We, sort of, kicked off our vacation tonight by going to Marble Slab and eating ice cream while it rained heavily. Mom had mango with almonds, Mo got vanilla with rainbow sprinkles in a cone (just the way I like it), and I got the same thing in a cup (although I love cones) so Haiqa & I could share it.
We leave for New York City tomorrow morning. The packing is almost complete. My umbrella is still drying from today’s rain, so that, and my tooth brush & hair brush will be put in the suitcase tomorrow morning.
I have good memories of NYC from thirteen years ago.
December of 1995, Daddy had just had his bypass surgery in Florida & we had to stop at the JFK airport in NYC on our way back to Kuwait. It had snowed one day before and it was freezing. I took off my jacket and gave it to Mom who was shivering. We had eight hours to kill there. My Daddy’s friend, Uncle J (the family astrologer, Uncle B’s son, & the brother of Daddy’s best friend who was shot, I think at his shop in NYC… or was it Chicago?) came to see us. He took us out to an Afghani restaurant. Some ethnic musical instrument was being played on tape. The family, Uncle J, and Uncle J’s friend sat at a table. I don’t remember how the food was, but I remember being warm & cozy. I think I had ordered some tikkas. After lunch, we had some tea. The waiter brought out tea and solid sugar cubes. I put a sugar cube in my cup and stirred it, but it didn;t dissolve. Daddy told me that I was supposed to bite on the sugar cube and sip the unsweetened tea, let it sweeten in my mouth before I gulped it down, and keep the sugar cube between my teeth until the tea or the sugar cube, is finished. I remember the traffic was terrible & we were stuck for a long time.
This time, only 3/5th of the family is going to NYC. Mom will be staying at home, and Daddy will be us in spirit.
***
After writing the above post:
I: Yaar kya title rakhoon is post ka? [what should I title this post] How about “NYC, here we come” like you wrote in your e-mail?
Haiqa: How about “vacation?”
I: Yaar please be creative, aisa title to mein khood bhi rakh sakti thi [even I could choose a title like that]
Haiqa: How about “the big apple?”
I: Wo kya hota hai? [what's that?]
Haiqa (stressing): the BIG APPLE!
I: What’s that?
Haiqa: NYC!
I: Waqai? [really?]
Mo: Yes!
acha..:S