Sometimes, claims of “greatness” can skew into unintended directions with unfortunate and ironic consequences. The current administration in Washington loves to boast that the U.S. is number one in most all things. Sadly, this is true in one regard: America tops the world coronavirus infection list.

According to fivethirtyeight.com’s latest polling numbers, 43 percent of Americans still approve of Trump’s presidency. If the Covid-19 numbers are an indication, he has certainly delivered on his promise to“Make America Great Again!”

I live in Delaware, the country’s second smallest state, which has stayed true to its low visibility reputation. Although it is called the First State because it was the first to ratify the U.S. Constitution, it may be the last state anyone thinks of, even in this country.

How unknown is Delaware? During a trip to Patiala when I was frequently visiting India, an acquaintance in Model Town asked me,“Gill Sahib was saying your family is in Amrika?”

“Yes,” I confirmed.

“Really? If so, why do you live here then?” he asked, as if he had caught me lying.

“I, too, live there,” I said with a smile.

He seemed baffled and started looking at my friend, Ajay Singla, who was standing next to me.

“Okay, if you insist…then tell me where in Amrika, California or New York?”

“Delaware,” I replied.

“No, no, hear me properly, I am not asking about your software business in Bangalore.”

Delaware is truly nice and quiet, relatively speaking, even though it has not been spared the effects of the pandemic. Many of us miss the traditional gatherings and events that we cherish. For example, this year I missed hosting the annual interfaith iftar dinner during Ramadan on behalf of Delaware Sikh Awareness Coalition. It was always a pleasure to behold 400-500 men, women, and children of various faiths and ethnicities intermingling in the joyous spirit of sarbat da bhala.

Well, as one of my teachers in P.P.S. Nabha used to often say, “When you genuinely wish something, Waheguru will always show the way.” So, on the day of Eid, I prepared a number of gift bags. In addition to the boxes of sweets and dates, I included a handmade Eid Mubarak card prepared by my daughter’s college friend, who comes from Islamabad and has stayed with us since the evacuation from their university campus because of the Covid crisis.

In the message on the card, I showed off my recently learned Urdu and drove around dropping off bags outside my Muslim friends’ houses. My Eid satisfaction was made even sweeter when one of the recipients, Khalid Motorvala, dropped off a bowl of seviyan outside my door that same evening.

As for Delaware, its relative obscurity may be coming to an end because it could be that the nation’s next president will come from our little state, which really would be a first for the First State.