As the leaves change color
And nature puts on its fall wardrobe
We celebrate Suraj's Birthday.
This November 1st. as he turned 23.We celebrated with his favorite chocolate cake.
Ofcourse he had other celebrations with his friends too.He tells me that is Coca cola in front of him!!
We took him to the Mangolian Grill for a grand dinner where Jyoti and Jeff trumped our gift with their own. They took Suraj to Las Vegas for a few days of fun and frolic. Papa Ji gave him a hundred dollar bill. Papa Ji came from India with these bills and we never changed them to smaller notes for him. So he spent the whole ten weeks passing out $ 100 bills whenever there was a gift giving occassion. Thank you Papa Ji.
Just for old times sake;
Doing what he liked to do most
(Fast forward)
She ran around totally oblivious to the important marker.
Whereas we could not get over how fast the time has flown.
One year has transformed the single minded, hungry, feeding and pooping bundle of limbs to this lively, opinionated, all eyes, smiling 'heart thief'.
And she takes no prisoners.
Aja is putty in her hands.
She wakes up early in the morning and ushers in the sunlight for us.
Who cares if we wish to sleep a little more.
There is so much to do and so much to see.
We are noticing the beauty of fallen leaves all over again with her. 
And discovering the pleasure of forgotten simple things
She is equally amazed by splendid treasures
As she is by daily menial chores.
She still gets bathed and fed and rocked to sleep with same fanfare
And admired and cuddled by both sides of the family.
But her favorite thing to do, however, is to take off on her own and explore.
She was quite enamored with the painting I made for her birthday.
And immediately paid me with a smile.
She also loved the soft baby doll she got from Suraj mamu
And the Barbie ride she got from Vivek mamu.
We gave her this pink rocking horse
And she got this wagon from the other grandparents.
Ravi mamu had exams in the day time and worked at his job till late, so could not buy the gift on time. He spent late night chatting with Jyoti and gave his gift next day. No picture for a late gift!!!
It was wonderful having Vivek over for the first birthday celebration.
We missed you Naren and Namrata, dear mamu and mai.
Baba is in India enjoying his vacation with the family.
'It is wonderful to talk to you on the phone and hear about all the happy tidings'.
But I wanted you to know,
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This is probably the last entry of the year. We want to wish everyone who looks in on the site
4 comments:
As usual, a blog picturesquely presentable, exquisitely readable and in words of Keats a thing of beauty and a joy for ever. Thanks a lot. Looking forward to your keenly awaited visit.
Love, Daddy.
Dear Ambi,
It feels wonderful to see all of you while I am away from home. The pictures bring the moments we spent together to life. I am enjoying my stay in India and eagerly waiting for you all to come and join me. Give my love to every one and a special kiss to Surina. Love you.
The short but expressive shower of warmth and affection from father to daughter, the equally brief but extremely loving rejoinder from husband to wife….and the long and nostalgic journey delineated by Nuabou….Very little is left to be desired…words become a redundant imposition, responses are silenced, and the exercise of groping for expression is blanketed by a serene calm of motherly love and familial protection.
Birthday blessings to Suraj, the silent artist of matured humility….and kisses galore to Surina and Shradha the scene and heart stealers of the Century! The faces of these representatives of the next two generations convey and communicate volumes about the promise of a better tomorrow…a phase of life that holds within itself the power to change the world and bring about a new era of peace and brotherhood….Little do we realize that the wars fought between countries and continents, people and perpetrators to attain peace and fraternity, are a colossal sacrifice of precious human life at the altar of selfish ends and narrow vision.. Peace is not an external phenomenon to be sought and attained outside, it is rather the exploring and unveiling of the treasure that lies within each of us…all it needs is for us to take a break, a pause from the incessant demands of our unquenchable desires, and look within…..Lets draw from that eternal source of peace and love, and embalm the wounds of humanity, so that the innocent inheritors of our mindless follies wake up to a morning that is bathed in the brilliance of co-existence, not conflict….fraternal bonding, not fractured relationships….compassionate cure, not convoluted conspiracies….
Pranams.
Babi
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