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Ways to say I love you

I made you a playlist I got you food Want me to scratch your back? Come over Thank you Have you eaten today? I got you something What do you want from Taco Bell? How can I help? I’ll walk you home Wish you were here This song reminded me of you I have so much to tell you  I’m so proud of you I’ll warm up the car for you Do you need a ride? Saw this and thought of you  You’ll do great Bye, drive safe You good? Did you sleep good? Tell me more I’ll wait for you I’ll do the dishes tonight Have a safe flight I’’ get you an uber Don’t forget to take your medication  Text me when you land  Sweet dreams What would I do without you? Stay a little longer (please) You have something in your teeth Do you want my jacket? You can borrow my hoodie I like you  Are you warm enough? A have a surprise for you I don’t know what to do without you Let me carry that for you Should we leave  I’m so happy for you I’ve been thinking of you lately  Do you need a hug? L
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बीज अंकुरे अंकुरे

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बीज अंकुरे अंकुरे, ओल्या मातीच्या कुशीत कसे रुजावे बियाणे, माळरानी खडकात? बीजा हवी निगराणी, हवी मायेची पाखर लख्ख प्रकाश निर्मळ, त्यात कष्टाचा पाझर हवी अंधारल्या रात्री, चंद्रकिरणांची साथ कसे रुजावे बियाणे, माळरानी खडकात? अंकुराचे होता रोप, होई रोपट्याचे झाड मुळ्या रोवुन रानात, उभे राहील हे खोड निळ्या आभाळाच्या खाली, प्रकाशाचे गीत गात कसे रुजावे बियाणे, माळरानी खडकात? नाही झाला महावृक्ष, जरी नसे कल्पतरु फुलाफळांचा त्यावरी, नाही आला रे बहरु क्षणभरी विसावेल वाटसरु सावलीत कसे रुजावे बियाणे, माळरानी खडकात? It pains me to see my smart, intelligent and kind children not being able to follow their original trajectory. “the little people.”  They are as big as you are, whoever you are.  Contorted parody continues….  Joseph Mitchell, McSorley’s Wonderful Saloon https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DUDLiGfVJ54 #Howtomakechildrenthrive #protectivethorns
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Halo

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  To my children,  If my memory serves me well, I will be able to tell you a story in its splendid colors possibly in a way that your grandfather (your father’s side) used to tell me when I was a child… Oh snap! Looks like, all I remember is the flow of narration, the aroma and sounds of Indian cooking with "the tadkas" given to leafy vegetables or gourds, an old-ish man in unison with his voice, sipping his steaming chai with rotis and a bunch of eager children... (sometimes just me)  ….so once upon a time, not so long ago, a little boy who loves God wants to know how God works, how he manages time. He wonders if God gets tired of fulfilling wishes of humans; a tiresome job of darting around the globe. The little boy takes it upon himself to find more and to help the God in his work. He does not know how to please the God or take care of the someone who is so abstract and illusive… so he thinks and thinks....He starts asking questions...if he has taken bath? if someo
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The wish of a flower: miracles of life!

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The flowers at the front office were about to wither…the dentist-friend-turned-employer asked me to throw them away. I thought they could have lasted another day but, I still tossed those as per her wish and kept the vase back near sink. Oops! I forgot to flush the toilet where I threw the water. Thank goodness! She reminded me to clean the table off the petals.  This incident took me back 2.5 decades— my mother was hospitalized due to a life threatening road traffic accident—a major event in our lives. I still remember it vividly… At that tender impressionable age, my dentist (who later became my father in law) asked me to show courage, be brave! He told me that such situations bring out the the strength out of the weakest of the people. He asked me to relieve my father’s stress and burden by showing up to the challenges and taking up responsibility at home. He asked me to go to the hospital with a smile on my lips and flowers in my hand! …and literally the very next day, I took flowe
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Anthills

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I remember walking with my grandma in the neighborhood to feed cows and dogs on hot lazy afternoons. The cows lay ruminating in the large shade of a tall berry tree (tutu  तुतू ). The dogs salivating with their tongues out to keep themselves cool.  It was very typical of a midsize peripheral city.  For me, the tall anthills in the grass nearby were a major attraction. Every-time we passed by those, I used to wonder if there were snakes hiding in there. Grandma used to relieve the fear and apprehension. On the way, she told stories of Dattaguru- who is always seen with a cow and dogs, or of Navanaths. She used to tell how the ants build those castles with diligent work and not giving up. She also talked about just how Dattaguru had many teachers and gained knowledge from these natural preceptors; everyone has ability to learn from the resources around them. My grandma was a multitasker and was good with gardening. Her lack of formal education wasn’t a barrier to her keen observation. Sh
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Calm or storm! —staying calm…

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A dead fish is taken wherever the flow takes her but a live fish has a choice to swim against the current and make her own way. The ducks look calm on the surface as If they are effortlessly floating but underneath they are making constant movement. The two often cited quotes have started the thought-churning machine in my brain to seek the possibility to transform old ideas into new form. The first question arises in my mind: what is calm- are the ducks calm because they look or pretend to be calm? Is calmness all about presenting? Is the dead fish calm who is still being floated around? Is the live fish swimming against the current disruptive? The answers to these questions are dependent on the context of situation and perspective of beholder as well as beseecher. Optimum nervousness or anxiety to get things done is human and that’s perfectly normal. Getting aroused against unjust behavior and responding in an edgy manner may not be perceived appropriate by some but if that’s the rig
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Patching of wall and making up the leeway!

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Life is full of pleasant surprises as they say! Receiving help from unexpected sources... A certain accident left a broken, damaged drywall in my apartment. I was short on money and did not have any skills to repair it. Luckily, a handyman working for the apartment complex decided to come over after his regular work hours on request. Not only he fixed it in two visits in exchange of sweet words and spicy Indian snacks but also gave away some interesting information about other small things in apartment. He was born in USA to Mexican immigrants. He held high regards for his mother who had worked hard to raise him. He hated traditional education and its outcome. According to him the jobs that we think as cushy and high paying were uninteresting. He thought just sitting and working around computers as a waste of life.... He compared it to an idiot box. He preferred moving about working with things and building real physical things. Coming from a family of professionals with white collared
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