Magic Co-existence

Many a chores link up one after another
With the majestic star traveling East to West;
Living things small and big doing their part
Each significant in its own way
Each ignorant of few others;
Neither the significance nor the ignorance
Does matter to Mother Nature
From time to time the cycle rolls on
No matter the significance or the ignorance;
But why the significance to one's significance
And ignorance to others' significance
Asking this the majestic star goes and comes
Waiting for a magical day of equal co-existence!

Packing Green Lunch

I am Editor/Writer of the Eco Newsletter in my son's school. The theme for this month is packing green lunch. This is an excerpt from the newsletter removing school specific initiatives, programs and rewards. Hope this is useful for everyone.

Introduction:

Are you intrigued by the title saying ‘green’ lunch? Well, that doesn’t mean that we should eat everything green!  As we all know, the term ‘green’ is often heard in relation to the environment – to protect it, to nurture it, save it! Environmental pollution, global warming and the hazardous effects are well known.  Humans have developed an easy-to-go, throw-away, make-life-simple attitude. It sounds good but when we look at it deeply the drastic effects are inconceivable.  

The food choices we make not only have impact on us but also on the Earth. All the pre-packed food we find easy to use is not as healthy as we think those to be. And they add lots and lots of non-biodegradable plastic waste to the Earth. We definitely do not want the far future generations to excavate and discover about the ‘plastic age’ as we try to research the ‘Ice age’!  If they happen to do so they will certainly hate us for having jeopardized the future of the Earth and the life of the future generations. Earth was able to bounce back with life after ‘Ice Age’ but it’s not that easy to bounce back from the ‘plastic age’.  For the plastics fill every part of the Earth, both land and water spoiling the nature’s resources for life.  Having done enough damage already, it’s our responsibility to stop, think and act. One such area to be considered is the simple thing – packing our lunch box!

Objectives of packing a green lunch:

·         Leaving a healthy environment for our future generations, after all we all need our kids and grandkids to be healthy and happy.

·         Reduce the non-biodegradable waste to be thrown.  It’s just too much waste in the forms of wraps, forks, spoons, soda cans, juice boxes and pouches, aluminum foils and Ziplocs.

·         Pack the desired portion rather than wasting the excess from pre-packed food.

·         Be assured of quality and safety of the food.

·         Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.

·         To let deer, rhinos, albatross, turtles – all the animals and bird to live by avoiding the various plastic materials ending up in their stomach or lungs!

·         Make kids healthy and also environmentally aware.

·         Last but not the least – when the waste is just biodegradable food material, it’s easy to compost and make Mother Earth flourish!

Packing a green lunch:

·         The foremost thing to pack a green lunch is to make and pack at home!

·         Try to choose fresh foods over processed food as the processing, packaging, freezing and cooking frozen food all increase the energy usage. According to a study a frozen bag of carrots has nearly triple the associated global warming pollution compared to purchasing a fresh bunch of carrots.

·         Buy fresh produce rather than pre-packed salads and spend a few minutes washing and chopping and be assured of health and safety.  An E.Coli outbreak in the US in 2006 was linked to pre-packed baby spinach, so think before trusting labels saying food is prewashed. Studies also have reported the presence of salmonella and listeria bacteria in pre-packed salads, especially those containing meat.

·         Apples, bananas, berries, carrots, broccoli, all fruits and vegetables for that matter are better than Cheetos and chips.

·         Pack food in reusable containers – metal, BPA free plastic or glass. There are plenty of containers available in the market if you want to buy. Or you can use the containers we have at home already. And remember also to stay away from vinyl lunch boxes as they are reported to contain lead!

·         Use a reusable water bottle for the drink and of course, water is the best drink option.  Pre-packed individual juice is not a healthy and good option. You can juice in big bottles and pour the required portion into a reusable container.

·         Use silverware rather than using disposable plastic forks and spoons.

·         Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins. You can also make your own cloth napkins from old and favorite T-shirts.

Well, gear up and get started!

Going Green -Good health – Great Earth!

Day

Enchanting music of birds and animals resonating through the air
The splendid Sun magnificently arrives early in the morning;
He gently embraces his bride the beautiful Earth
Dressed up elegantly with rainbow of flowers and glowing;
The couple dances a perfect ball with the Sun standing tall
While the Earth spins around pleasantly with joy and grace;
The Sun hates to leave his bride beloved and lingers along
But reluctantly leaves later in the evening leaving the bride dull;
Though for a short while to come back soon early next morning
Performing this again and again giving us new day bright and beautiful!

