We’re staying at the Grand Imperial while we’re in Agra, India
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g297683-d671997-Reviews-The_Grand_Imper…

30 day:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g304551-d15008778-Taj_Mahal_…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal

Everyone says this is the gem of India, what are your thoughts?

We’re dining at Tea’se Me a recoomended place to see Agra at night from the roof top restaurant.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g297683-d7789920-Reviews-Tea_se_Me…
India borders seven countries. I knew it was large, I just didn’t think about the borders until now. My second thought is there’s a lot of huge buildings that once were castles or monasteries that are now tourist traps but there’s a voice in me that asks how could anyone build such a huge monstrosity while everyone lived in poverty around you. There’s no mistaking the reality of their caste system.
“The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the southern bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (reigned from 1628 to 1658) to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal; it also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself. “~ Wikipeida. All I can say looking at the huge building, I felt angry. I can’t believe the arrogance of the emperor.
Looking at it from an art perspective, it has exceptional architectural aspects because the Taj Mahal incorporated and expands on design traditions of Persian and earlier Mughal designs. I was fascinated with the outside exterior decorations of the Taj Mahal. They are among the finest in Mughal architecture. “As the surface area changes, the decorations are refined proportionally. The decorative elements were created by applying paint, stucco, stone inlays or carvings. In line with the Islamic prohibition against the use of anthropomorphic forms, the decorative elements can be grouped into either calligraphy, abstract forms or vegetative motifs. Throughout the complex are passages from the Qur’an that comprise some of the decorative elements. Recent scholarship suggests that Amanat Khan chose the passages”~ Wikipedia

I have to admit it was worth seeing but my tummy says time to move on.

I’m quite hungry after yesterday’s procedure. Many of you were unaware that since January I’ve had issues initially with the gallbladder, that was removed but the problems continued and a second procedure was done this time by an endoscope which discovered a gall stone blockage. They put a stent in hoping to allow the bile duct to heal because it was inflamed. They removed the stent 6 weeks later but the bile duct was still inflamed. They cleared the sludge and sent it for a biopsy. This came back cancerous. I had all the tests for the pancreas because pancreatic cancer runs in my family history. No mass in the pancreas or liver just the area in the bile duct. Yesterday, they removed that section of my bile duct that was cancerous and since was going to be under anesthesia recheck my esophagus ( I had cancer there already back in 2000) and do a colonoscopy too. So yeah, yesterday was a fun day. I will be under observation for quite some time but at least it is gone from my body. At least the doctor believes he successfully removed it all.

I had more energy yesterday than I do today. It is what it is. So I’m going to focus on some good food. My fellow bloggers mentioned a few chicken dishes … I wonder if they’re spicy I have to go easy right now.

Tea’ se Me odd name but we didn’t come for the name. I chose this location because it was near to the Taj Mahal and our stragglers could catch up easily. All the food was amazing, I ordered dal, tikka massala, naan and a few other items to share with the group. I decided to have a bottle of seltzer water. I so apologize for the burping. I didn’t expect to have left over gas after all the walking we did.

BCoF.. discuss the different types of entertainment that are popular in India. Is it different than what we’re used to and why? Would this type of entertainment work in the U.S. or the U.K. or where our friend Petra lives?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arts_and_entertainment_in_India

Wow, India has 22 recognized language and some of literature written is considered to be oldest in the world. With that said I noticed interesting music so I wandered outside. On my goodness there were people gathered aound listening to what I was told a Carnatic music concert. I hope my fellow bloggers hear this. It’s so busy here I’m having trouble finding their faces. I don’t want to yell out Petra, Sandra, Carly, Neva, Blue, and Judith where are you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CnhcGpmH9Y

I don’t see people gathering like this in many parts of the states. Though I may be wrong. We have so many ignorant people that want all foreigners sent home. The music is very soothing to me and definitely different than my usual exposure. I’m a very eclectic listener and would add this to my collection in a heartbeat. I’m sure where Petra lives they would be more open than here in the states under this leadership that has encouraged the maggots to surface from the cracks. Knowing by what he has shown thus far, he would send his henchmen if people were gathered peacefully as he has done with #blacklives matter.

A beautiful group of young women began dancing what we were told is classical Indian dance. They seem to float in the air, their body movements are mesmerizing to watch with the lovely silks swaying.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_classical_dance

The second act was examples of the Indian folk dances. Very interesting performance. They’re barefoot yet they bounced effortlessly across the floor.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_folk_dances

Phew, I’m really tired even after taking three naps today. I just don’t have any energy.

Today’s theme is “your greatest fear.” Is it death? Disease? Ghosts? Someone? Something? Share a story, a poem, a photo, a drawing, some music, or whatever you wish to share about your greatest fear.

https://fivedotoh.com/category/dog-days-of-august/

Death has never frightened me. We begin dying the day we’re born.

“Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.” dictionary. com

As a teenager in an alcoholic abusive home, I tried to take my life more than once, the first time with a knife but that action was driven more by frustration than actual desire to die. I was being punished for something I hadn’t done again so I drove the knife repeatedly into my arm in a rage. The second time was done seeking death, I took a slew of mother’s prescription drugs. I came close but ended up getting my stomach pumped in the nick of time.

