My Time Onboard the Junkfood Express
It is 9:00 PM in India, 11:30 AM in DC, and 3:30 PM in Morocco. I am on a train between New Delhi and Amritsar, currently somewhere in the state of Haryana. We are riding in 2nd Class Sleeper cars. I am writing this on a thin blue cot reminiscent of the beds in the school nurses office, those however contain far more padding. We left at about 7 PM and are due to arrive in Amritsar, home of the Golden Temple, at roughly 5 AM on the 18th of October, my best friend Paolo’s birthday. The locomotive is still in its golden age in India, however Tracy has said with the growing popularity of the “horseless-carriage” its glory days are fleeting…fast. It is a lovely and quaint way to travel. Your food is actually delivered to you, something those bastards at Amtrak could learn from. There are a plethora of goods being hawked at you constantly: pillows, chai, coffee, various foods, soda, water, even soap. The bathroom is literally a hole in the floor of the train. There are a number of sinks for hand washing, after all cleanliness is next to godliness. It is like a moving city, even the beggars will come on board, baby in one arm the other stuck out with hand open asking for rupees. It is a pitiful sight, I still can’t look them in the eye without feeling guilty, and then the tears begin to well up. I’ve become quite adept at holding back what would’ve only a month ago reduced me to an incoherent, sobbing wreck. At least I still feel it, thank god (take your pick: Jesus, numerous Hindu deities, Buddha, Singh, the Flying Spaghetti Monster) I still feel it.
I never want to get used to these feelings, stomach them maybe, but if I were ever to become numb to them, then part of me will surely have died. It lets me know I’m still alive, that I haven’t become complacent with injustice to the point that it no longer bothers me. Nothing, no one, deserves to be hungry, lonely, and homeless. Hitler was a very lonely man, so was Stalin…if only they’d had a few good friends, I have quite a surplus of friendship here in India. I’m a very lucky boy. Another train just zoomed by, it obliterated the placid air next to us, as well as my train of thought. Hot dang, are trains louder than hell. Hot dang, is India louder than hell. Sandy is waiting to use this so I better wrap it up.
I bought a Rs. 4300 pair of jeans yesterday. They are the most expensive jeans I have ever owned, however they are in style, and Amit has assured me that I look so badass in them. Tim, Wade, and I all bought jeans actually. We all look badass. Here’s to looking badass! I have dubbed us the three jean clad Biblical Magi. I’m Melchior, Wade is Balthasar, and Tim is Caspar. We are heading west to find the newborn king…hi ho, what an adventure I am on! That’s it for now.
The Frequency is Courage
-Doug B.
P.S. Happy 18th Birthday Paolo
Comments
It is a joy to read these.
Love, Dad
Posted by: Richard Bernstein | October 18, 2008 09:50 PM
just writing to say great entry (as they all are) and miss you tons. also about the jeans-- who knew India would turn you on to fashion?
Posted by: rebekah Bernstein | October 19, 2008 12:06 AM
Whoa, the Badass Magi! Cool. Is that a lot to spend? Those of us here in old faithful, where some parts of the country are 'pro-America' have lost our Rupee-Converters. (It's an election joke... the 'pro-America' thing.... Which reminds me. You are missing a very funny and important election. When you come home, be sure to go to nbc.com and see the entire video library of Tina Fey as Sarah Palin because it is some of the best entertainment America has produced. [Sorry if anyone is offended, but it IS funny!] And Even the REAL Sarah Palin was on SNL, so she isn't taking offense. It must be nice to have something to look forward to here in the Patriotic USofA.)
And what about Bollywood? Have you seen any good movies lately? And is there a Doug A? or a Doug C? That's the kind of thing I wonder at night?
Doug, I think it is awesome that you are filled with empathy and concern for those sad (and well-practiced) beggars. And I loved the story by your friend Sandy who played some kind of clapping game with street folks.
I know that they are touching your life and watering the seeds of compassion that will blossom in we-don't-know-what-yet form that will transform our planet... one little day at a time.. for all you Global LABradors!
It's wonderful to have a soft heart, and open eyes, and be aware of what needs to be done in the world. When we get zoned out with our Wii (Mario Cart ROCKS!), it's so easy to lose sight of those penetrating and needy eyes.
I predict you will never be lonely, because the world is your friend and you carry that with you in your soul. And each of you is discovering new strength, compassion, power and purpose. Ooh it will be so exciting to see what you all make of this crazy world.
Keep writing, and we love details. (What DO you folks eat, anyway?)
The frequency may be courage, but courage isn't frequent enough...
Your loyal reader, Suzie McFloozy
Posted by: Suzie McFloozy | October 20, 2008 02:06 AM