crazy, but unforgettable wake up call

It was yet another day with all its excitements, hues and hurries, running behind kids and what not. After putting the kids to sleep, I think I was able to fall asleep around 2.30 AM. My husband had not come back from work. So I was on and off sleeping for a while till he returned home. Then I went to peaceful sleep. I was swinging on the moon and then playing with the stars. I heard some sound...to my dismay it was a knock at the door which brought me back to the earth. I looked at the alarm clock near my pillow. It showed 5.45 AM. With so much anger I opened the door. It was the milkman and I was puzzled as for what reason he had knocked, for I had kept the coupon for milk. And I could see he had kept the milk packets in the bag hung outside. He told me that I had only put a note to knock the door. My goodness heavens!!! My calling bell was not working and I was waiting for someone the previous day. So I had a post-it note saying "Calling bell is not working, Please knock the door." All I could say was "oh ok" and went inside back to bed, just to lay awake and curse myself for having left the note out in the night!!!!

Destiny! Depends on where you land??

This round pumpkin, shining and yellow
Landed in my shopping cart
Rolled all the way to my fridge so blue
From there it took a different path
And went right into my husband's hands
Here it is, transformed into a spooky candle holder
It would have boiled in sambar, had it been into my hands
Instead its glowing with the candle from within!!

Note: This post is dedicated to my darling husband, who took some time away from his work to save this pumpkin from boiling in my sambar! :)

It was 4pm and these days the Sun is generous with his heat. As usual I took my elder son to the karate class today. And "I took" implies that my active toddler also accompanied me. Well, what made me post a usual routine in my blog today? Maybe am too tired or frustrated whatever. Stay-at-home moms of more than one kid will definitely understand better. Coming back to the point...I carry my younger son and a bag of water bottles and walk with my elder son. My elder one had a fall and he was real upset. Anyways we reached the class and by the time I washed my elders son's hands, I had to run thrice behind the younger one who was ready to explore the surroundings. Then comes the real marathon. I had to go behind my toddler as he was running here and there. I wonder if I was wrong in holding him back from catching big red ants among the dry leaves. And there my action led to a tantrum. Please note it was not my toddler who threw tantrums, but my action did. :)
Then he wanted to run to the road. I didnt mind him taking a stroll holding my hands. But he did. He didnt want to hold my hands and insisted that he walked 'onto' the road. Yeah, you guessed right! This led to the next tantrum. However I managed to get back inside exhausted. Well, I had to forget taking a sip of water and run behind my toddler who was now reaching for the bikes and bicycles parked there. He wanted to sit on a bicycle and I obliged. And then comes the fun, he didnt want me to even have my hands behind him without touching him, let alone holding him. This was over and then he was determined in touching the silencer of a bike. I put up a strong battle against that. So he had to run looking for something else. He did find and he rushed to the sand. I was too exhausted that I thought let him play in the sand. But my toddler thought differently, may be he was not interested as I didnt stop him!!!! He started throwing handful of sand all around that I had to pull him out of that place. I washed his hands and managed to call up my husband just to have an energy boost :) . By the time my toddler was trying to reach out for something that he was about to fall face first. But dont worry, he has a great rescue worker in me that I leaped up in one step to hold him. To my relief the class was over. But trouble came in some other way, my elder son didnt want to come he sat there and started crying saying no reason!!!! Somehow I managed and we were on our journey, obliging to my elder one's condition that I should hold his hands. Amidst all these everybody who were waiting there were entertained well.

Its not over yet. I had to buy vegetables for which I had to convince my elder one in following me to the vegetable store. My toddler was very happy that he started picking up the tomatoes, onions and potatoes and mixing them up. I quickly grabbed few veg, gave them to the shopkeeper to be weighed and billed and in the mean time picked up my toddler and put things he had dislocated in right place. By the time I reached out for money in my purse he headed to the road twice. Third time a lady there came to my rescue that she held him while I payed. Then we started again to home. This time with extra baggage of vegetables. My toddler wanted to walk and that was a road with negligible traffic. So I thought I will let him walk so that my shoulders be relieved for sometime. But he didnt want to come with me, rather insisted on going his own way. I picked him up and walked steadily to our apartment. There the last obstacle, lift was not working. So I climbed 76 steps to my flat on the third floor. I left him down to open the door only to run after him as he was headed to the terrace. Luckily my elder son might have been happy that I walked holding his hands, he offered to open the door. I grabbed my screaming younger one and rushed inside and closed the door swiftly. I didnt let the tears roll down my cheek. Am just wondering how to handle this. I dont want to stop my elder one's classes.

