beauty on sudder street

today, i missed the jeep to the flower market. i was quite sad, given that i’ve been told the flower market is a photographer’s dream, and i’m a photographer with a lot of dreams. i spent a few minutes feeling disappointed for having missed an opportunity i may never have again, but then set out trying to find a very special family who hangs out on the street near our hostel.

this is jora. jora is the little bengali mother of my friend courtney (a dear one who i’ve never actually met in person. isn’t the internet funny like that?) let me tell you, friends, this little lady is something special, and does she ever adore courtney. she talked my ear off for about an hour and a half about the things ‘coiney’ did when she lived in calcutta, about which of her ten children were the favorites, about what snacks she liked the most. and then, we shared tea spiced with ginger in little mud cups.

the joy i shared in the time i spent sitting with jora on the pavement, listening to her chattering in half bengali, half english, more than made up for my disappointment at having missed the market.  this sweet little lady invited me into her life for a brief moment in time, which is something far more valuable than a few photos of some pretty lotus flowers. i walked away with a full heart and a smile i couldn't erase from my face.

there’s more to experience here in calcutta than what the guidebooks tell you. thank you, dear jore ma and the sudder street folks, for reminding me of the beauty of relationships, even across linguistic and cultural boundaries, and for helping me get over myself in a very graceful way. thank you for the tea, the conversation, and for sharing Jesus and your smile. (and thank you courtney, for sharing your indian mother with me!)