A year in review

We’ve had a year of celebrations, growth and transition.

Meghan (18) graduated from Millennium High School in Tracy and is now attending Las Positas Junior College in Livermore working toward a future at some capacity in law enforcement. She LOVES school and is doing very well while balancing a near full time job at Auntie Anne’s Pretzels in our mall. Meghan is making new friends, making money  and considering what her next step may be. She continues to amaze me!! It was nice to have all the family together to help celebrate her graduation. Loren and his fiancé, Sue, came to CA and mom made sure she was back from AZ during that time. Sooo great to all be together as it is so rare these days!!!

Cory (18) graduated from Yuba City High School in Yuba City and is now attending community college wanting to pursue a career as a music teacher. We don’t see Cory much but are so proud of his accomplishments!

William (21) moved out of our house and is renting a room in Stockton and working for Holt of CA. Will received his motorcycle license and joins us while riding a lot of the time. We have Will around often and I’m getting good making casseroles and dishes that are acceptable to send to his bachelor pad!

Alex (17) is a Senior at Yuba City High School and loves to work on his Grandfather’s ‘76 Chevy truck which he now drives. He is a little Randy always wanting to build, rebuild, tinker and help out. Alex stayed the summer with us and he was a HUGE help and fun having around. Meghan and Alex together are hysterical and kept me busy and in stitches! Alex also got his motorcycle license this year.

Allison (15) is a Sophomore at Yuba City High School and is very active in the band and sports, church, babysitting and whatever else. Getting time with Allie is getting more and more difficult. She now has her driver’s permit and we look forward to having her and all the kids over the Christmas break.

Zach (13) is an 8^th grader at Barry Middle School in Yuba City. He continues to sprout up and mature each time we see him. Those VanderMolen genes are kicking in quickly!! Zach is enjoying riding with Randy on the new Ultra. He is involved in Orchestra at school and loves his video games.

Home is where your heart is so our home has commuted between India and Tracy all year. Randy continues to build a solar power plant out in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, India and I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to travel to India a few times to visit. During those times we’ve traveled within India and have been adopted as family by many. We’ve been able to experience weddings, child birth, festivals, World Heritage sights and a lot of daily life within the culture. It is all very fascinating and we are very fortunate to have been handed this opportunity. When Randy is home we don’t stay still either. We have gone up to Washington to visit his family, he’s been hunting up north and we’ve taken off on the bike for a 12 day road trip to Palm Springs and Southern California. We definitely make the most of our time!

I continue to work at Segale Travel in Stockton and they have been wonderful to allow me time off to come to India and spend time with Randy when he is back stateside. Family comes first and I’m happy they encourage that. I’m now transitioning to work from home and be “virtual”. It’s been fun to create a home office and not have to commute as much. I look forward to when this will be full time but for the time being they still like my energy part time in the office. 

It’s difficult to think of Christmas so close as I sit in a cottage in the Thar Desert of India, 80 degrees and no overload of Christmas decoration at every store. It’s nice as this way we remember the true meaning of Christmas and not all the commercialization of the season. I wish you all good health, happiness, and the hopes of discovering something new in the New Year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our home to yours!!

Tent Camp --- So cool!

Thar Oasis Camp and Resort……

Who would have thought ?!?!?!?!!? We go through life and have our “bucket list” of must do activities and then you do something new and it far surpasses all your dreams and expectations. Today was amazingly cool!! Randy came home early from work and we were picked up by a 4wd Bolero to take us out to the camp. Randy and I climb into the back, no seatbelts and cage around us as we take off cross country. We bust into the back country of soft sand and start climbing. Up and down dunes, in and out of gates, slipping through turns, cold wind running through my hair and biting at our skin! 

We stopped at a traditional farmhouse and stopped for a tour. While the kids laughed at me making meow sounds to the cat and Randy and I holding their baby goats, we were shown their home. Traditional walls of cow patties and thatched roofs.   A 4 month old baby sleeps in a bassinet that essentially is a baby hammock hanging under the parents bed.  The walls were painted bright and they had minimal decorations. A hut with open fire for their kitchen and another hut for their straw.. They were very hospitable and had as much fun with us as we did with them!  

Back into the Bolero and off we go…. Deer galore, (although these deer look more like antelope), camels eating from trees, many goats, wild peacocks, cow, water buffalo and the local children waving profusely as we drove by. We pass small villages and stores, tractors carrying bricks and more carrying straw. Finally we reach the Thar Oasis Camp.

