Between the time I first went to the USA and later went to work in 1986 with a green card

I was fortunate to visit it a few more times, and also visit Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila, Paris. I visited New York, Louisville and my cousins in Canada.

I did and yet did not know how incredibly lucky I was and good friends of my parents and some relatives helped out. Even though we had green card applications, we still were able to get tourist visas to visit as the Consulate had confidence we would return, which we did.

So it was in 85 we got the green card and then in 1986 went to the USA to actually work. (People are banging car doors now, for some reason, and now simulating a drive off).

In California, we moved to a nice cheery apartment called Stanford Villa, where I moved from to go to Boston, but my sister stayed on for another year or maybe more and incredible as it may seem, Condi Rice's Dad lived in the same complex and my sister now recalls being introduced and talking to Condi at her Dad's invitation more than once.

In Boston, I only had a short lined rain coat and it snowed the first week I was there and lo and behold, when the administrative assistant in the office kindly took me around for apartment hunting from a student list, I noticed the Beacon Hill thrift store and saw a lovely looking grey coat which they told me was all of $10. I think I had them wrap it and took it away joyously.

I looked for the Beacon Hill thrift store, this year when I visited Boston, but I was too coughing and too poor and my knee hurt and it was all I could do to attend the Cancer Conference for which I had paid a lot of money and try to recuperate in my expensive hotel room at the Fairmont, at which the entire afternoons and nights were filled with the sounds of doors banging and at least one lady and several men banged doors frequently when I was in the dining lounge or using a computer.

So though I was anxious to re acquaint myself with Boston, where I had got my start, I barely made it to Newberry Street and ate twice at Paparazzo, which I thought was terrific.

Some loads of people made flash mobs, at least 5 or 6 on a couple of days, which scared me, and annoyed me too and I alternately laughed at them or hid from them, till they went away and then I made my way to Walgreen or the restaurants as the case may be.

It did not go anywhere and that may be what they called a Missed Opportunity, I will never know. Opportunity for what I never found out.

I also met a colleague of mine from Mt Sinai in NY and only had a half hour in the lunch break and we met on Boylston and walked back to the Starbucks in the ground floor back of the hotel and basically I just told him my sorrows but again did not take any Opportunities if those were what I was supposed to take.

I will tell you more about my days in New York and Louisiana, so you can decide which of the Americas I belong in and now of course, I am in India, basically being supported by my Dad and sister and being helped out by my ex who helps me with registrations and mail in the USA and like now, cash infusions to help me take care of health issues and technical stuff which we both hope will increase my functionality and productivity.

Bye Bye