It’s almost Day 21 of the lockdown (extended to 40 days after this post), which is cause for celebration, although the unofficial word is that it will be extended for another two weeks. It’s not yet announced, but I’m prepared to continue to make Rishikesh my home until the end of the month.
At this point I should start counting the lockdown in weeks rather than days as it will be a total of 5 weeks by April’s end. May 1st is my new target date, so to make it through without losing my sanity I will need to mentally reset my sights and figure out the best way to use this time going forward. Feeding animals is definitely part of the regular schedule.
On the upside, the cafe across the street now has Indian food available, or as it’s called here — food. Prior to a few days ago, only breakfast and pizza were able to be ordered. The workers at the cafe are friendly and I’ve begun to learn their names and introduce myself as well, one of those social courtesies I don’t always think to do but feel is important.
Asking a person what their name is sends a message. It says I see you as an individual and not as a faceless stranger in a crowd. Or at least that’s what I like to believe it does. Perhaps I’ll try to make it more of a habit going forward.
If I had a wish list right now and a magic lockdown lamp with a rapping blue genie inside, there are three primary items I’d want granted: laundry, cafe, and a walk.
- Although my laundry washing skills via the shower are improving, things would really be flowing if I could get my clothes professionally washed. As is, I cycle through the same few outfits because they’re easiest to manage. I also tend to use more detergent than I should to ensure they are clean. There’s no art or science to my technique.
- Second up, I would appreciate being able to go somewhere aside from my hotel room to sit down and have a cappuccino instead of getting it to go each time. I can loiter about outside the grocery store or cafe for a bit, but there’s no place to have a proper sit down and relax, though I have had a few conversations as of late in a desperate attempt to connect socially.
- And finally, my wish is to be able to walk around aimlessly and explore more of the area. Roaming the streets isn’t allowed during the lockdown and is particularly enforced after 1pm. A group of foreigners were found chilling by the Ganges River and were punished by having to write “I’m Sorry” 500 times. Cue an image of old school Bart Simpson at the chalkboard during The Simpsons intro. Other violators of the lockdown have been hit with sticks. So my third wish is to take a stroll along the dusty roads to arrive at the banks of the magical Ganges River as I did when I first arrived here.
As I don’t have a magic lamp handy at the moment, I’ll put my wishes out into the ether of the universe and see if anything manifests, willing to take what I can get with or without a catchy musical montage.
WRITING REFLECTIONS
I chatted with a friend the other night in which the topic of community came up. He’s had a dream for some time that all his friends will one day live as next door neighbors in a small community. Sounds a little cult-ish, but I get where he’s coming from as he grew up in India before moving to the States as a teenager, and so the idea of community is ingrained in him.
He tells stories of how people stop by each other’s houses unannounced to visit for hours at a time. The house owners are happy to host their unexpected visitors, welcoming them as part of the family and treating them as such.
In his hometown a few hours north of Mumbai, there is no need for a babysitter as it is everyone’s responsibility to take care of each and every child, embodying the philosophy that “It takes a village.” I highly doubt the kids get away with much mischief with so many watchful eyes on them.
Open doors are the norm where my friend is from.
So are open hearts.
Because that’s what community is — people living together, sometimes out of necessity and sometimes by choice, but nevertheless deciding to share the moments of their lives with each other in a common bond of proximity and humanity.
I didn’t always appreciate the concept of community or fully understand what it had to offer. It’s value escaped me for the better part of my life. But having traveled for the last three and a half years, I have come to know different versions of it and to fortunately experience its welcoming warmth of familiarity firsthand.
And one thing I can affirm is you don’t have to fly across the globe to a different country, speak a different language or experience a different culture to find it.
Because community is where you are now.
Just like home.
Just like life.
To this day my friend’s dream has stayed true to its core, unwavering in the hope and desire to spend his time on this earth with the people he cares for most.
May we all be so lucky.