As an adult I tried to shoot myself because I was tired of the physical and verbal abuse I suffered in my marriage. It’s a good thing I have lousy aim, or we wouldn’t be together now. But I do have a scar to remind me how desperate one can feel.

These are the times my own hand was involved. I spent a very long time in counseling and  discovered another way to  express my frustration, anger and pain. Poetry gave me a voice.

My health issues involving cancer have frightened me but their not my greatest fear. I see them as inconveniences but they deserve no other recognition than that. I will not succumb to cancer. I’m too damn stubborn. Writing everyday has helped keep me focused.

I’ve helped my sons with their losses of their babies. Painful and heartbreaking but not fearful except for the night my eldest son tried to take his life after the death of his son. It’s not easy being a mom, helpless to ease your child’s pain let alone cope with your own pain because your grandchild is dead. Writing again gave my pain a voice.

I’ve talked with women my age and they fear living alone without their husbands. I love my husband but I don’t fear the time alone until we’re together again. I encouraged them to write before they’re in that situation.

It’s been difficult to really come up with something that meets the criteria for greatest fear because I’m okay with death it’s just a part of my generation’s journey. I do think about what if my mind vanishes because of Alzheimer’s disease but that would be no different than letting the letter c control my life. I can’t think of myself when there are greater concerns.

So, I’m going with global warming. I’m frightened , worried by how quickly the water is rising, and our environment is changing. We’re destroying our homes, our lives, our children and grandchildren and great grandchildren’s futures. I wish I knew how to stop it. It breaks my heart looking in their eyes knowing this earth is on a self destruct course we aren’t going to be able to fix.

Letter c and other medical.

Tomorrow is the blood work, Thursday is the procedures. Monday was supposed to be my nerve block for the migraines but now the appointment is moved to Wednesday. That’s probably my biggest personal gripe about covid, every appointment I’ve had since March has been rescheduled at least once, some two times. But compared to what has happened to other people, it’s not worth getting grumpy about. It is what it is. We’re all making sacrifices on a daily basis.

I chose Sunshine of My Life Earlier because of a good friend and mine and our poetry writing endeavors. I don’t know if you know the background but the group was struggling with writers block when one of the guys was looking out the window and commented it was just before dawn which led to the discussion on what he would rather be doing. Making love with his girl. From that simple conversation, the words flowed and the song rose to stardom.

My friend and I have those great conversations and some times that’s all I or he need, (s) the words come. When you have good friends, family and you’re loved and love in return than fear is simply part of life, how you face it is what truly matters.

We did the early run to Cherry Hill to get the covid swab. I was told it was going to be a nasal swab but when I got there it was a throat swab instead. So when I got back home I decided to look up the CDC recommendations for the swabs. The most accurate is the nasal but throat swabs are acceptable but do have a higher margin of error. So do we know what we need to know or don’t we.

The process was like going to a drive up except you didn’t go to a window. Cars were directed into a curved driveway a nurse came out wearing a hazmat suit and a container with my name and two swabs. She verified the information, asked me to raise my mask to uncover my mouth slightly and to lean back a little. The swab inspired a gag reaction that was close to a vomit moment. I coughed and choked into my mask. I wished I had brought water with me to get that dry sensation off the back of my throat.

Bonus, dunkin donuts was .4 tenths of a mile away so I got a cup of coffee and a vanilla creme donut. So my day definitely improved but now the waiting game. Wednesday, I will get the call whether I’m clear for the procedures on Thursday.

Crocheting and Short Story Critiquing:

I’m taking a brief break from my rose sweater to crochet one of the writers in our group a baby blanket. She’s having a boy. I worked on it last night while we discussed Division by Zero” (5600 words) by Ted Chiang, whose novella “Story of Your Life” was the basis for the movie Arrival.   Our protagonist fell out of love with math at the same time her husband realized he didn’t love her anymore. It was an unusual approach to relationships and how one can be oblivious to the signs because we’re so wrapped in our worlds. Our protagonist is so involved in mathematics that she has lost sight of the importance of balance professionally and personally. Her husband had a lot in common with her but had discovered what he was lacking in his life and that she wasn’t the one to fulfill that need.

It’s fun to dissect a story together because it gives us practice in critiquing without hurting anyone’s feelings because the author isn’t there. I had to read and re-read this story to really understand it. I found the math references a bit over the top and distracting though I do realize the math messages helped identify him and her. Each time I read it I discovered different levels of the character’s personalities.

Cancer toolkit:

I’ve been slack in sharing the last few days. My humblest apologies.

Rosemary is a digestive aid as well as being anti-inflammatory. Bet you didn’t know it increases blood flow to the brain.

Saffron is also a digestive and anti-inflammatory.

Sage, there’s more to this herb than burning it to cleanse one’s space. It’s anti-tumor. It’s part of the mint family and mimics rosemary in its medicinal purposes. There’s a study going on with its oil for skin cancer lesions. So for me personally, I have a lot drying right now so I can cleanse our next home before moving in.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5133115/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3996758/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4003706/

This song has been playing over and over in my head as I go through things in our home. So many questions, so many unanswered ones yet.   “Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)” is a song written by Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin. It was initially recorded by American singer Thelma Houston in 1973, and then by Diana Ross as the theme to the 1975 Motown/Paramount film Mahogany.”- wikipeida.  It’s funny, I remember when I first heard this song forty-seven years I had a ton of questions then too!