School has started

It is Day 3 since school started for M. She was really excited on the first day as she went about hugging and exploring. I could see she realized that this was meant to be yesterday, from her resigned look as new kids in her class were wailing about. She was enlisted as the 'older' helper to calm them down and she did quite well, I noticed. Today, I pull into the parking lot and as I open the van door to get her out, I see her wiping her eyes. I ask her if all is well and she replies 'Its ok Amma, these are happy tears!' My baby is growing up for sure :(

The kid is still making me smile....

I had said to myself I would jot down what M says to me, so I can look back and smile someday in the future. I slacked. So I am trying to get back at it again...and here's one for my record...

Last week I had a minor fall and injured my tailbone quite badly. I guess at my age, all falls should be considered major :) It hurt a lot, esp. after a day, and I was seen hobbling around the house to quiet amusement of the family. So when D asked me to look at something that would take me up the stairs, I suggested it be brought down to me, as I was nursing a 'broken butt'. My 4-year old nearby looked at me with this grin on her face and said, 'Amma, you know the broken butt has a name, it is called butt crack'. I was in pain and shock at the same time!

He is in....

It felt good to watch the inauguration and ceremonies that followed with the girls. I thank my job for giving me the day off to do so. We were so involved that I was even corrected by my 4 year old later in the day that he is now rightfully Prez Obama.
The part of the speech that really got to me, was the inclusive statement by Obama of all religions and the world as a whole. I really felt like I belonged after a very long time.
And there is enough being said about Michelle Obama. I loved the confidence and ease she showed. I am happy to have such a role model for my kids. Her choice of clothes and the designers she chose from, really what a statement! J. Crew outfits for the girls, now that is a sensible mom, wouldn't you think? My fashion conscious teenager agreed too!
Wish you all, the best.

More from M

1. M had drawn a duck and had riddled it with circles. When I asked her if the duck was suffering from chicken pox, she looked at me and said, ‘No Amma, she got poison ivy when she was building her nest!'

2. M had to go to the bathroom. After she was done and I cleaned her, and here is what she asks me, "Now do you have to wash your hands or do I?' She actually argued her way saying she couldn't figure out why she had to when she did not get her hands dirty at all, when I said we both have to! And she is not even 4!

Why Obama?

With all the fervor surrounding the recent elections, and M, exposed to my democrat rooting, relayed this conversation from her school to me on the night before the elections.

''Amma, Dylan in my class said Mcain should be president, and I told him, 'No Obama should be president because my mom says so' :)

Day after the big news, when I told her the result she said, 'Amma, I have an idea, why can't they both share and be president' :)

Just wanted to jot it down some place....

Nice cartoon...thx Mr. K

Holy Cow by Sarah Macdonald

I wrote this post right after I read this book, i. e. a very long time ago. I will use it as my first in a long time to publish so it will get me back into the mood for some more writing.

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I will start with one of her final quotes before I begin, because it stayed with me long after I finished the book...........'When one loses the deep intimate relationship with nature then temples, mosques and churches become important'. She was quoting Jiddu Krishnamurti here.

I must say I have read so many books about India by Indians and never felt the connection I did as I listened to this book on my trips to and from work. I infact enjoyed this book more than Shantaram (by Gregory David Roberts, coincidentally another Aussie writing about his life in India)!

Sarah Macdonald is Australian by birth and an atheist. She is fascinated by the ability of Indians to co-exist peacefully in spite of their various religious practices. This book is a tribute to the many religions and cultures embraced by current day India. She writes about her travels from New Delhi to Pondicherry and from Kashmir to White Field, in a sincere quest to understand religious diversity. She meets followers of Buddhism, Jainism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism and Sufism. She even includes in her quest other aspects of modern day India's culture, such as Rajneesh, Mata Amritaanandamayi, Sai Baba, and even Bollywood! All the while she writes with alacrity and perfect comic timing.

I wish there were more authors such as her, who can analyze real time issues, with a sense of purpose but at the same time the ability to make the reader smile the whole way. A great travelogue!