LillaThe Art of Debate [Squared]
November 8th 2006 03:03
Today I had a memory... a flashback to a time when in northern India near Dehli, stuck in the back of the weirdest looking old car you have ever seen. We were bailed up at a railway crossing that was closed for passing trains.
The trains had been passing for three hours ...
It was 40 in the shade and about 62C in the car. I had just scored a pack of Embassy 555 cigarettes from some persons uncle who worked in customs at the airport and had just given them to me, pro gratis - probably because I must've looked like I was about to override the first commandment if I didn't have one - immediately. (I can't believe I ever managed to give them up ...), anyway...
I'd been awake for days at this stage and two little stick-thin Indian cyclists in white billows and white turbans, suddenly collided into each other right outside my car window, where I was dying from nicotiene poisoning, heat exhaustion and dehydration. (I can't get out of the car to cool off because that would invite a crowd of men looking at me and touching my hair and all manner of things. I didn't know the 'chauffeur' well at the time, to trust which side of the 10% tip-line he would choose).... Looking back on it now, of course, I realise I was as safe as houses, but I had only been living in India for a few months at this stage and things were pretty ...different....
The two Indian cyclists start talking, louder.... louder .... and louder still.... they're grabbing each others lapels - well the wrangler equivalents - and they're verbally going at it hell for leather.
I've forgotten I'm dying and about the trains and really enjoying the debate. I can see through the cigarette - rocket fuel - haze... that neither really wants to make a big deal out of it.....however, the verbal ping-pong continues....
Twenty minutes later .... there is a pause. I call to my "chauffeur," laughing, thank God they sorted it out. He replies:
"Ooh Nooo Madam, *strong Indian accent* they have just been deciding where they should go to have the real fight about who was at fault in the accident."
The trains had been passing for three hours ...
It was 40 in the shade and about 62C in the car. I had just scored a pack of Embassy 555 cigarettes from some persons uncle who worked in customs at the airport and had just given them to me, pro gratis - probably because I must've looked like I was about to override the first commandment if I didn't have one - immediately. (I can't believe I ever managed to give them up ...), anyway...
I'd been awake for days at this stage and two little stick-thin Indian cyclists in white billows and white turbans, suddenly collided into each other right outside my car window, where I was dying from nicotiene poisoning, heat exhaustion and dehydration. (I can't get out of the car to cool off because that would invite a crowd of men looking at me and touching my hair and all manner of things. I didn't know the 'chauffeur' well at the time, to trust which side of the 10% tip-line he would choose).... Looking back on it now, of course, I realise I was as safe as houses, but I had only been living in India for a few months at this stage and things were pretty ...different....
The two Indian cyclists start talking, louder.... louder .... and louder still.... they're grabbing each others lapels - well the wrangler equivalents - and they're verbally going at it hell for leather.
I've forgotten I'm dying and about the trains and really enjoying the debate. I can see through the cigarette - rocket fuel - haze... that neither really wants to make a big deal out of it.....however, the verbal ping-pong continues....
Twenty minutes later .... there is a pause. I call to my "chauffeur," laughing, thank God they sorted it out. He replies:
"Ooh Nooo Madam, *strong Indian accent* they have just been deciding where they should go to have the real fight about who was at fault in the accident."
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Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
An Indian Italian person vs an Italian Indian person -- that would be a good fight.
Comment by Lilla
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*lol*
...can you imagine the arms and legs in this one...
a very silly thought, indeed...
but surely, a rare breed....
Lilla...
Comment by Little Angry Doll
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Comment by Wendi
Wendi
Comment by Lilla
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I'm afraid for me it is pretty norm - just following my passion. I have never compared my life to someone else’s. I believe I have lived my life in an ordinary way... I guess I do tend to carry my own measuring stick around... I'd never really thought about it not being ordinary before... doesn't everyone travel? Gee, I don't mean to brag... I have been very lucky in many ways, but my life has been utterly tragic in many other ways too... I discovered that life itself compensates...somehow... believe me, behind the good stories you wouldn't welcome the rest of it... and I will post some of it in time... as it percolates down and crystallises enough for words. It’s partly why I started this particular blog… there is much information to sort through….maybe the title was an attempt at humour after all… a poor one perhaps…. But truly, I know so many people that have travelled far and wide and consider it a normal thing to do in life.
Having said all that, I must admit actually living in India was a bit of a treat, but then so was Moscow, and Romania... and a dozen other places... but like most travellers, after 20 years of living out of suitcases, I grew weary of being on the road... however, as my children now grow to young adults, the wanderlust is stirring again after years of settled suburban living and family raising ... There are still a couple travel chapters to write in my travel memoirs yet I feel...meanwhile, I spend my time chronologing (is that a word?) all the other 99 chapters that I have lived…both good and bad.
Surely, you've travelled to far off places too...?