Despise you unsweet thoughts

If only I could lock up all the thoughts
All of them but for some sweet ones;
I would select those unpleasing thoughts
Which uncompassionately jump and bounce in my mind
Put those quickly in a bottle with very tight a seal;
Throw them away out of the milky way
And to forget them all as if they never existed;
Sighhhhhh If only I could do!



Note: one of my not feeling good moment!

Vacation, Kids and Back to school!

Three things come together, no matter how you feel. Kids, vacation and back to school time. During school, sometimes I get tired with getting up to welcome the sun an hour later, pack lunches, pick ups, drops, homework, food, volunteering activities and all the miscellaneous things you could add to a mom's life. At that time I look forward to vacation. And there comes the vacation, making the spirits high. I sleep late, no routine, no pick ups, drops , - wait wait..not to the school ofcourse. But a new sort of activities seeps in. More library visits, more playground visits, some trips, some playdates, mediating between the kids, arts and crafts, reading, teaching, screaming, yelling, relaxing, enjoying all together. Sometimes insane, sometimes sane; sometimes happy, sometimes sad; I could add more of these 'sometimes'. But do I want the school to reopen? Absolutely not, please don't tell my kids. :-) I think I will miss them and that I will get only lesser time with them. I think of all the things which I had not done with them and get upset. C'mon, why don't I think about the things I did do and be happy for those?? I always think to do more and always that doesn't seem to happen and ...My God! Anyways, the dreadful  back to school time comes. Inside I feel a lots, but outside act happy, talk excitedly about new school year, new friends and what not. I really hate scolding the kids, but that doesn't mean I don't do that. May be I could say kids make me do that. Then once they are asleep I sit and just keep looking at them with a kiss now and then. Well, all part of mom's life I guess. Now, looking forward for a great school year starting coming Monday. All those mentioned in the third sentence of this post are lined up. I don't know why I sign up for almost all the committees, but I hope I will manage all those. Praying that God gives me little more organizing abilities!!! And here it is , for the new school year and to God to lead me and my kids, all through!

The strolls I cherish

There was a large dusty ground in the middle of the small town, a majestic church over its circumference and lanes of houses on the other side opposite to the church. I remember running across the ground to the church with a scarf over my head. I used to occupy the front row religiously and sometimes rewarded  with a chocolate by the parish priest during Sunday class. I used to have fun in that town where my grandfather worked. My dad had to go for a training and so me, my mom and my sisters were there in my grandfather's house, for 6 months if am not wrong.  I was studying UKG in Kodai when we had to go to that town. I attended school in the town for the time being. It was the only school in that town, with the  medium of instruction being Tamil . I was put in first standard and enjoyed being there, as I was ahead of the local kids and the teacher would always ask me to keep my mouth closed whenever she asked some questions to the class. But I used to answer mischievously every time and then she would ask me to stand outside! I was ahead not because I was a smart kid, but maybe because, techically that was my second year going to school (UKG after LKG) than my classmates there. Sometimes the teacher used to ask me to stretch my hand and give one with a long stick, for answering, what an irony!  :-) I can't say I was  mischievous, but I enjoyed to the fullest. I remember many things from that part of my life. I was famous as my grand father's pethi (grand daughter) and a good pious girl. :-) Its true, believe me! :-)

Well, our house was in one of the lanes perpendicular to the church. The front door opened to one lane (lane 1) and the back door led to a open space which then descended like a small hill to the next lane (lane 2). My appayi (grandma) would take me through the front door, drop me in school and go back home through the playground and then through lane 1. But I think she must have gone crazy seeing me back in the house. Yes, I would climb the small hill from lane 2 and I would be in the house even before she could reach home!

I remember shooing the crows away from the dry fish spread in the backyard. I remember my grandma cleaning fish with saambal (ash). The thread-cot, the chickens and the baskets used to cover them - I remember all of those well.

