Who would have thought that there is good “literary humor” associated with a simple burger- A “Burger King free coupon” led me to yonder store and I got myself a Burger , and a my son a “value meal”. In case you are wondering why Geeta is not on this list, you should know she is a strict vegetarian. So, I bring home this burgers and we sit down to eat. I notice that the burger wrap and the bag have interesting messages- here is a sample:” Have it your way!” One message praises you for your choice! Another says that you are welcome to mix Sprite and coke – juts have it your way. The dumpster in the store has a message that says “somehow get the trash inside..” Another: “Some fries are mavericks. Free spirits that slip over the cardboard wall and make straight for the bottom of the bag, where they can then plan the next move. We call them spud separatists bagglers, and they’re especially delicious. Maybe it’s because they’re a little out of bounds. Life can be like that.” And another: You have the right to dip these fries in ketchup or mustard or a vanilla shake if that turns you on. You have the right to stuff them in your sandwich or stack them like the boyhood home of Abraham Lincoln. You have the right to have these fries your way, even if it means eating them like a normal human being.
The India Independence day parade, at Manhattan last week, was actually a boring affair- the usual patriotic façade – people in Khadi and silly floats with Hindi film music blaring on the streets of Manhattan. The food stalls were surely the best attraction. They were giving away 30 minute India calling cards and we shamelessly presented ourselves more than a couple of times to get them! The family has been exercising their jaws ever since…
My eighty year old American neighbor and I got chatting and she was asking about what breads we eat in India- I went nostalgic and described in great details the wonderful taste and aroma of an Indian Naan. Later, in the afternoon, I heard the door bell ring and I noticed a carry bag hanging on the door knob- it was a packet of ready-to- eat Naan . She had vanished inside her home and did not even stop to receive a “thank you”.
My boss dropped in last week with her husband and son in tow and took us top an Indian restaurant for dinner. We had a rollicking time- some interesting conversations happened. They took a huge fascination for Geeta and, next day, my boss delivered two personalized cards for Geeta – from herself and her son- thanking Geeta for the hospitality…
Recently I was at a Nissan Showroom and walked up to a sales person and said, typical Indian style, “I’m looking for Nissan Cars”. He said: “ Nissan cars? You are certainly at the right place- in case you have not noticed, all these cars around you are all of Nissan!”
I recently heard the word “Cognitive Surplus” and got curious- here is the article link- When I hark back to my time in Mumbai- the movie fanatics and the Cricket mania and the Balaji Telefims “Saas Bahu” serials, the point about cognitive surplus hit home- so check out this link: http://www.herecomeseverybody.org/2008/04/looking-for-the-mouse.html
Another interesting piece of information I came across was the research done by the Max Planck Institute in Germany on “Free Will” – to those that are interested in the concepts of Free Will and Advaita – this is juicy stuff: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-560149/So-free-really-just-illusion.html
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