Due to the many requests made, here is an update of our visit to the Sikh temple.
For my World Religions class Sean and I went to attend a Sikh service. What we didn't realize when we got there was that it was going to be so long! Apparently that weeks service was going to be a little different than the usual service. It seemed a lot like when we have the primary do a program for sacrament, only with an actual sacrament meeting added to it. But it was still really neat to visit. In the temple you had to have your hair covered so Sean and I wore these orange bandannas on our heads. The men sat on one side and the women sat on the other. At the front of the room there is this gold canopy hanging from the ceiling and underneath it sits one of the Bhais (a sikh priest) and in front of him on a large pillow is their Adi Granth (their scripture) which they read from but it sounds more like chanting or singing to me. Their Adi Granth is their Guru and they treat it like they would a Guru. So it sits on a pillow, they keep it clean and free of dust, and they put blankets over it at night just like you would a person.
I wasn't sure if I could bring a camera so I didn't, but here is a picture from our lecture notes of the Bhais and the Adi Granth
The ceremony was really neat but I have to admit sitting cross-legged on the floor for three hours was not very fun. And the entire time they were making food down stairs (they always serve food to everyone after a service) was wafting up the stairs and making my stomach grumble. As distracting as those things can be it was nothing compared to how distracted I was to the clothes those women wore, they were beautiful. They wear Salwar Kameez which is basically these loose pants that are tight at the ankle (kind of like what Aladin wears) with a long fitted tunic that has slits in the sides up to the hip and a Dupatta (head scarf). I know it sounds weird but the clothes were really flattering and very feminine with all their bright colors and embroidery. I came out of there wanting to change my wardrobe. Plus they seemed so much more comfortable in what they were wearing than me in my jeans.
Here's a picture, check out the colors! Don't you just love it!
It's sad that I should come away from that so focused on the dress and not the actual religion. It's the worldly part of me. Sadly we had to leave before they could serve the food because my family was celebrating Selina's 16th birthday that night. So right after the service Sean and I drove up to my fam's, we had dinner, ate cake, and opened presents. Here is where I would stick some pictures if I had taken any. I really need to get into the habit of bringing my camera. Anyway, it was fun to go up there. Selina got the Universe 3rd season, new lenses for her telescope, an itunes gift card, and some dress scarves. I can't believe she is 16, it's crazy. She's already applying to colleges.
So that was Sunday, Monday is when Sean and I changed a part of our lives. Now before I tell you what happened, let me tell you what I've been thinking lately.
It started about a month ago I got this weird thought in my head from a radio program I was listening to. The program was talking about ways to save money and one of them was a suggestion for couples that they go from two cars to having one car. In my head I thought "that's a great idea." Shaking my head I wondered where that thought had come from, I most certainly did not want to go down to one car not when I have so much going on. So I tried to forget about it. Instead here is what went on in my head:
"If we go down to one car it would have to be Sean's, his gets better gas mileage"
"Why would I want to do that, I love my car"
"It would be relatively easy to go down to one care I would just drop Sean off in the Morning, go to school, then when school is over I would pick him up"
"Why would I want to get up earlier than I do just to take Sean to work"
"Call wouldn't be a problem because any time that I'm on call Sean's already home"
"I would hate driving his car, it doesn't even have power steering."
"We would save so much in gas alone, and it would be nice to see Sean more than I get to."
This is the thought process I have been having for the last week up to the point that I decided to suggest to Sean that we sell my car and just use his. I was and am completely convinced that these thought are not my own but eventually I got comfortable with the idea. So on Monday I was driving home when I got hit, nearly T-boned (they hit my back wheel instead of the middle). The damage was obvious and the car had to be towed back to the condo. Sean and I both knew that getting it fixed was probably not an option and this was the end of the Sable. So here's the thing, had it not been for the thought process I've been going through for the past month, I would have been devastated. I loved my car, it might have been a grandma car but I loved it. It fit my snowboarding gear, it was great for road trips, and it was incredibly dependable. So here's go you Gary the Grey, I'm going to miss you!
You may not think it to look at Annicka, but we had a really good time!