I’ve been thinking about how to post my Memoir of Moscow for days now... my problem has been where to split the story. I’ve written it in a rare style of collage-form - as an exercise in writing that style and form ... I fear splitting it may loose its impetus … *pondering*
I am always amazed at how the simplest comments generate the longest responses...maybe we could debate it...?
…glad you came.
Comment by Lilla
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Thanks, as I said I will work on a couple more for me as well as for those who enjoy the read...
Good to see you again...
Lilla...
Comment by JoshZ
Never!
Bloody hell, that worse than us irish. Great arguement though. Umm, LIlla, isn't the first commandment to Love God with all your heart, mind soul and strength? Or are we talking of different creeds?
Comment by Lilla
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I may appear a little dumb right now, {I've just woken up}.... but I don't know what you mean... I cannot see where in relating this story you could have found any inference to warrant your statement...?
Are you suggesting that they did not love God because they were arguing...?
Are you suggesting that I would not have told this story if I loved God....?
Are you suggesting I was stuck at the railway barrier dying, becuase I had failed to love God...?
I am really at a loss as to your meaning, sir, sorry.... can you elaborate...?
Lilla...
Comment by Damo
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They went off into the crowded distance and I couldn't follow because of my situation...
So, like me, you will always wonder.. sorry.
Lilla...
Comment by JoshZ
And I am not that kind of christian. I don't like beating up on people, or Bible bashing. It doesn't help, it doesn't make people fell better. Kind of goes against what christians should actually do.
Comment by Lilla
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…thanks for clearing that up... I was working on the assumption that the first commandment was 'Thou Shalt Not Kill.'??? I hope I got it right, doesn't matter if not because I know it's was one of them... anyway my point was, that, at that time I was a really very heavy smoker (rolled my own and everything) and where I was living (being a foreigner) I could not just go to the corner store to get some... Nobody in the family I was staying with (which was an influential one locally) smoked and understood my miserable plight of total drug addiction... nobody understood what it was like to be a slave to the cursed weed ... I had moaned and groaned, sweated and threatened, cajoled and pleaded and actually was granted the chauffeur driven car to go out to the airport to get them from said relative. We were on our way back from the airport when the incident above took place.
I despise violence in any form ... but somehow the incident was a heads up from spirit that two halves of me were at war over some issue…. I didn’t fully twig then of course, because I was dehydrated and floating on nicotine and rocket fuel again after a few days of withdrawal, and still suffering quite a bit of culture shock… Looking back on it now, it may well have been a subliminal turning point because some 10 years later I quit smoking for real... I used everything to do it... patches, those deadly Zyban tablets and chewed the gum for ever... but it didn’t kill me and I did it and I have never looked back, since.
I hope that’s what you wanted to know(?) and agree with your views on that kind of christianity.
Thanks for asking.
Lilla…
Comment by Lilla
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on second thoughts, either your first commandment or mine would have been overridden, but perhaps we can debate which one is the right one...or the fact that they are virtually one and the same....(?)
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
Can`t believe I missed this one! I love hearing people`s travel stories... the ring around the moon sounded heavenly ... I could picture you sitting there in the car with all of this going on and had to have a quiet chuckle.
Amazing how in hindsight these things appear funny when at the time you are wondering what will happen. Ug and that gagging for a cig? My word I can relate. It was fun trying to roll them in the English wind and rain ~chuckle~
You have certainly been to the more interesting parts of the world!
Ash
Comment by Lilla
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… it was so unique… that Dehradon moon I mean, as was Rodriguez back then. Do you know, I was commenting on another site a few days ago, about having given all my records to someone to travel in 1989 - some 200 albums – and whilst I was away for two years, they turned into a drug addict and sold all my albums for dope. I never did replace my Rodriguiz; and I just thought of that at KSP the other night when we talked about the moon… incredible!
OMG… I am still laughing some 20 years on, but not about the albums, about this episode!
Ash, where in the world isn’t interesting, even Brisbane *chuckle* I'm so glad I kicked that habit...
Glad it gave you a chuckle too.
Lots luv
Lilla …
Comment by Lilla
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Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
Ouch not a pleasant experience... considering their worth. At least CD`s can be readily replaced.
The ads are a slight worry aren`t they? I have seen some real doozies on my travels around Orble.
Jazzy love n hugs
Ash
Comment by Lilla
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How did the weekend turn out? Good weather for it... I had to take young one out on Saturday for two Bellydncing performances and today was work, work, work... jsut never seemed to end... still it's all done now and very satisfying.
Lilla ...
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
~SHAKE, SHAKE - TING~ chuckle! How did it all go? Well I hope!
Never made it up for Sat/Sun due to a few problems. Friday was spectacular, I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.
ciao bella
Ash
These are the links I was talking about btw. Sorry it`s taken so long but I was struggling to find the Art one
Art
Recited Poetry