I remember a few more things but I cherish one thing more than all the above. Yes, my time with my great-grand-father (பூட்டன்)! He lived in a different village, but was visiting for some days, I think. He would take me out for a walk - from our house to the petty-kadai at the corner of the lane. He would get newspaper for him and a banana for me. This was our ritual though I don't remember the number of days we did that. It was a small walk and a banana, but the memories it had carved in the depth of my heart- that matters most. I loved my great grandfather and still love him a lot. He had even visited us in Kodaikanal and we went for walks there too. And one day a nail on the side of the road poked his foot and it was bleeding. I was very sorry for him. I also remember visiting him and my great-grand-mother in our native village. He used to have a box of candies known as 'thaen mittai'. hmmm yummm :-) He gave me the bottle-green hand kerchief. Once I tried sweeping the courtyard with a broom made of sticks taken from coconut leaves. I must have been in my 3rd or 4th std. I gave one big sweep and the dry leaves from one side flew all around. Then I gave another big sweep in the opposite direction and the leaves flew in different direction. My thatha came and scolded me and taught me to bend low and sweep gently. Even now, sometimes while sweeping my house I remember him.

Then one day in school, during my fifth standard, my Social Studies teacher asked our class who all had great grand parents. I raised my hand so proudly and happily. The very next day my great grand father went to the heavens. :-( I don't remember why my teacher asked that question but I started hating him for that.
I cherish my time with my 'poochandi thatha', yes we used to call him like that, but again don't know how he got that name. Those little strolls with him are cherished fondly in my heart!

Oil over Water painting

Oil and water never mix. We used this fact or tested this fact, whatever it was, we made some interesting painting and had fun. We mixed in different color tempera paint with oil in different bowls. And then we filled half of a pan with water. Then we took paint in the fingers and dropped them on the surface. We also used the back tip of paint brush to paint gently across the water surface. It was very interesting to do this and watch the colorful paint floating on the surface of water. We also spread sheets of paper over the water and got some paintings. Though I wanted the paper to only float on the surface we ended up immersing it.

We didn't get more colorful pictures on the paper, but hope I will try again with more colors.

Bottle Green handkerchief

Image:thanks to the internet

With soft hair flowing down my shoulders over the biscuit colored frock I was wearing, I hopped merrily holding my great granddad's hand. Yes, I had all the reasons for a little girl to be happy. My grand dad was visiting and we were on the way to the famous and most-sought Kodai lake for some boating. 

இனிமையினும் இனிமை

பலதிங்கள் காணாத என்னுயிர் தோழி வருகிறாள்
அளவளாவ வாசல் செல்லவில்லை நான்!
கன்னல் சாறும் வெல்லப் பாகும் வேண்டுமா என்றாள்
மனையில் நுழைவதற்கு முன்பே, வேண்டாம் என்றேன் !
தித்திக்கும் தேனும் முக்கனியும் வேண்டுமா என்றாள்
மறுத்தே உரைத்தேன் ஒரே சொல்!
ஏதேனும் எடுத்துக்கொள், எல்லாம் மறுத்தால் எப்படி  என்றாள் !
"எதுவும் மறுக்கவில்லை, அனைத்தும் வெகுத்தம்  உண்கிறேன்" என்றேன்
அனைத்தும் உண்கிறாயா?, என்றே உள்ளே வந்தனள்
"மெய்யுரைத்தாய்! தொந்திரவு செய்யவில்லை!" என்றே சென்றாள் !
கண்ணே! உன்னை நெஞ்சோடு அணைத்து உச்சிமுகர்ந்து
கண்மூடி அமர்ந்திருந்த என் இன்பநிலை கண்ட என் தோழி!

குழந்தையை அணைத்து பூரித்திருந்த தாய் தோழியைக் காண மான்போல் துள்ளி ஓடவில்லை, இனிப்பாய் எல்லாம் உண்கிறேன் என்கிறாள். அவ்வளவு இனிமையாது தாய்மையின் பூரிப்பு, நிறைவானது குழந்தை தரும் மகிழ்ச்சி!.


புது சொல்:
வெகுத்தம் - நிறைவாய், மிகுதி


My dearest friend whom I haven't seen for months comes home
I did not run outside to chat with her
"Do you want sugarcane juice and jaggery?"
She called out from outside, before entering
I said, "No"!
"Do you want delicious honey and 'mango,banana and jackfruit'?"
I said the same one word, No.
"Please accept something, why do you reject everything? "She asked.
I said, "Am not rejecting anything, but having all in abundance"
Asking "Having everything in abundance?", she entered inside
"You said the truth, am not disturbing you" Saying this she went out!
"My dear! She had seen me holding you close to my heart
With eyes closed and my face on your head!" 


