Long Walks On Leafy Streets |
12/18/24 |
Georgetown Waterfront, Washington DC, Jun 16, 2024 |
Contemplations |
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7-30-2010, Dumbarton Chapel, Washington, DC |
I have always enjoyed visiting Georgetown. Probably a lot to do with the river. Nicole and I enjoy spending time around water, whether it is a river, a lake, or the ocean. Georgetown is where we had our first date, where we got engaged, and where as a family have spent many a weekend afternoon. The river was full of water from the recent rains. I stood by a railing just watching it flow by, for a few minutes. |
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May 28 2024, Bayview Park, Perth Amboy, NJ |
I had a similar moment of revelation during my stay in New Jersey with my parents last summer. This has become an annual event for us. After the end of the academic year I rent a home and we spend a week together, just the three of us. One summer we stayed in a home in Lewes, DE near the beach. Another in Brookland, Washington, DC. Little did I know that we will be moving to the Brookland area not long after! The reason for choosing New Jersey was the abundance of temples and South Indian vegetarian restaurants. My mother is in her 80's and my father in the 90's, and they are used to a certain lifestyle and food. New Jersey turned out to be a very good choice. |
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5-23-2024 Spring Lake Park, South Plainfield, NJ |
We stayed in South Plainfield, near the Spring Lake park. The Airbnb owner was very nice and we even had coffee with him one morning. I enjoyed running around the lake and the nearby streets. We found many restaurants where they could eat as if they were in Chennai or Coimbatore. I loved the energy and industry of the people. We also visited my nephew Nitin in New York City one day, travelling by train and bus to East village. Taking my mother in a wheelchair by train and bus proved to be a bit difficult. Dare I say Washington metro and Union station do a better job for people with wheelchairs? The people including the drivers were very helpful and so it wasn't too bad but next time I would rather deal with the traffic and drive the rental car. |
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Sri Sarada Temple, Coimbatore, India 12-28-2018 |
One of those days in New Jersey I had a difficult time at the temples and with my parents. Nothing serious, just the sort of routine friction that arises between human beings. The next morning I was walking around Spring lake. Suddenly I felt completely empty and rootless. I have heard of people having a crisis of faith. I started questioning everything— my beliefs, my faith in Advaita and the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, my purpose in life,... It was quite unexpected and surprising. Perhaps it was nothing, perhaps it was a sign of a deeper spiritual yearning. But it went away soon. Ultimately the sense of oneness of all creation that I have deep within, of "interbeing" as Thich Nhat Hanh calls it, was strong enough to overcome the doubts and provide purpose. |
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