| Leaving my tiny flat is increasingly more difficult, | | | | He eyed me from bindi to sandals, taking in my |
| as preparation to get out the door requires more | | | | "unconventional" (for Cape Cod) attire, with a look |
| breath and effort than I can muster these days. | | | | of pure contempt. I turned to the other man. His |
| So I try very hard to make the most of times I | | | | face was open and friendly, willing to help as he |
| am able to venture forth, precariously driving with | | | | inquired about the overheating of my car. He |
| one hand on the wheel and the other pressed to | | | | seemed shamed by the garage man's behavior. |
| my throat, allowing me to breathe and lift my | | | | This gracious man deftly handled the rather |
| head enough to see where I am going. | | | | dangerous looking job of opening the radiator cap |
| After wrapping myself in a brilliant vintage sari | | | | as a cloud of hot vapor escaped, then bubbled |
| from my treasured E-Bay Sari walla, I headed for | | | | and gurgled as he filled the radiator with water |
| the library, where the librarian ladies vicariously | | | | and advised me on where I should go to have |
| enjoy my Indian garb while nibbling the home | | | | the car checked out thoroughly. |
| made treats I bring to them. It was a hot and | | | | This garage was not even his business, yet he |
| sunny day when my old reliable 1990 Toyota | | | | was kind enough to assist me and even refused |
| overheated, forcing me to pull off the road and | | | | to take my money when I tried to pay him. All |
| consult the user manual to see what I should do. | | | | this time, the garage man sat, watching with his |
| After a struggle in raising the hood and finding the | | | | vile smirk which transformed his rather nice |
| coolant chamber empty, I approached a woman | | | | features into an ugly visage. I have stopped at |
| working in her garden and asked if she would be | | | | this garage several times in the past, and this |
| so kind as to give me some water for my car. | | | | man has always attended me with prompt |
| She looked surprised, then smiled radiantly and | | | | courtesy when I was dressed in western clothes. |
| said "Oh! Your gown is beautiful!" The annoyance | | | | I left that garage with half my heart sinking at |
| of my overheated engine eased as her pleasure | | | | the attitude of the garage man, and half lifted by |
| in my sari lightened my concerns. I thanked her | | | | the other's kindness. |
| for the water, filled the coolant chamber and | | | | What makes people react with contempt at the |
| headed for the nearest garage. | | | | sight of something different? What would make a |
| I stopped at a place where I had done business in | | | | person so judgmental at the sight of a foreign |
| past weeks. The same man who attended me | | | | garment as indisputably lovely as sari? I wish this |
| before was seated in his little enclosure. I got out | | | | man's bigoted attitude was a rare exception in the |
| of the car and once again battled with the hood, | | | | American character, but as I later went shopping |
| trying to quell the ever present angst at the | | | | for groceries and caught disconcerting looks from |
| reason for my physical limitations, hoping to get | | | | every direction, I fear this intolerance is more |
| this car problem fixed with the least amount of | | | | common than I care to ponder. This experience |
| effort possible. | | | | has not dampened my love for wearing saris. It |
| I looked toward the enclosure to see if the man | | | | has only strengthened my determination to adorn |
| was heading out to assist me. He was not. He | | | | myself in them as often as possible.. for my own |
| was sitting with his feet up on his little desk, | | | | enjoyment and hopefully, to expose my narrow |
| hands behind his head, just watching me with a | | | | minded countrymen to the beauty of another |
| perverse smirk on his face. I waited and waited. | | | | culture.. As I look around and see virtually |
| He continued to sit and stare, until I finally walked | | | | everyone dressed as if they are ready for a day |
| towards his enclosure. Meanwhile, another man | | | | of cutting the grass or pulling weeds in the |
| from the business next door must have seen me | | | | garden, I know my sari momentarily enriches its |
| waiting and was headed toward the enclosure, | | | | immediate environment..a bright and beautiful gift |
| perhaps thinking the garage man was unaware he | | | | from India. |
| had a customer. I stepped into the presence of | | | | Dhanyavaad, favored sari-walla. You brighten my |
| these two men and the body language displayed | | | | days. |
| by the garage man hit me like a slap in the face. | | | | Namaste. |