Note: 
mango,banana and jackfruit is called mukkani in Tamil and I have used that word in the Tamil poem.
I tried translating it for my non-Tamil speaking friends, but I think it doesn't do total justification to the feeling which I had described in Tamil.

Ice fishing

put small things, fill with water and freeze

frozen

kids find things in ice as it melts

Fun

To the Summer Sun, From the Earth

Oh bright star closest to me
Why are you so angry on me?
You are being very harsh these days
My heart is wilting, I feel bruised and shattered;

I turn to my reserves but your displeasure reflects in them
For the lakes and rivers too are heating up in your blaze;
In your wrath you have taken away the chill from them
In your blaze do not take them away from me!

My life spins around you for ages and ages
In your wrath don't make me barren
For then, no life will look upon you,
Give you a green smile or sing at your arrival!

Tiny Seed

One sunny day by the pool
I was just relaxing with a book;
My boy was swimming in the water
While I was swimming in the words!

My eyes were taking off from the book
Now and then to watch the kids;
And one flight of my eyes landed
On a tiny sparrow, near the bush!

So tiny about my pointer long

Bobbing its head left and right;
He spotted two seeds nearby
And flew away having consumed one!

I got back into my pool of words
Without giving the other seed any thought;
Neglected, was it? Not at all
Which I realized after the sun went down thrice!

Another sunny day by the pool
I was just relaxing with a book;
My boy was swimming in the water
While I was swimming in the words!

My eyes were taking off from the book
Now and then to watch the kids;
And one flight of my eyes landed
On a tiny sapling near the bush!

Delighted was I to spot the lively sapling 
Having grown from the tiny seed;
Neglected, was it? Not at all
But bringing forth a mighty tree!

மழையின் இன்பம்

கருங்கொண்டல் கண்டு ஓடி ஒளிவதா

கானமயில் போல ஆடிக் களிப்பதா;

வெள்ளித்துளி வீழ்வது கண்டு குடை விரிப்பதா

இலையைப்போல் பூவைப்போல் லயித்து சிலிர்ப்பதா;
இத்தயக்கங்கள் விலக்கி மழைநீர் முகத்தில் ஏந்தி
வதனம் பூவாய் மலர உள்ளம் சிலிர்த்து

மனச்சிறகை விரித்து துள்ளி ஆடுவதல்லவா

இன்பம், மட்டற்ற இன்பம்!

என் தமிழே, கண்ணுறங்கு!

அன்பே அமுதே முத்தே மாணிக்கமே 
இரத்தினங்கள் பல உண்டு, என் வைரமே!
ஒவ்வொன்றாக சொல்லிக் கொஞ்ச ஆசையுண்டு 
நேரமில்லை, நடவுக்கு போகவேண்டும்
அதனால் என் தங்கத் தமிழே! நீ கண்ணுறங்கு!


Was in draft for a while...

வருக இனிய தமிழ் புத்தாண்டே!

பனிவிடைபெற இளவேனில் தாலாட்ட

பழையன புதுப்பொழிவு பெற

புதியன இனிதாய் மலர

வருக புத்தாண்டே!

வண்ணமலர்கள் அசைந்தாட தும்பி ரீங்காரமிட

குருவிபல இன்னிசை எழுப்ப

மாந்தர்தம் மனம் பூரிக்க

வருக புத்தாண்டே!

வீடும் நாடும் செழிக்க

மகிழ்ச்சியும் சமாதானமும் பெருக

உள்ளங்கள் உவகை கொள்ள

வருக புத்தாண்டே!

தேன்மதுர தமிழ் தித்திக்க

எட்டுத்திக்கும் செந்தமிழ் கமழ

தமிழும் தமிழரும் வளம்பெற

வருக எம் இனிய புத்தாண்டே!