OMG… how cool is this?!?!?! Upon arrival we were greeted with lemon water, a warm towel, flower lei, traditional sweets similar to brown sugar bits and a red dot blessing for our forehead. We are escorted to our tent in the sand and are wonderfully surprised that our tent has all the comforts of home. King size bed, electricity and heater, chair, fan, armoire and our own private brick bathroom in the back. While the tent has cloth walls and ceiling, we have "windows" and a porch with 2 rocking chairs. Now this is MY kind of camping!!

After a little down time in the dunes we hear the Indian music begin. We take our seats in cushions in the sand and watch the show. Music, dancers, fire dancing and walking on nails… wow! All while we are sipping on cocktails and enjoying veg and non-veg snacks. The bonfire in the sand kept us warm and the lanterns added more to the ambiance. Dinner followed of an Indian buffet… still not the hamburger or Mexican food that I’m craving but still not bad. The 40 tents that surround the pond are outlined by torches and sit atop the bluffs in the vast Thar Desert. Soooo very cool! 

Morning came with rain hitting the canvas roof.  What's a little rain?  I continued over to the camels and enjoyed petting and kissing them.  They were all colorfully decorated and the sherpa had me kiss my new camel friend.  :)  No ride this time as we needed to head back to civilization and the airport but this is the type of experience that is NOT to be missed!

What a wonderful way to end an amazing trip in the desert of India! A HUGE thank you to the staff, who have become our friends, of the @Thar Oasis Camp and Resort for helping us change our plans and continuing to encourage us to come to the camp! This experience is another once in a lifetime event. I hope everyone has a chance to come and stay and play as we have!!!

For one price we received the overnight in the camp, camel safari, 4wd safari, Traditional Indian Music and Entertainment, drinks and snacks, dinner and breakfast. 8000 Rupees, approx $160 US for 2 people.

http://www.tharoasis.com/camp.php

Querky ... Diet Cock?

It’s been so nice to experience India like a local. So many times we go to a new destination for 2 nights and see the best tourist areas, nicest restaurants, fanciest hotels, get whisked through the chaos and then move on to the next city and repeat. Don’t get me wrong, it’s better than to not travel at all but it is so endearing to be able to stay in an area long enough to really experience it’s local flavor, character and culture. In being able to stay in an area long enough you can experience “normal life”; go for a leisurely walk, have down time during the day to hear the local sounds, to taste their comfort food and not just the traditional dishes, to walk in their fields, to feel comfortable and not intimidated by the local people and to make friends. Through this experience there are revelation and some things that are just different, fun and quirky!

It’s fun to laugh at the quirky…….

Who would know that you cannot take pictures inside a McDonalds? I do now!

I hadn’t realized that India is a part of Asia, and not the Middle East, and you can get some really good Asian food here. Chow mein, Garlic Chili Salad, Sushi, Spring Rolls, Won tons, etc

Behind ugly walls are beautiful hidden courtyards, pools and fabulous architecture.

At the “mall”, your purchases are taken out front and you collect them when you leave.

For a country of small people, they sure enjoy their sweets!

The French fries in India rock! I think it’s because they don’t restrict the saturated fat like we do in the US now. They are crispy and delicious!!

The trunk of a car is called a bonnet. The hood is called a boot. Why? Who knows…..

You can build a beautiful mansion for the same price as 4 prosthetic legs!! Leave it to us to figure that out!!

They don’t use washcloths, just hand towels and bath towels.

When you get a massage they give you these funky paper underwear to wear.

Only the driver on a motorcycle is required to wear a helmet. Passengers, and I say plural, because we have seen up to a family of 5 on a motorbike, need not wear head protection.

I would have never imagined that Indian wine is very good. Sula Sauvignon Blanc is my friend!

If you are watching a TV show where someone is smoking or drinking, a public service announcement will go across the screen warning of the dangers.

You cannot get diet coke from a fountain soda machine, only a tall, skinny can of diet coke, although real coke is available, with sprite and orange fanta from the fountain machine.

A standard Indian lock is still a skeleton key.

Animals, people, and cars coexist without fences.

Indian people plaster their walls with cow dung.

It’s perfectly normal to see a camel towing a cart down the highway.

And, a misspelling can bring laughter to this author !!  Diet Cock????

