I do not believe the Roy daughters or the Mukherjee daughters realized this when they planned to celebrate Father’s Day for Mr. Mukherjee (that be Amitesh) and Mr. Roy (that be yours truly) at the Vickery Creek Trail by the Roswell Mill. This trail has one of the few remaining wooden covered bridges in the south (and in Georgia).

There is a fascinating history of an emancipated slave and covered bridges. The following is quoted from Caroline Eubanks – a Lowell Thomas award-winning travel writer, and the author of “This Is My South”

The existence of the bridges can mostly be traced back to Horace King. He was born into slavery in South Carolina in 1807 but was freed from contractor John Godwin. King would go on to design the spiral staircase for the Alabama State Capitol as well as covered bridges in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Known for his work using the Town Lattice Truss system, you can see this style in many of the state’s bridges.

We live in the middle of so much history in the south!! This is literally 20 minute ride from my house.

First Sharmila and I showed up by the lake. Stayed inside the car waiting out the thunderstorm. And then settled down by the lake shore with a couple of gins. Guess who showed up after some time. Good old Parijat and Dipanjan – fully equipped with their foldable picnic tables!!

It was a good and enjoyable evening.

Very interestingly, while the thunderstorms went by, temperatures dipped down from 84 to 65 in about half an hour. And then went up from 65 to 77 in the next half an hour!!

Great evening with Dipanjan, Parijat and Sharmila yesterday. We were at the Union restaurant – sitting outside and enjoying the evening.

Given all that is happening around us, of course a lot of the discussions were around BLM, the history of slavery and what our community (Bengalis in Atlanta) are doing or (more importantly) not doing for the cause.

From that discussion on why as a community, we do – or not do something, the topic veered to that of morality. That is where the evening got really interesting. I had not thought about this topic much. But some of the conversations were deeply intriguing and somewhat disturbing too! Sharmila took through a couple of examples. For example, if you could prevent a train from having a wreck and potentially save five lives in it – but know for sure, one person down the track is going to die, would you do it?

Do numbers trump in morality questions?

Now, what if that one person was your child? Does your answer change? Mine did!!

So, clearly morality is relative even for one individual!

Again, I found the overall discussion raising a lot of intellectual curiosity. I think I am going to line up a couple of books or literature to read up on… moment I have finished with my CSS and PHP classes though!

Watched Amitesh and Sudipto play a few games last evening. I knew of the high level of Amitesh’s game. I have attended a few of his matches. I had not seen Sudipto play in a long time. Perhaps four years. He had mentioned once that he got himself a coach. I think it has had an effect. His game is quite a few notches above what I remember.

This used to my go to sport in Dallas. Then running took over. I do not think with my right shoulder stiffness, I can even put in a full service swing these days.

Almost two and a half months later…

Actually, physically distanced. Socially close.

Thank you Parijat, Dipanjan, Sudakshina and Anindya. I am not sure what debate you folks were having but after you left, Sharmila broke three glasses – she was so mad 🙂 You have to ask her about it 🙂 🙂

Great evening with Shrabani, Priti, Rakesh and Avi.