kiss!
Anxious to experience this precious, stolen moment, I put my foot a bit forward when someone suddenly slapped my shoulder.
"I'm back! What are you guys talking about now?", Josh asked cheerfully.
I became friends with few of them, especially with the guys named Rusty and Josh. Rusty was quite tall and had boyish looks who sometimes had impulsive behavior. He became somewhat infatuated with me, often pleading me to take off my huge, awkward 80's style glasses that practically covered half of my face, so that he could take photos of my "cute" face, as he called it.
I never had a boyfriend in high school. It would have been pointless anyway since I was forbidden to date until I was in college. I absolutely had no experience, although my heart would beat wildly whenever I saw any cute guys passing by, especially smiling at me.
One afternoon, after our usual tour of York with the group, I went to my room in the hostel to put away my things and then went to Josh's room which was adjacent to mine.
In his room, Josh was talking to Rusty and I eventually joined in the casual conversation.
Suddenly, someone came in the doorway and beckoned to Josh, leaving me and Rusty alone in the room.
With my back to the doorway and leaning towards the bunk bed railing, I chatted amicably with Rusty.
Somehow the topic turned to face features.
Slowly scanning my face, Rusty signed in a slow motion as if murmuring that he thought my lips looked luscious.
Flirting back, I replied, "Why don't you try 'em?"
Rusty looked at my lips for a moment and moved closer.
I also inched nearer to his face.... with our eyes becoming locked into each other.
The deafening (no pun pardoned) silence could have made anyone nervous.
Finally! I am about to get my very first kiss!
Anxious to experience this precious, stolen moment, I put my foot a bit forward when someone suddenly slapped my shoulder.
"I'm back! What are you guys talking about now?", Josh asked cheerfully.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
The New Sucker
My younger sister got married to an American about three years ago and moved abroad due to her husband's job. Every several months they would come to America to visit family and friends.
Last winter, my sister announced that she was expecting. Of course, my mom was quite thrilled as it would be her first grandchild. Due to the fact she lived abroad, my mother agreed to have my sister live with her for the last three months before birth and so that my mother could help her out.
However, five weeks before her due date, my sister unexpectedly developed some complications, thus resulting in having birth to a 4-lb 7 oz baby boy. Nevertheless, four days later, both my sister and the baby persevered and were soon released from the hospital.
With my sister breast-feeding the baby every three hours for about a week, slowly the baby started to gain a bit weight.
One week later, I drove down for the weekend to see them. On Saturday, my sister's high school classmate, Monica, stopped by with her parents to see them. After lunch, we all sat down on the sofa and chatted.
Monica got up from the sofa and picked up the baby from the crib. Gently and gingerly, she put the baby over her shoulder, right by her chin. Few seconds later of flashing shots of the captured moment, Monica then moved the baby, preparing to put him back in his crib.
But, the baby would not let go of Monica.
Instead, he sucked on her chin, trying to get something out of it.
Last winter, my sister announced that she was expecting. Of course, my mom was quite thrilled as it would be her first grandchild. Due to the fact she lived abroad, my mother agreed to have my sister live with her for the last three months before birth and so that my mother could help her out.
However, five weeks before her due date, my sister unexpectedly developed some complications, thus resulting in having birth to a 4-lb 7 oz baby boy. Nevertheless, four days later, both my sister and the baby persevered and were soon released from the hospital.
With my sister breast-feeding the baby every three hours for about a week, slowly the baby started to gain a bit weight.
One week later, I drove down for the weekend to see them. On Saturday, my sister's high school classmate, Monica, stopped by with her parents to see them. After lunch, we all sat down on the sofa and chatted.
Monica got up from the sofa and picked up the baby from the crib. Gently and gingerly, she put the baby over her shoulder, right by her chin. Few seconds later of flashing shots of the captured moment, Monica then moved the baby, preparing to put him back in his crib.
But, the baby would not let go of Monica.
Instead, he sucked on her chin, trying to get something out of it.
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