　
　

Joanne Sheldon

Joanne Sheldon

In 1985 I graduated travel school and got my first job at Carefree Travel in Pleasanton, CA. My manager was this middle aged women who smoked in her office (it was accepted back then!), was fun, crazy and whose goal was to bring me out of my quiet shell and make me a good travel agent. I began booking Joanne’s cars and hotel reservations in the mornings and then delivering airline tickets in my personal car in the afternoons. Not soon after, United Airlines went on strike and Carefree Travel needed all the travel agent help they could get and I was thrown to the wolves. My travel career at begun!

Joanne was worldly, had been in travel for years and years and her stories would have me blush from my toes to my hair. While sitting in her office blushing over another of her stories, we realized that Joanne’s daughter and I were the same age. She introduced us and from Day One Joanne’s daughter, Michelle, and I have been best friends!! Joanne was the “cool mom”. She was the one who would take us to bars when we were underage. She taught me about going to happy hour after a long day of travel. She taught me about going to travel seminars to eat the free food and drink the free booze, while learning about a destination or company. She would “work it”, and at 19 yrs old, living with my parents, with a new best friend and a cool work people my life forever changed.

As the years continued and the travel industry changed, Joanne and I worked for different companies but were forever entwined because of Michelle and my friendship. Engagements, bridal showers, weddings, divorces, baby showers, babies, baptisms, birthday parties, holidays, graduations and hospital visits, she remained my 2^nd mom, or BoAnne as the kids started calling her so many years ago.

Joanne would always called Meghan “Little Bob” because Meg looks so much like her dad. One of Meghan‘s baby pictures in a Christmas card, Joanne said that it was Bob‘s face with a pink bow.. She would also say to Michelle and I that we would follow each other off a cliff. YEP! Joanne could wear a wig like no other person I’d known and poke fun at herself doing it. Joanne taught me how to make the BEST stuffed mushrooms.. On more than one occasion Joanne and I would make gravy from scratch in Michelle’s kitchen on a holiday….. A little of this and a little of that! She also made the best stuffed pears at the holidays and sour cream fudge, which I need to find my recipe. We would joke that she needed to give me the recipe before she died. J

Joanne was a cat with 9 lives. She fought multiple cancers, a massive heart attack, and all kinds of hospital stays due to the effects of smoking. Michelle says she had a portable ashtray in her purse when 911 took her by ambulance to the hospital. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is beer in her fridge too. These bring big smiles and laughter because that was BoAnne!!!

Joanne succumbed to organ failure last night as this cat had no more lives left. She is now in heaven, sitting in her chair, cigarette in one hand, beer in the other, watching food network and sports and she no longer has to worry about bad arteries, shortness of breathe, and Michelle and I getting in trouble.

RIP BoAnne and give my daddy a hug for me!

Wedding Reception

Wedding Reception

The fifth and final day of the wedding is the reception. Again, much food, family and tradition. The road was closed and fabric was brought in for the floor, walls set up, a stage decorated with silk flowers, fabric and 2 chairs atop for the bride and groom. Two rooms set up for eating, one for the men and the other for the women. This is not segregation or discrimination, it’s just the way it is. It’s what the Indian’s expect and what works. The invitation stated 6pm, well that’s an “Indian 6pm” so at 8pm the groom came out and greeted us first. Photos of the groom feeding Randy sweets and then it was my turn. The groom spooned up a dough ball soaked in simple syrup (this is the best I can describe it) and then another spoonful of a nut crumble with sweet sauce ( again, excuse my oversimplified description!) So many picture and video of us!! We felt so very honored to be included and the families seemed just as honored to have us in attendance!!

There is NO language barrier when it comes to times of happiness. There are always children running around having fun. Children are always fascinated with new people and having their picture taken. There is always a crazy aunt. Someone always falls,. Women always want to make sure you have eaten enough. The groom is overjoyed and the new wife is timid and quiet. Women always enjoy each others bangles and jewelry. There is always a little grandmother that stands 4 feet high that speaks in her native language as if everyone understands. AND when it’s time for you to leave you never are ready to say goodbye.
　

Satu's New Arrival

Satu’s new arrival

Who would have thought that 7 months ago when Satu told us that he and his wife were expecting that we would be in Jodhpur at the time of their new arrival!

We were woken up by a phone call sharing the wonderful news of a new baby girl! Satu wanted to send a car to come get us so we could come to the hospital and share in their joy. This was not an opportunity we wanted to miss!!

