Met the Parents

Okay, so no reason to be nervous. The parents were great. Absolutely incomparable hosts! They picked me up from Detroit Wayne County airport on Saturday morning around 9:30. Sonal's mother greeted me with a big hug--the father, a hand shake. Then, we proceeded North, approximately 30 miles to West Bloomfield, where they proceeded to stuff me with goodies.

And that was my entire weekend. . . getting stuffed with "mmm mmm" goodness. Home-made Indian food, mango, french toast. Spoiled, I was. They are a beautiful family, with a beautiful home.

On the first day, once Sonal returned home, we ventured to Dodge #4 Park, where we all sat under a weeping willow by the lake. The weather was amazingly mild and sunny. I took a lot of photos. Sonal and I took a walk by the lake. It was a like a scene plucked from a poem.

Sunday, Sonal and I ventured into the city of Detroit, where we hung out in Greektown. Ate lunch at Pizza Papalis. Some dope deep-dish Chicago style deliciousity! The walk by the river was nice. Saw Canada across the river. Two shady cats approached us, trying to act like they were making small talk about the statue next to the river, depicting slaves awaiting to cross to their freedom. They were beating around the bush for too long, so we jetted up the riverside.



There was a tornado warning in the area, and it'd started to rain quite a bit. So after walking around the depressingly empty downtown area, we took a drive up Jefferson Ave. Drove through all of the manifestations of Grosse Point. Before heading back homeward, we drove along 8 MILE:


Lose yourself in the music
The moment you own it
You never let it go. . .



Monday morning, got prepared to leave. Packed my bags and said my goodbyes to Sonal's mother. Sonal and her father took me to the airport. I said my goodbyes, took a deep sigh, and walked into DTW, only to find out. . .


. . . MY FLIGHT WAS CANCELLED!


I called Sonal. . . and called Sonal. . . and called Sonal. To no avail. Her phone lay dormant on the floor of her purse, vibrating, while Sonal drove back to West Bloomfield. I waited at the airport for 3 hours, before finally deciding to take a taxi back to West Bloomfied. Delta had been so kind to re-book me for a flight the NEXT day, with no consideration that many of us have lives to live. So I called out from my job for that evening, and resigned to staying in Michigan one more day.


So, 30 miles later and $65 shorter, the taxi drops me off at Sonal's parents. Her father answers the door, understandably surprised. He took me upstairs. That's when I found out that Sonal had driven home and passed OUT. LOL! She was fast asleep. She was surprised to see me, I'm sure. It was very cute.


The extra day with Sonal and her family was just as sweet. Her mother had been at the office all day, and as everything happens in 3's, the look on her face when she came home and saw me was no surprise. . . to me. We all went out to eat that evening. Then Sonal and I watched television and laptopped. Later on, some family friends visited, so I was able to meet some more people.


The next day, it was deja vu all over again, but this time my flight wasn't cancelled. I arrived back at BWI right around noon.


I had a magnificent time in Michigan. Among what I mentioned above, I also had a chance to visit the Jain Temple that Sonal's father designed. Plus get a further education on the religion itself.


There were no polygraph tests, or cats that flushed the toilet. Just a nice, compact getaway with a whole lot of food and love. . . and Delta drama.