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.
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
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.
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!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Aleta my beti (dau.)!! May you have a very special day, and a great year. Aleta was five days old on that special day when Alice and I met in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, all of us oblivious that someday we would be good friends in the georgeous city of Dhaka!!
Aleta is a good friend who, Alice and I have “adopted.” This year she is also Jensen’s (our oldest grandson) school teacher.
BABY of Street-worker who is getting help. Hopefully the cycle will be broken and he will have a brighter future.
STREET SWEEPER in action on street beside the Parliament building. Years ago some Hindus were brought into the city to sweep the streets because they were of the caste of street-sweepers. Since this job pays better than some and there are so many jobless, others are applying for these jobs. This basically takes away some of the job security they used to have because no one else wanted to do this menial job. Each morning the whole city gets swept. They do a great job, which must be done again day after day!
FAKIR at Mirpur 1 Mazar. A fakir or faqir is a Sufi, especially one who performs feats of endurance or apparent magic. Another fakir who seemed more friendly invited me to come back at 7:30 pm for the “iftar” (breaking the fast). The mazar is a place where a Muslim saint was buried and a shrine has been built. Many people come here making wishes and then give alms to the poor, including the fakirs. It also has turned into a place where young street workers hang out.
WHAT IS THE FUTURE for this young Bengali boy? What is he thinking. Somehow, somewhere, sometime someone can give him hope for a future. Is this hope in “Digital Bangladesh?” He is holding a cellphone. Hopefully when he calls out for help, someone will help.
TERESA and Matthias the Miller cousins, cruising on Mazar Road near Mirpur 1 in Dhaka. I took this photo standing up in the rickshaw in front of them, and with the 50 mm lens, this is the best view I could get.
The Camerist's Collection 