Harmony with nature

Lately "Give Wild Life a Chance" is becoming a famous slogan. I understand the slogan is employed in a good sense and in a motive to save the wild animals from extinction. Many a species have become part of our history and many species are on their way to it, supposing we do not act to save them. All these said, what makes me furious is my contemplation that who are we to GIVE a chance to the wild life?  Is not this beautiful planet Earth, home to all the species? Every species whether big or small has its right to live on this planet. Earth is the home for all life, be it animals, plants or human. We, humans, having one sense more than the other species, used that 'one special sense' in a more self-seeking manner. In our process of exploration, expansion, development - whatever we name it, all we did was to intrude into the very nature! We hunted animals, felled trees and did what all we can do to destroy the nature without ever thinking of balance. I wonder if those animals are wild at all, if they had been wild, they would have had their space to themselves. Are we wilder than the wild animals that we barbarously led many species to extinction? A Lion known to be wild doesn't bother to hurt another animal when its full and not hungry. We humans never feel full, never feel satisfied. In our thirst for more and more, we stopped thinking of balance in nature! We move into every corner of the Earth and then say animals are intruding into our space, and then we act to destroy them, in the name of self-protection! And out of the blue, today we talk about 'giving' animals a chance! Let us stop intruding into the nature too much! Let us learn to live a life which imparts balance in the nature! Let us stop cutting trees to expand our space and on the other hand displaying slogans like, "give wild animals a chance"! Instead let us plant trees, be more sensible to our environment not taking natural resources for granted. I feel it will be more prompt to say, "Live in harmony with the nature!". Be comfortable, appreciate nature and live in harmony! Its never too late!

Walk to School

There are some remote areas in the world where kids HAVE TO walk miles to school. And there are some places where kids HAVE TO be encouraged to walk to school! Coming to the point, in my son's school they have walk to school days, may be three or four days in a year. Kids are so happy to walk to school that day. Those living far from school park their vehicles somewhere near and then walk to school, even if that's just 50 feet!!! They get a sticker and some small gift like a pencil, bookmark etc. Its every kid's curiosity and enthusiasm to see which class wins in each grade, by having the most number of kids that walked to school. Kids come with pedometers to see the number of steps they've taken. Well, what made me post this here today is a small twist to the event. Four schools are competing today and the school which wins will win a golden sneaker award. And the highlight is the principals of the losing schools are going to wear the winning school's T-shirt for a day!!!! And my God, you should see the spirit of the kids. They were talking about walking to school and making their school win so that the other schools' principals wear their school's t-shirt. And today it was amazing to see more kids walking to school than the other walk to school days! There were only a handful of cars in the car pool!! I was eagerly waiting to know the result!!!
And my son's class had a tie with another class in his grade. He is talking about having another competition to break the tie. He is so very excited! And he says, today another school won by a small margin, but his school will catch up next time!! Kudos for the spirit!! 

Day after a storm

The clouds had roared and poured
Until the day dawned;
The woods look calm and content
Diffusing pine fragrance so pleasant;
Tiny a snail gliding very leisurely
Way behind a blackworm so wiggly;
Blue Jays and sparrows singing merrily
Nature delights when observed closely!

Martyrs' Day

India's joy of Independence was shadowed on January 30th 1948. The great leader who lead the Nation to Independence, a great leader, Mahatma Gandhi fell down to a bullet discharged by a man named Nathuram Godse! What a loss to India! A great blow soon after Independence! Mahatma Gandhi struggled for our Nation's freedom, sacrificed a lot and finally gave up his life for India. How disheartening his death would have been to the people and the other leaders! Yet, its joyful that India has grown to be a great Nation! And to honor our Father of Nation, the date he was assassinated is observed as Martyrs' day in India! We pay homage not only to Mahatma Gandhi, but also to the many martyrs who gave up their lives for the sake of our Nation. A 2 min silence is observed at 11 am on January 30th throughout India in all Government offices, schools etc. Wherever we are we should think of all those martyrs who has given us a safe and free country to live in. We should not be taking things for granted. Having not seen the struggle or hardships faced before Independence should not drag us back in our feeling of gratitude for whatever we have today! There might be some potholes here and there, but inspite of all those we have a free country to live in. Lets respect the martyrs and our Nation and do our parts to make it a better country day by day!
Vande Mataram!

Daybreak

Looked up in the sky and
Got mesmerized by the dawn;
The tranquil blue shield above
Streaked with orange flames;
The crescent smiled at the twilight
Tickled by a orange streak of cloud passing by;
The majestic Sun ascended from behind the woods
Saying peek-a-boo to the crescent;
Neither the chillness on my cheeks
Nor the sight of my cold breath
Hinder me from watching the fascinating scene
Until the crescent went hiding in the bright light!