Love me for me

Don't say you love my eyes
One day it may not be bright;
Don't say you love my smile
Today it may be a million dollar one
but am afraid it wont stay so;
Don't say you love my dimple
It might fade away with age;
Dear, just love me for its me
And for love's eternity;
For I do so, to you;

Do you know what your kid thinks?

It was just another day and it was time to prepare dinner. These days, after two kids I rarely get enthusiastic about cooking. And that was one of those rare days and I decided to make aloo gobi and phulka. My younger one started his nap at around 6.15 and I rushed to the kitchen. Cleaning the gobi and putting it in boiled water, making the dough and cutting two onions was all I could do before my younger one woke up. So I had to leave everything as it was and wait for my sister to come. When she came after about half an hour, I handed over my younger one and went back to the kitchen. And yes, that was surprising that I still had that enthusiasm. Orelse I would have kept the gobi in the fridge and settled with pickle and roti. Or in a better case would have handed over the job of cooking to my sister, with the condition that she should'nt ask for any instructions. If accidentally she asks, I would say "boil and put salt" :))
Well, back to the main stuff...I made aloo gobi and started rolling phulkas. May be because of some vibrations..my elder one wanted to do some cooking. He picked up few pans, spoons, little of the dough and little flour and started cooking in the living room. Yes, it was cooking, a noisy cooking indeed, for there was much mixing going on. My younger one too joined with his brother. I had to give him two small pans and spoons to avoid any ruffle. It was rather a rock concert in my living room. And again astonishingly I was not getting mad with the noise. After a while I told my kids, "It seems you both enjoy cooking. Am happy that after few years I wont have to cook. I could sit and relax while you both cook". My elder one retorted immediately "What job is this amma, I dont like. You cook and then compell me to eat." Myself and my sister looked at each other in astonishment. We were spell bound. I just finished making phulkas with those words echoing in my ears. It was definitely a different interpretation which I never imagined.

Loss of a loved one

My dear childhood friend has lost her father. Its very hard to digest. He was ill and I know how hard my friend and her family tried to make him recover. How much I prayed and hoped for the best. And things took a very ugly turn and I could not just accept it. I know how much uncle did for his family. Bringing up his kids - my friend and her brother and sister. He gave the best to them. And now one day he is not there...not for a few days, but permanently..I remember uncle very well and its hard for me to accept the fact that I can see him no more. And at this point I think of my friend, how much she must be feeling, her sister and brother who are sister and brother for me too....what about aunty? I just want to hug my friend and just be there for her..But situation is such that am not near her...But my heart is with her and all my thoughts and love is there for her...Though I cannot go, my thoughts are there and there alone...I tried calling her, but she didnt answer my call...And in a way thats fine as I am completely clueless what to talk...Can I give a hug over phone? Can I hold her hand and sit quietly over the phone? I know its an irrepairable loss, which will hurt forever, forever and forever. I pray for uncle's soul to rest in peace. I want to pray for my friend and her family..But how? Will any amount of prayer do anything to lessen my friend's grief? NO, NEVER, loss is a loss forever...And my dear friend, am there with you...thats all I cud say...

Friendly chat

"When a friend calls to me from the road
And slows his horse to a meaning walk,
I don't stand still and look around
On all the hills I haven't hoed,
And shout from where I am, What is it?
No, not as there is a time to talk.
I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,
Blade-end up and five feet tall,
And plod: I go up to the stone wall
For a friendly visit."

This is an excellent poem by Robert Frost. I have read many poems by Robert Frost and also few more poets, (thanks to my dad and granddad for having given many books). This poem especially comes to my mind very often. I feel its very apt for the present day lifestyle. We all have friends and ofcourse we love to spend time with friends. But in reality does it happen? If so how frequently and for how long? Do we immerse ourselves in the sweet memories of the past or do we just talk about the present - the chores, the lack of time, and so on.
I feel this poem becomes a reality, where people are ready to leave the work for few minutes and talk happily with friends and loved ones. And I wish and hope that this is possible in the present day lifestyle, or more aptly "workstyle" as I feel there is no life as such!!!!!!!