My Visit to The Palace

I mentioned awhile back, my friend from work, Rain. Rain's Indian, and last night I was invited to a housewarming party that her and her brother hosted. She had told me that the furniture they got sent over from India made the place look like a palace. She wasn't kidding!!!

I was very impressed. Huge, beautiful house, neat and clean as could be (passed Marty's test of cleanliness, which is pretty strict! haha), and it really was ornately decorated. There were little "temples" (she called them) set up to Ganesha and other Gods, and it felt like a very consecrated place.

I thought about my own place by comparison. What a s***hole! haha Just Kidding. Bean and I keep a nice place, also, but very different. My furniture is all based around softness and comfort, and looks like it came from Sears (which it did), not a palace. ha Our motifs are all centered around entertainment-type things we love....my book collection is my favorite, followed by my toy collection (displayed in cases; I am such a NERD! ha), and my movie collection, and my music collection...damn, I have collected a lot. And this does not even begin to touch my Halloween and Christmas decorations! I do have Easter out now. But H-Ween...that stuff is the best.

I have a lot of family photos up too. So does Bean. She has her lighthouse and snow globe collections out. And that's really about it. I don't have any pictures or monuments to God out, other than a few cross candles and a "Miracles Happen" sign. And the colors....Rain has such vibrant, fresh colors in her house. I want to live THERE!!! ha We rent this house, so all walls are off-white. We could paint, I'm sure, but we don't go to the trouble. But even in decoration, we choose bland, plain colors. That's why I love Christmas decorating, I suppose-all of the bright red and green really makes a difference.

Most impressive, though, were the people I met. Such friendly, funny, sweet people! I loved them all. I wish we (Americans) had half as much of that type of personality. I guess some of us do; I try to bring humor and positivity in where I can. But I think Americans are weighed down by a sense of needing to accomplish SO MUCH...I think we forget the simple things in life. I think we have so much stress and anxiety that we place on ourselves...that we lose sight of real joy. I'm not speaking for all Americans, of course. Just as the people I met do not represent all Indians. But from what I saw, regardless of nationality, there was a different way of thinking there....and I loved it.

Or maybe this is all just me and my observations. I'm a fairly quiet person, especially in social situations, because 1) I'm just shy like that and 2) I'd much rather observe others. It's the writer in me. And the detail-oriented person. I spent a good part of the time talking to one of Rain's (American) friends from college, and while I loved chatting with him (note to self: Get his number! His name was Ben. I have said for the last 20 years that I will name my son Ben, if I have one. It's a sign!!!), after he left, I chatted with one of her male Indian friends, and wow, what a difference! Ben was great to talk to, but the other guy, was just so sweet and calm, and it was a completely different type of conversation.

I love all types, honestly, and enjoy the differences. So that was fun. And I tried Indian food for the first time. I liked it! I kept looking for the chicken. haha (They are vegetarian; Rain has never eaten meat in her life. Wow. Good for her!)

So when Rain goes back to India, I will visit. I have to! I have to visit lots of places. It's a big world out there, and I encourage any readers to look for those different experiences. It's worth it!