HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my 10-yr old grandson, Jensen. Until he was nine months old, I knew I was a grandpa, but never got to hold him, since he was born in Bangladesh. In 2000 we met Austin’s and Dustin in Bangkok, spent a week in Chiang and then made our first visit to Bangladesh where Austin’s and Dustin were living.
FOOTBALL PLAYING resumes with the end of Ramadan and the Ramadan Eid. Here I am guarding the goal which is typically my position on Friday and Saturday mornings. It was nice to see the guys again after a five week break.
I thank either Dan or Frieda Mast for this photo taken last Winter.
DHAKA DELUGED BY DOWNPOUR is the headlines in the Daily Star today!
Dhaka city dwellers had to endure ankle to knee-deep water in many areas yesterday as torrential downpour flooded many streets since Monday.
On Monday: 1 3/4 inches (44 mm) in 5 hours
On Tuesday: 1.8 inches (30 mm)
On Wednesday: 2.28 inches (58 mm) in 6 hours
Of course rain brings out the umbrellas. This lad is still smiling.
HALIM AND I – I went to his house to help celebrate Eid after spending an hour at Zia Park with him and 4-5 of his friends.
EID MUBARAK to all my Muslim friends! I hope you all are having a good time with your families either in Dhaka, or in your villages.
Here are the flags near the Parliament Building put for this special day, which comes right after Ramadan (the month of fasting).
BLACK-TOPPING EQUIPMENT
Here beside Asad Avenue is the black-topping equipment ready to resurface the street where needed due to the recent laying of new drainage pipes.
HALIM’S MOTHER in her kitchen. She cooks up a very tasty curry. Halim is a Muslim friend, whom I play football with two mornings per week.
FORTY THREE years ago today, I met Alice Marie Yoder and 1,000 days later we had our very special wedding day. New students at the college were invited to spend some time in a professor’s home to get acquainted. Both of us ended up at the same professor’s home, and that was the start of a great relationship.
To Alice, my Love!
Thanks for letting me into your heart,
And sharing your life with me!
You accepted me for who I was,
The young man from West of the Mississippi.
Soon after our marriage, man landed on the moon!
Two great events in a single year!
You’ve been my best supporter,
On the many paths my life has taken me!
It’s been a pleasure to be your husband,
Pilot, pastor, boss, photographer, and best friend!
I’ve enjoyed hiking with you in Colorado,
Arizona, India, and in Nepal!
You are the best cook in the whole wide world,
And can make sweet rolls that are loved by all!
Our many guests have consumed 1,000’s of your chocolate chip cookies,
And many, many loaves of your delicious home-made bread.
You were very adaptive in your cooking and baking,
Whether you were using an electric, gas, or wood cookstove!.
Besides being a great wife,
You are a great mother, and grandmother!
With your communication skills you make a great story-teller,
Whether for guests, your sons, or grandsons.
You can tell many tales from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Iowa,
As well as Canada, Iowa, and Bangladesh.
Thanks again for who you are,
And what you mean to me.
Marland, your Grateful Husband
Septmember 18, 2009
ALICE WITH HALIM’S MOTHER after we had Iftar (meal right after day of fasting) with Halim’s family who live in Mohammadia housing.
ADOPTION DAY – This little orphan is adopted by a young couple who has been wanting children for five years. It was a very happy day for them and our friend Donna who did a lot to arrange for this adoption. The new Father’s Mother, and the new Mother’s Father were present for the event. We had met the Mother’s Father in Joypara, so I knew the family. I was honored to be a part of this special time as photographer.
Father’s Mother (l), Mother (c) and Father (r) with their new son.
ALICE’S KITCHEN where many kinds of food are prepared. Mashed potatoes and gravy. Chicken, beef and fish curries. Chapatis, bread, muffins, french pizzas, kitchuri, and cheese omeletes. Typically our helper cooks on Monday and Alice or I cook the rest of the days. My specialty would be the breakfast omelets, or bringing in dahl, baji, and nan-ruti from a local hotel (restaurant) for breakfast. I forgot to mention that this is the hottest room in the house. In many climates, this is where people would huddle to get warm, but those days would be rare here!!
OUR DINING ROOM with part of the entry room showing on the left. The left is where we put our outside sandals and switch to our apt. sandals or go bare-footed. There is also where guests put their sandals. Without this procedure there would be a lot of sand or dirt to walk through. Alice was doing the bargaining for the dining room table at Towne Hall Bazaar. You should have seen her bargaining in Bangla. Of course she had drawn a crowd, who all wanted to see what she was going to pay for the table. She had fun, they had fun, and when the owner agreed to the price, and Alice agreed and then I agreed and forked out the taka!
The Camerist's Collection 