Vila's Revenge
With the recent spate of political warmth generated by the Bush visit and the resulting nuclear pact, I was concerned about the effect a second routing of an Indian tennis star would have. It was my intent, therefore, to lay back and just hit with Vilas. How was I to know that, unlike Chetel, Vilas does have a backhand. How was I to know that in the not too distant past Vilas has played with an up and coming Indian female tennis player who was in the Pacific Open and is (Sania, that is) now ranked 31. 6-0, 6-0, and it could have been worse. Rematch coming.
Spent last night on a floating casino playing blackjack and five card stud. Dinner, Arabian dancing girls (Scheherazade type) and actually won 2000 rupees; that's around $48. Sensing an inverse relationship between between my tennis and gambling success, I may turn it down a notch with Vilas.
Spent the morning with Mike (his Indian name is more difficult) a local jeweler with whom I have been negotiating. I feel like a babe in the woods and we are in his woods. The clincher was my jumping on the back of his motor scooter and going with him to a hovel in Panjim, the capital of Goa, where a Bengali family spends their entire day producing jewelry of his designs. I admired how cleverly he connected the price he is asking me to pay to their livelihood.
Rematch--Vilas made a strategic mistake. He had Samir serve as a ball boy which reduced the effect of the age spread considerably. Result: 6-3, 6-1.
Rematch at the casino-lost 4500 rupees--
Oh! What?? Vilas won. Got a good laugh out of Vilas and Samir when I observed the obvious unfairness of 330,000,000 gods and goddesses against one.
Flying to Mumbai today. Love
posted by Mel @ 8:24 PM
5 Comments:
dear mel, loved your tennis match. i think you should arrange to have ball boys at birchwood. we are all excited about your jewelery shopping. it sounds like you were doing a great job with mike until he showed the reality of who does the work but we are still excited. take good care. we are waiting to hear about munbai. love you and miss you, susan
I feel like I am travelling with you, tennis and all. 6-0 sounds about right for me too. Keep the letters coming. Iim lovin it!
Bonnie
Gueetar or Sitar
You have been in India long enough to need a Caste (or cast for tennis elbow). Suggestions range from Carpenter Caste to Lawyer Caste which is just above the Uncollectibles. Final recommendation is the Mensaheeb Caste. They meet at the big schul for talmood studies.
Your picaresque peripatetic palimpset is in the pattern of Pausanias' (2nd Century) Guide to Greece, the first Baedeker, and Herodotus'(5th Century BC)Persian Wars, the first History.
As a gueetarist you may need to sing - as in Chanson de Roland (8th Century)accompanied by your Gueetar, or is it now Sitar?
Bravo. Marc
Dear Mel
Enjoyed your commentary on women. But as a member of NOW I take some offense. Somehow being compared to a cow, no matter how sacred it is, is unflattering. Your blog is great and your man on the street travelogue really fun to read. You should know that in your absence Ron has started to grow a mustache and taken to wearing his shirt hanging out of his pants. So not to worry, your house is in order. Enjoy your trip. Love, Sulie
Hi Mel:Your trip sounds real exciting. Your blog is fun to read! An entry from you in Hindi or Urdu now, is all we really need!At this point I wouldn't be totally surprised if you were to oblige. Keep the updates coming.
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