It was freezing cold. I dropped my son and came back. But stopped outside to watch the beautiful day break and went for a short stroll gazing at the sky! Wonderful start of the day!

இயல்வது கரவேல்

ஆற்றோரமாய் இருந்த ஒரு ஊரில் வேதன் என்று ஒரு ஏழை தன் மனைவியுடன்  வாழ்ந்தான். ஆற்றில் மீன் பிடித்து வாழ்ந்து வந்தான். சில நாட்கள் நிறைய மீன்கள் கிடைத்தாலும் பல நாட்கள் ஒன்றும் இல்லாமல் திரும்பி வருவான். ஏழையாக இருந்தாலும் மகிழ்ச்சியாக இருந்தான் வேதன். யாருக்கு என்ன உதவி வேண்டுமானாலும் செய்வான். ஒரு நாள் வேதனுக்கு இரண்டு மீன் மட்டுமே கிடைத்தது. அவன் வீட்டிற்கு சென்று மனைவியிடம் கொடுத்துவிட்டு வாசலில் அமர்ந்திருந்தான். அப்பொழுது ஒரு வயதானவர் ஒரு குச்சியை ஊன்றிகொண்டு தள்ளாடி நடந்து வந்தார். வேதன் ஓடிச்சென்று அவரைத் தாங்கிப்பிடித்து உட்கார வைத்தான். அந்த முதியவர் பல நாள் சாப்பிடாததால் மிகவும் பலவீனமாக இருந்தார். வேதன் உள்ளே ஓடிச்சென்று மனைவியிடம் ஒரு மீனை வாங்கி வந்து அம்முதியவருக்கு சாப்பிடக் கொடுத்தான். அந்த ஒரு சிறிய மீன் முதியவருக்கு போதவில்லை. இன்னும் எதாவது சாப்பிட இருக்கிறதா என்று கேட்டார். வேதன் உள்ளே ஓடினான். இன்னும் ஒரு மீன்தான் இருந்தது. ஆனால் இருப்பதை மறைத்து முதியவரிடம் ஒன்றும் இல்லை என்று சொல்ல வேதனுக்கு மனமில்லை. அவன் மனதை அறிந்த அவன் மனைவியும் மீதமிருந்த ஒரு மீனையும் அவனிடம் கொடுத்தாள். வேதன் அதை எடுத்துச் சென்று முதியவருக்குச்  சாப்பிடக் கொடுத்தான். அப்பொழுது அவ்விடத்தில் ஒரு ஒளிவெள்ளம் தோன்றியது. முதியவர் இருந்த இடத்தில் ஒரு தேவதை நின்றது. தேவதை வேதனைப் பார்த்து, "உனக்கு இல்லாவிட்டாலும் பரவாயில்லை என்று இருப்பதை மறைக்காமல், 'இயல்வது கரவேல்' என்பதற்கு இணங்க உதவி செய்த உன்னைப் பாராட்டுகிறேன். இனிமேல் எப்பொழுதும் உனக்கு தேவையான மீன்கள் கிடைக்கும்." என்று வாழ்த்தி மறைந்தது. அதன் பின்னர் ஒரு நாளும் வேதனுக்கு மீன் கிடைக்காமல் இருந்ததில்லை. அவனும் அவன் மனைவியும் மகிழ்ச்சியாக வாழ்ந்தனர்.


உங்களால் பிறருக்கு செய்ய முடிந்ததை மறைக்காமல் செய்யுங்கள்  குழந்தைகளே!

நாட்டுப்புற பாடல்

ஆத்தோரம் ஆலமரம்
மரத்திலொரு கிளிக்கூடு
கூட்டில ரெண்டு கிளி!
காத்து சிலுசிலுங்க
ஆத்துல மீன் துள்ள
ஒரு கிளி கீகி சொல்ல
மறுகிளி கிக்கிக்கீ சொல்லுச்சாம்!

என் பையன்கூட விளையாடும்பொழுது விளையாட்டாய் பாடியது இது. அவன் drums வாசிக்க நான் இதை பாடி சிரித்தோம்.