Our driver whisked us across town to the hospital where we were met out front by a beaming new father! The hospital is more of what us American’s would think of as a clinic. Small, lots of people, sparce in detail, and furniture from the 50’s. We proceeded to pass the crowded pharmacy and through the short hallway to the elevator. It was the type of elevator that you see in the movies where there is a metal accordian screen on the floor side and then another on the elevator side, as in a building under construction or an industrial flat. As we walked into the hospital room, we were greeted with all smiles from the family and a beautiful baby girl lying on the bed next to her beautiful mother! Colorful sarees and veils on the women, large smiles on the men as they offered Randy sweets in celebration!

I was instantly handed the new baby and my heart filled with so much love. I am the US Grandmother, none-the-less!!! A baby is a baby no matter what your language, culture, or religion. Life experiences as childbirth and weddings have no barriers to happiness and joy. We have been so very blessed to have been befriended by so many wonderful people through our journeys that have opened their lives up to us and included us as family!!

I wish all the best to the Satu Deora family with their growing family, and, by the way, Linnea would make a wonderful Indian name!

The Wedding

The Wedding

Wow!!!! What an amazing life experience!! Words nor pictures can explain or do justice to the evening we were so honored to be apart of. The groom is the cousin of my Indian “son” Satu and we were excited to receive an invitation. Indian weddings go on for days and is full of culture, tradition and family.  Where American wedding revolve around the bride, Indian weddings are all about the groom!  Once Randy and I got dressed into our Indian dress clothes Satu whisked us to the venue. Upon arrival we were escorted into a large hall for the grooms family. Basically it was all the men but I was fortunate enough to be included. The hall was filled with mattresses and blankets where the men could relax. The grooms room, off to one side, was our first stop. We wished him congratulations and had MANY pictures taken. Somehow this white man and woman (Gora and Gori) were one of the highlights of the day. Paparazzi and Brangellina come to mind!!

Following the congratulations began the grooms parade. The beautifully dressed groom atop a horse led the procession to the brides home. This parade consisted of the groom on horseback being followed by a man carrying a green branch, a full marching band, a tuk tuk carrying a generator that powered lights held on the heads of many to light the way and hundreds of male friends and family members. Every few mintues the group would stop and the music would blare, dancing would begin and firecrackers would be set off. Neighbors out on their balconies and traffic watching every step of the way. The parade ended at the brides home where all the men sat on fabric in the street, brides men on one side and grooms men on the other. Randy and I felt like royalty as the only 2 chairs set up were for us and in the front row!! All were given a red blessing on their foreheads as individuals shook hands and introduced themselves around.

As the groom proceeded into the brides home for continued ceremony, we headed back to the party venue for dinner. Many of our drivers from our time in India were in attendance and continued to take care of us royally as they always do. The food was plentiful and delicious. Indian sweets and all the yummy staples of Indian cuisine. Daal, mixed veg, chipati, chilis, cucumbers, radish, delicious tomato soup and much much more.

As much as we were excited to be a part of such a lovely wedding, people were thrilled to see us!! Many hand shakes, introductions, special treatment, etc. They wanted to make sure that we experienced everything and would whisk us to the front of the Groom’s procession and had front row seats for us at the brides home, they cleared a table special for us at the dinner and even wanted to give us a ride home in the decorated car intended for the bride and groom!! Tomorrow evening continues the party with the reception that we look forward to.

AND, we thought American weddings were exhausting!!!    …….

　

A Normal Indian Day ....

A normal Indian Day….

My day started as if I was in America. I got up, got ready, Randy went off to work and I had some errands and shopping to be done before we went to Jodhpur for the weekend. We had a wedding to go to! My driver picks me up and takes me to the pharmacy to fill a “prescription” for Randy. Now I use the word prescription loosely. It’s a folded piece of normal paper with 3 Rx scribbled with a date and signature. My driver drops me near the “medicine shop” in our local village and we park in the dirt, I dodge cars, buses, motorcycles and cows as I run across the street. Upon paying I am given the prescription back. Interesting!

