Shanti Thokchom's Life Experiences
- Part 37 -
Road trip to NAMA convention 2009 at Maryland

By Shanti Thokchom *

I had a great time during my road trip to the 2009 NAMA convention at Maryland. My son was in India for his summer vacation with my mom and siblings in Imphal & Bombay. I was pretty aware that I had my right hand man missing for this trip !! So I invited other folks here again to ride with me but none came forward but I managed to get Rev. Pastor Manichouba of Moirang , who was doing his D-MIN at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa.

He was out of work at that time so he said he could come but that he was kangal (penniless ). I told him that it was no problem. I told him that I would be carrying all non-perishible snacks in the car to save money. That was a real true fact. He told me he was a diabetic, I said to myself 'all the more better' as I didn't have to worry about him wanting "achapot" (snacks). I dont buy snacks or otther stuffs on the way during such trips! I get everything all packed from home cos I believe in self sufficiency !!

He was anxious as to how "I could drive that long distance"!! I told him "oja mani, laak ta laakpiyu, aduga gari da fambiyu...eina adum thoujage. (just hop in the car & sit quietly while I drive)!! He looked at me "funny & crazy " cos he was in two minds about the whole trip. I knew what he thought "is this woman able to do that ? Am I headed for a free ride straight to Hell with no passport?" ha..ha..ha..ha...!!

I had to allay his fears. I told him that we would be driving into different states and that I needed to concentrate on signs and speed limits of every place! I had all the google maps printed out for ready reference & guidance. I had brought in my video camera and told him to go ahead and record the trip. This was a totally different story. I never had the urge to do such thing except use a regular camera for any snapshots I wanted.I thought he could occupy himself with it.

I had suggested him to bring like a pillow, water bottle and books to read...(which he never did read on the way as he was too busy looking out the window all the time ). I must say he was a good sport. I like that spirit in him. He is easily adaptable to all people. Thats a very good trait to be for a Pastor because that would make him connect to people better!!

We left Tulsa before 7am and rolled onto highway I-44 East. He kept asking me --"nang eibu lam bida thadok pi ram gadra?" ("are you sure you wont abandon me at some place ?)" I had to reassure him that I would take good care of him every possible way that I can. I began to think "oh my gosh, I hope my son is not inside him" because I knew I had to be prepared for more questionings from him!!

It was over 1500 miles drive to Virginia & I told him that I planned to drive straight there non-stop and that he had to bear any inconveniences we had to come across or face on the way!! He said it was ok.

We stopped at St. Louis in Missouri for two hours for sightseeing of the Archway. He did a lot of video recording against the backdrop of the steel Archway. We found out later that he never did turn on the record button....So much for the recording he did and the speech he made on the video!! He posed against the steel archway for the video...He was amazed at all of the structure.

At one point, he kinda wondered why would Americans build such structure in the middle of the busy junction of the highwyays I-44. I-55. I-70 & others. Again, he answered the questions himself!! I just nodded in agreement to whatever he said !! My mind was already plotting which toll roads to take and which ones to avoid..... as they charge high toll fees... I was on a budget so I had to stay within it. What if some unforeseen circumstancs arises !! That was also a nagging thought on my mind ! I am a multi-tasker so I cant help if I am that way...I am just not the sit still type at all !!

After our short rest at St. Louis, we resumed our trip & now Oja Mani is really starting & beginning his questioning about the roads, the places. As we crossed Ohio state it began to get dark & I really had to look carefully for the road signs to follow the google maps. In between he called up his wife Premila back home and gave her a minute-by-minute account of the trip & she was wanting to know more cos I knew she very much wanted to be part of that trip.

He was vividly describing to her all that he saw & experienced and made her do tin yotpa (salivate). I heard him say that "shanti na lambi da eibu yonthok lam labasu eidi khangoi" (I wont know if Shanti would sell me off on the way!"). It was hilarious .

Here I am dealing with an adult version of my own little boy !! I can understand his excitement, anxiety etc., as he had never been out of Oklahoma and so this was a new thing for him . Oja Mani gave me the phone to talk to his wife & as I did, I happened to miss the exit I was supposed to take & I landed to nowhere. But I took the next exit to turn back and resumed the planned path and vowed not to take any more calls again on the way as it messes up my concentration.

He did all the talking and kept busy with that. The best part was when he narrated the one related to the trip made by his room mate Khaigin Haokip to India from here when he was new. We had lot of fun laughing about it as he narrated the incidents of how this guy hopped onto the wrong plane like a zombie from Tulsa to Chicago, then to California onto S. Korea bound plane to Seoul.

He was just following other passengers instead of looking at the airport terminals, the flight number & the gates etc. We could not help laughing as we wondered why couldn't he have looked at his ticket for his connecting flight or lay over...or whatever...My belly ached & my eyes had tears from so much laughing....That was a great stress reliever !!

I stopped for short rests in every major towns, cities so that we dont have to stay overnite at a motel. I was bound and determined to reach Simon Maring's house ASAP & then rest at his place. He also kept calling to inquire our location & be updated. We reached the green countryside of the West Virgina at night but we could see except the road signs.

I told Oja Mani to get some sleep as I was the one to drive & I didn't want him exhausted. You know what he did? He slept for sometime but soon got up and began the questioning about where we were and what time we gonna reach where we were going.

I knew he was a little anxious about the trip cos this was his first such trip on the road ..that too with me driving and he had all his doubts in his mind. He had heard about me driving to places but this is the first time being on one with me himself for real!!

I heard him say to his wife "shanti di lai gumbani " (she is something unreal !" ) I exactly dont know what he meant by that..Ha..ha....ha... may be he thought I was good at driving or maybe at my energy or whatever....!!

I dont really bother..My first thing to do is reach Virginia safely...........!!

To be Continued.......