Welcome to The Golden State

 #USA

Post#14

Welcome to The Golden State

June 1992. We had relocated from Chicago to Garden Grove, California. This time we got a 2 bedroom furnished apartment in the lane adjoining the Crystal Cathedral. Abhay’s medical center was a 5-10 minute drive from our new home.

 In every way,California was much expensive than Illinois. The rents were twice as much or more compared to Chicago. Abhay’s fellowship salary was the only source of income at the time. Car payment, apartment rent and a child’s expenses (diapers, wipes, baby formula and baby foods) took away a large chunk. Even then we felt we had everything plus more.

Although I had been reluctant to leave Chicago, once in California I got more freedom because of the weather. The whole circus of layered clothing, thick jackets, gloves, boots and head coverings stopped. Literally it took me 30 minutes to get ready in Chicago and a bit more during the pregnancy. Here it was pick up the keys and leave. I would drop off Abhay to his work and have the car to myself all day. I cooked in the mornings, took fresh poli bhaaji lunch for him every day to his workplace. He would sit in the car and eat. Again I went to pick him after work in the evening. Amita was in tow. His co-fellow in the department of oncology lived in the same apartment as we did and she and her husband had become good friends with us. She would envy the service Abhay got each day. 

Once I delivered the lunch I was free to go gallivanting and exploring new things in a 15-20 miles radius of our home. I would tuck Amita in her car seat , turn on the cassette with Pt. Bhimsen Joshi’s abhangas in the car; she would enjoy them and never cry in the backseat. First thing I went and found out was the fish market on Westminster. Other than food it was just window shopping. Never bought myself any clothes or other personal items when I was not earning. I did indulge however in buying pretty girls dresses for my princess. That was the primary reason I wanted a girl.To doll her up. Couldn’t have had so much fun if it was a boy.

The girl was born tall at 21.5 inches and kept growing taller and taller within days. Sheela tai had given us her boys’ crib to use for Amita when we moved. She could soon hold and stand in her crib. One day I stepped just for a moment out of sight and next thing this girl had put her leg over the crib , followed by another and fallen out on the carpet. Luckily not much damage done. That was the last time I let her be in that crib. She wasn’t quite 8 months of age at the time.

We would meet Sheela tai ( SIL) and her family frequently. Either they would come over or we would go see them in San Diego. Those were the years when we saw all the San Diego attractions : Sea World, San Diego zoo, Legoland and Wild Animal Park. Sheela tai loved kids and was always excited to spend time with Amita. 

In June or July that year Aai conducted the munja of Sheela tai’s both sons in San Diego before she returned to India.

Disneyland was just a few blocks from where we lived. We went there frequently with Amita. Some weekends we went to nearby places like Big Bear.

Abhay had established connections with a group of his Grant medical college mates. They became my friends too. I was beginning to like California.

It was 6 months since we’d moved from Chicago and before we realized it was December. Amita’s first birthday was celebrated with Sheelatai and our new friends and their kids at Chuck-E-Cheese pizza parlour. 

Sometime in early spring 1993 my parents paid a visit. It was my aai’s first ever visit to the country and both Aai and Baba were seeing Amita for the first time. They were so elated to hold her and indulge her.

We took them to Disneyland and to San Diego . Did a drive to see the Grand Canyon and Sedona rock formations in Arizona via Las Vegas and to the Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks, San Francisco and along the Pacific Coast Highway in California. Throughout the long drives the only sure shot way to make Amita sit restrained in her car seat was to play a Bhimsen Joshi cassette. Her most favorite of all was Aarambhi  Vandeen Ayodhyecha Raja .

My parents stayed barely for a month and went back immediately as they were both working.

I had cleared both Parts 1 &2 of FMGEMs before leaving from Chicago but there was no call yet for Green Card. It was too late to apply for that cycle of residency. I decided it was perfect time for the next baby.  By early April 1993 I was expecting again. Within weeks of this news I got a call for my Green Card interview which was to be at the US consulate in Mumbai in May.

I was so excited. I hadn’t been home in more than 2.5 years. Green card would mean I could apply for residency. I expected to get the Green card , stay for a month in India and come back to resume my antenatal care here. Little did I know what a nightmare awaited me !!

When I posted the Rajmata saree there was discussion about Jijamata saree. I am showcasing one with this post. This is in a shade of Rani pink leaning towards red with a border in black . The jari design on the border is the hallmark of this saree. Pallu typically is very simple with broad bands in white or jari. They would come with buttis on the body as well. They were available in a large number of really beautiful colors both bright shades and pastels.The silk of these sarees was 1 or 2 ply making these very light to wear as well as easy on the pocket. And yet they looked dressy to wear for special occasions. It was not surprising therefore that they had become such a rage in the late 80s through the 90s. I am told they are still sold in some shops in Pune.