We continue our drive into Jodhpur….. My Indian pseudo son, Satu, met me at the hotel to take me shopping for a dress. We proceed to the “mall”, which is like an old Woolworths that has a little of everything and walk to the back where there is a bunch of fabric. I will preface this by saying I am aware I am not the smallest person and I also realize that in American standards I am not the largest either. In Indian standards I am an amazon! The lady proceeds to take my measurements while saying select English words … fatty, thick, unhealthy, and you need to run was understood in English and then many other comments in Indian that Satu was kind as to not translate. Thank goodness I am aware of my “thickness” and have a solid self esteem!!!   In 3 hours time my dress would be ready. Now I need sandals….. Okay I wear an 8 ½ in US sizes, again, here I am an amazon woman. The largest Indian size is 12 and that’s my size. Now bangles … I have small hands and wrists BUT they had to go to the biggest sizes under the counter to accommodate my girth! Satu and I proceed to pickup the boys new suits, get some Sula Sauvignon Blanc for momma J , and grab some lunch. Fun afternoon with my “son”!

It is wedding time and tourist season in Rajasthan. The weather is wonderful; warm in the afternoons and cool at night. There is no need for a/c or heater. Our favorite hotels in Jodhpur are either unavailable or nearly $400/night US. We trusted another friend to find us a hotel and I am pleasantly surprised that we have found a hotel for under $80 US that has character and all the modern conveniences we need. Beautiful garden, Havali type architecture, retro, eclectic, pool and 70’s Brady Bunch color walls and furniture style. The window in the bathroom strategically over the kitchen of the restaurant next door. Hmmmm??

After work Randy met me in Jodhpur in time to get ready for the wedding. Satu brought me my handmade outfit and his sister-in-law to help me get dressed. I have a entirely new appreciation for Indian women looking beautiful and being able to dress, work, walk, cook and take care of their children while looking so lovely in their sarees. Safety pins, tight knots, proper tucking and always holding your headpiece, oh my! She taught me how to dress with seams in the correct direction, correct folds, etc. Then to complete my outfit she took the forehead decoration off of herself and put it on me. Endearing act of kindness!

Randy in his handmade Indian suit and myself in my handmade Indian dress and off to the wedding we go…..

http://innseasonjodhpur.com/

India .... I'm baack!

I must say that coming to India a second time is much easier. I am not as intimidated by the congestion of people, noises, and vehicles. I actually find that I missed a lot of the quirks and idiosyncrasies that I associate to India: honking of the buses and cars, slums with satellite dishes mounted on top, spicy food, the “bobble-head” answers and animals & people sharing the same land. Hard to put the experience into words and pictures but the colorful country and people capture you.

Upon arrival into Mumbai it came clear that this wasn’t my 1^st time. I am no longer a tourist. I don’t look like a target. I walked with purpose. I wasn’t interrogated by customs, I knew the drill of the constant security checks, I knew when to get pushy and when to allow the men to be gentlemen. As I walked into the arrival courtyard and found the Renaissance sign and met my driver outside the gate, I was soooo happily surprised by a familiar voice asking “Can I help you ma’am?” My wonderful husband had met me in Mumbai! I probably shocked a few Indian’s as my refluxes shot out and swatted him on the face, but oh well! Now with Randy here I could let down my guard and have him be in charge. The mental part of my vacation has now begun!

Flight delay after flight delay, my 3am arrival into Mumbai turned into a 7am wakeup call for Randy as I wasn’t having any part of sleep. Our driver dropped us off at the domestic terminal, Randy enjoyed the familiar KFC and me a $16 vodka tonic and off we flew from Mumbai to Jodhpur. Another driver and we were on our way out to the Rajasthan Thar Desert. An ATM stop, wine stop, cigarette stop and we are on our way. Another stop for the driver to get newspaper to put in the window to block the sun and next thing you know I was being woken up as we arrived the Thar Oasis Resort. Home sweet home.

Good to be back at the Thar. Familiar faces, progress in their construction and the same children playing at their gates. I befriended the children the last time I was here and was happy to see their enthusiasm when they saw me back again. The crazy white lady is back! This time I came prepared with fun things I thought they would enjoy… bubbles, jump rope, color crayons and activity books. Candy, a train whistle and glow in the dark bracelets. Nothing made me happier than watching the kids and teens blow bubbles and laugh and share an experience even though we didn’t share the same language. They even let the crazy white lady hold the new baby… too much fun!

Day 2 of Randy going to work and me relaxing at the Thar Oasis. The weather is so much better than when I was here in September. Cool enough in the evening to wear a sweatshirt and low 80’s in the afternoons. I’ve opened up our cottage to the fresh air and sunshine, ceiling fan overhead and sounds of the musical honks on the highway. India is not for the weary but it sure has it’s appeal.

 http://tharoasis.com