Dallas,Houston, NASA visits. And the Shifa Foundation of Houston.

I had the opportunity to visit Dallas and Houston in Texas, recently. I flew into Dallas from Omaha NE and spent a couple of days here with my friend and old colleague in Indian Oil, CLN Rao.

My friend picked me up from the airport and drove me to his house some 30 miles from the airport. He had built his house a few years before and I was made absolutely comfortable, by his family, who were all perfect Hosts. And his house, oh my God, it is not just a house, it is a tastefully built HOME, sweet home, designed with taste, and executed with finesse.

My friend took me to the Kennedy Memorial, and showed me round the place, and the spot where Kennedy was hit by the killer bullet. On the road where the Kennedy convoy  was attacked by a bullet from the rear, the exact spot where the bullet killed Kennedy is marked with a huge X in red. The building, the book depository, from where the assassin Lee Oswald took aim from a 6th Floor window, is at such an odd angle to the convoy passing below, it is really difficult to buy the story, that Kennedy was hit by Lee Oswald only from the rear. Perhaps there is a good amount of validity in the various conspiracy theories in circulation, about the Kennedy assassination. The Green Mound,  right in front of the assassination spot, appeared to be a more likely place for the actual killing bullet to have come from, and hit Kennedy. Of course there is no proof on this, unfortunately.

Then I traveled by Bus to Houston. Here again I had a perfect Host in my nephew Shashank and his family, who not only made me comfortable but pampered me with genuine affection. Shashank drove me to the NASA Center on a Sunday morning, to show me round the famous Houston Space Control Center. It is named as Johnson Space Center. The U S Flag flies on this Bldg., whenever a U S Citizen is in Space. And they explain that for the past 13 years the U S Flag was never brought down as there has always been a U S Astronaut in Space ! Then the Saturn V rocket displayed in a horizontal position is something to marvel at. Such a monumental steel structure with intricate cables running into several miles ( if laid straight on a plain ground ), and millions of nut bolts and screws, a testimony to human engineering skills. Just incredible. And come to think of it, this Saturn V Rocket becomes vertical and from the launching pad lifts off into outer space. And the Control Centre where constantly they hear voices from outer space " Houston, we have a problem "!

After NASA, I went to see my old Indian Oil colleague and good friend Syed Abu Sarwar, who has been in Houston for over 30 years now. We went out for Lunch to a place called The India Gourmet, where we were treated royally as my friend Sarwar knows the restaurant guys very closely.

Over lunch my friend Sarwar told me about an Organisation called  The Houston Shifa Services Foundation, which was started by a few freinds and himself, in 1993, with the sole aim of giving back something to the Community and Society, for what all blessings we received from God the Almighty. It was a noble and Unique Thought : To give back to the Community, something.

This Shifa Foundation is a charitable Organisation that has been working in the Greater Houston area for the welfare and assistance of the less privileged and needy. They operate 4 community Clinics, a Women's Centre,  two Social Rehab Centers, and two educational Centers.

They help ever so many youngsters and old people of low income, belonging to African- American, Hispanic and Asian-American Groups, who get  on the job training platforms. Shifa also gives training for professionals in Information Technology, Marketing and starting new businesses. Commendable Community Service.

On my return to Dallas, again by Bus, I got into a train,  the Metro of Dallas,  that took me through Downtown Dallas, University of  Dallas, Texas, and some well organised suburbs. At the Terminal of the train I took, The Belle View Station, I took a Bus and reached the Airport to catch my flight back to Omaha.

The US and its multi - racial,  multi - ethnic,  multi - racial, population is truly an El Dorado for any person who has the will to excel and is prepared to work hard. The sky is the limit. No one stops you from growing. That one great character of this great Nation impressed me. May God Bless this Country.

Ramachandra Parsa
Omaha Nebraska,  Dec.28, 2013