Indian Adventures Part IV: Serenity in the Chaos

The weeks leading up to this trip were a whirlwind – a haze of flights, short bursts of sleep, and preparation for what was to come. After I finished my exams, Ari and I went to Croatia to celebrate for four days. Then I was off to the States for a close friend’s wedding. Transnational flights are not my cup of chai but for some friends, the joy of celebrating with them negates the hassle of the commute. That weekend my 89-year old grandmother took an irreversible turn for the worst. With her beloved six children by her bedside, singing her favorite Jewish songs and reminiscing, she went to her final resting place quietly in the night. I boarded my fifth international flight in two weeks to get back to the US in time for the funeral. The agony of the flight, knowing what was awaiting me, speeding through the Minneapolis airport, changing clothes in the cab… it all dissipated the moment I walked into my grandmother’s cherised synagogue just in time for the afternoon funeral. Seeing my family, and especially my mom, I knew I made the right decision to come back. My grandmother was and continues to be a major force in my life. My own beliefs and values are often a reflection of the ideals she espoused. I feel truly lucky that over these last years I have spent countless Friday nights, holidays, special occasions and casual dinners with her. She was a remarkable woman!

This last minute trip to the US meant that I didn’t have much time to prepare for India – mentally or emotionally. I knew it would therefore be really tough at times as it would finally give me the time and space to process all that has occurred. The solitude would be both a blessing for reflection and a curse of loneliness. The day I flew out, a good friend and I talked about these whirlwind moments in our lives, the need to process, and the challenges of doing so in a city as big and hectic as Delhi. I would need to find the serenity in the chaos...

Yesterday was a challenging day but today I found my serenity. My great intentions and plans crumbled when my translator had to cancel at the last minute. The city was at a standstill when I left my hotel as it had started to drizzle. Locals found any covering to hide under – trees, tarps, towels, overhangs. As the city stood quietly and waited for nature to pass, I climbed into my rickshaw and headed to my destination. Our wet journey was cleansing and therapeutic. I smiled to myself knowing that I had finally found my serenity in the chaos. Nature has a unique way of slowing us down, letting us zoom out and refocus. The city too – dressed in mud and puddles - seemed reinvigorated from the hot summer.