2025 started off great. Mom was with me until the middle of January. We celebrated our neighbor's twins first birthday. After she left, it was kinda hard to get used to not having hot breakfasts served up even before the hunger pangs hit. But I consoled myself saying she'd be back in May. My daughter … Continue reading The Many Things I’m Grateful For
Tag: family
Papa and the Graduation Dress
My daughter is graduating in a week and it is a big deal for not just the usual reasons but also because she missed her high school graduation (it happened during the pandemic). It seems like it was just yesterday we went to her middle school graduation and sometime before that to her preschool graduation. … Continue reading Papa and the Graduation Dress
Love is All Around
This past week was hard overall. Too much upheaval in my life that left me feeling frustrated and at the end of my wits. Someone I was working with for over a year suddenly turned hostile and decided not to work with me. I had to scramble to find someone else to take over the … Continue reading Love is All Around
30 Days of Gratitude
Another year gone by so fast and so much to be grateful for. Even in the midst of all the chaos and insanity that's unfolding in the world and maybe in our personal lives, we can find the blessings if we really look. Day 1 My heart is so full today. Got to celebrate Diwali … Continue reading 30 Days of Gratitude
The Pea Monster and Other Made-up Stories
If you're a parent that has to deal with a picky eater, then this story is for you. I can't promise you'll get the same results but it's worth a shot if you've exhausted all other recourses. Back in 2005, my boy was a wee baby just getting introduced to solid food. And I had … Continue reading The Pea Monster and Other Made-up Stories
Sumathi Mutasshi—My Other Grandmother
I have two biological grandmothers and one adopted grandmother. My book, "Thank you, Dadima," which is a memoir of my dad's mom has an entire chapter dedicated to Ganga, my adopted grandmother. But many of you don't know much about my mom's mom or Mutasshi, as I used to call her. Her name was Sumathi … Continue reading Sumathi Mutasshi—My Other Grandmother
Papa’s Pet
I hate to say this but that title was hijacked and I was replaced by a mutt for the past 13 years. After my grandma passed away in 2009, my parents moved to her bungalow from their cozy 2-bedroom apartment not too far away. For years my dad and brother, both dog lovers, had been … Continue reading Papa’s Pet
For you Papa
Dear Papa, When Amma was sifting through your things, she found your Madras Literary Society card and said, "Papa wanted to give them a copy of your book." Little did I know that this would put in motion a string of events that would lead to my book launch---something you wanted to do when I … Continue reading For you Papa
Never Say Goodbye
It was Ekadashi, a day auspicious to Vaishnavites, when he collapsed on his wife's bosom while she was trying to wash him up. She called to her sister in alarm. "Call the ambulance. We have to take chetan to the hospital." He had lost so much weight over the past few weeks, refusing to eat … Continue reading Never Say Goodbye
Ticking off Items on My List
Right after the car accident in the summer of 2019, I remember penning a blog post. My priorities had changed after a terribly close brush with death. I wanted to (a) publish my book, (b) devote more time doing Reiki, and (c) I’ll get to that in a bit. This month, I crossed off (a) … Continue reading Ticking off Items on My List