The Sikh Festival - Free Indian Food

A mixture of Indian food, a journey of taste and everything else on my plate I smell right now. The food from India is so full of aroma with herbs and spices, delightful to the hungry nose.  A piece of bread, deep fried to brown, just plain bread, gummy to taste yet delightful to bite. Some garbanzos in tomato sauce I believe taste salty and a green sauce to dip plus sour cream to add, creating a vegetarian meal. And oh, some freshly cut onions on the side, too. This is my first time to try something foreign to me. I love spices, please understand but India's food overwhelms me with spices so strong the aroma drowns me to my deepest. I will eat like a real person who hails from India just to challenge myself. I am not a picky eater so it should be fine. I have no clue how it would taste for now. All I have is smell.

It was a Sunday, after church I happen to pass by a temple, Sikh temple perhaps? Cars everywhere, covering all areas surrounding the temple.  By the ditch, a few took courage to park. Some parked on the side of a green field and the lucky ones parked on the side of the road, next to the temple. There were people everywhere inside the gated temple, the majority wearing fancy dressed and men with turban cloth. The women in particular look stunningly beautiful with their dark features and round eyes. The dress in bright colors adorned with glittering beads and matching silky pants made it obvious of the word respect of body, covering mostly all for the Sikh Festival. No baring, no midriffs and short lengths for them. Little children go around dress like the women and men of Sikhism - a monotheistic religion that originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region.

There are vendors lined along the gate as I enter the wide open gate. They each have a space, a shade from the sun, selling picture frames mainly of Sikh Leaders to jewelry of beauty and toys. Mostly are things from India, something Sikhs use as part of life like materials for the temple. The jewelries are abundant, most vendors display jewelry of some sort; earrings, bangles, necklace and something for the forehead. There are jewelry sets that are gorgeous, fit for a special occasion like this festivity. I fell in love and bought some earrings of soft baby colors and necklace to match for $10.  

I look around and suddenly it seems like I am in India. The thought of being a stranger; to them as they are to me, scattered everywhere hold together in a moment. Some looked at me with curiosity and animosity, I felt, wondering how different I was in clothes and look. I did the same stare but with curiosity and admiration with the way they carry their faith, decent and modest. I poked my head just enough to take a look inside, step back out in a minute and walk away from the temple.  Then, I noticed on one side of the open area, people line up with plates on hand. I wonder what is going on there and walk towards the line to explore...

Not sure what is going on, I ask one of the servers how much they sell the bread for. She responded to me - FREE. What? Free? Again, she spoke in a gentle voice "Food is free today. Would you like to try some?"  

I said yes quickly, not wanting to give her a chance to change her mind though I am not desperately hungry. She got a plate for me, a piece of bread (still warm), a serving from each pan ladled on my plate and hand it to me. I tried them all with enthusiasm, burn my tongue from the chili but happy my tummy is now filled. I sat on the edge of the pavement to eat my meal just like them and smiled.

After consuming my plate clean as a slate, I stood up and went back in line to get seconds for my husband. This time, I was an expert, line up like going with the flow, no questions because I know what to do. I did ask for a plate to bring home and the server smiled, meaning it is all right. I wish to say goodbye but there was nobody to talk to and just like that, I walk to the gate to get to my car. A couple was getting out behind me and said something about the bread so good. I replied "Yes, indeed. It is very good with a smile on my face."

Does it look like someone starving, leaving only the bones? 

Wondering Thoughts

Facing the street, I sit in my car and observe the cats passing through busy traffic as the bell rings; something the students keep their ears listening for it is time to go home. I wonder where that cat came from.  It must be from one of those newly built houses across the middle school. The houses lined up in rows, manicured lawns and almost identical, I would be lost sometime if I am drunk. But, no, I don't drink. I am sober as an angel. The weather is nice but a little warm as summer starts rolling in. There was no wind and that makes it a little boring to wait for my student. At least with the wind blowing a little harder, I'd see some dust going around in circles, like little tornadoes. I really don't want to be in a tornado, heard it to be scary. Wondering thoughts, too many...

Looking in the front, I see cars parked on the street and some students standing under trees for shade. On my right, a guy sits on a lawn chair he brought, got up as the bell rings. He must have been waiting for a while, I wonder. Is it really worth bringing a chair to sit while waiting when it only takes a few minutes for his son to get out of the school building? My mind wanders again while I got out of my car to check on my student. I couldn't see her from the spot she usually waits for me but she saw me first. She came running to me then heads back after dropping her backpack. She forgot something!

 Two girls were heading my way and I happen to know one of them so I smiled. She then told me that my daughter usually waits over the left side of the campus and told me to go over there. I said thank you to her and waited. She came back to tell me if I might be waiting in the wrong spot. Oh, I talk to her already and will wait here. And she, blushing in embarrassment, walk away with her friend. Then, my daughter emerges from the gate, running towards me. We're rolling to McDonalds for ice cream. No more wondering thoughts, my daughter is with me and that 's the most important thing today. 

Idle mind entertains too many thoughts. I better focus my mind with the person I love.

Win Within

I want to win everyday. I want to feel like a winner everyday. I want to see myself win everyday. I want to feel the triumph within with winning. That no matter how bad the situation is around me, winning is still possible for I am created perfectly with a will to live, to win, to acquire life by adapting to change. My motto is - To win within me by believing in me. Sorrow not when defeated for it is wisdom to see the effect of losing. Instead, challenge within self to do better next time. 

To win even after a defeat for it is a wisdom learned and a chance to be better next time. Everyday, I fill myself with words of wisdom and encouragement, building within myself a winner. I am simply ready to meet the changing conditions of this generation to win and survived any loss everyday with growing maturity within. I firmly believe that the people on earth are the by-product of a naturally selected community of winners. In my family's blood, there is accumulation of will to win and we are winners in the end. We win because we chose to win and dare to challenge our self with hardwork and determination. We win because we believe to be winners. We win because we love to  learn everyday. We win because we can do any task, big and small. We are capable to win and so we win. I am a winner!!!

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