Many hues of life in the US

RK Saboo

RECENTLY, Gordon McInally, President of Rotary International, and his wife Heather visited Chandigarh for three days at our invitation. Hailing from Scotland, Gordon is a dentist by profession, a passionate rugby player and a volunteer in several medical missions to Africa. He is known for his humility and compassion. His wife is soft-spoken, making them a very friendly and delightful couple that charmed local Rotarians.

They reside in Evanston, Illinois, the headquarters of Rotary International. Their visit reminded me of the time when I was Rotary International President in 1991-92; my wife Usha and I lived in Evanston for almost two years. She often walked to the office. One day, she was on her way when an African-American man stopped her. Usha was initially shocked. However, the man extended his hand with a smile and said: ‘Are you the wife of Rotary International President Saboo? I am a Rotarian, and this evening your husband is coming to address our club.’

There was a woman in the Rotary International office whom we had known for a long time. While in Evanston, we learned that she was in the hospital, terminally ill with cancer. When we visited her, she was genuinely happy to see us. With tearful eyes, she held Usha’s hand and expressed gratitude for our visit. It made us reflect on the fast pace of today’s life, where flowers and get-well notes often replace the warmth of a personal touch.

One weekend, Usha was visiting our family in Virginia. After dinner, I decided to try my hand at using the dishwasher. After loading the dishes and detergent, I went to my study room. About 20 minutes later, I found the kitchen floor flooded with foam. I called my son and explained what had happened. He quickly detected the problem, stating that I had used the wrong detergent. Even with my focus on functional literacy, I had overlooked the basics in my own case.

In our apartment, I had a treadmill for my morning exercise. One day, beneath our door, I discovered a note: ‘Your health is improving, but my health is deteriorating due to tremors on the floor waking me up from my sleep. Kindly don’t use the treadmill.’ This was another lesson learned while living in America. Our most cherished moments occurred when our entire family, including my Babuji and grandchildren, visited us during the conventions in Mexico and later at Orlando in 1992.

Upon returning to India, my heart swelled with pride at the sight of the Tricolour unfurling in front of the Rotary International building and in my office. I felt gratified that I could serve 1.14 million Rotarians across the world with humility, integrity and the Rotary motto, ‘Service above self’.

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