Mt Rainier and a Rainbow

Raphy, Neil and I went to Mt Rainier on Friday (Nondi was working).. the pictures of the drive there start from photo number 5.. As is obvious, it was raining and snowing.. and the mountain was covered with a thick white fog, so didn't get a glimpse of it.. Came back home and took some pictures of Neil watching the rain and the sight of a gorgeous rainbow that suddenly appeared.. I managed to click it before it faded away.. :)

Breakfast at Wild Ginger

Nondi, the perennial enthusiast, dragged me practically out of bed to feed me dim-sum at one of her favourite restaurants, Wild Ginger. My beautiful sis is like a burning flame.. always burning bright, spreading light.. Reluctant though I was, I ended up enjoying myself, as I usually do.. Oh, and the food was yummy too..

Last day here, packing almost done (does it ever get done?).. baggage weighed.. all within the weight limits allowed, thankfully.. Now keeping fingers crossed that the journey is done safely, without hassles..

Jazz and Wine at the Triple Door

Nondi took me to the Triple Door for some live jazz music with some great cabernet.. I loved it :)

It's a drippy day today

After the couple of days or so of gorgeous sun, it's dripping again today.. so typically Seattle weather.. The only thing is that I'm just not feeling like venturing out in it, so poor Lucy is moping around because she knows she's not getting her walk.. Maybe I'll take her for a short one when there's a break in the rain..

Neil's just back from school.. Liz, his nanny, has taken a week off because she has injured her leg while playing soccer, so Raphy has brought him home. Although school gets over at 3, kids whose parents work have to stay in school until a parent can pick them up. I, being a typically Indian mama-type, hate the thought of a kid having to stay on in school so many hours after school. But Neil seems to be quite happy about it.. they have "after-school" day care, wherein their class teacher makes them do some activities, some controlled playing, and such like... which Neil enjoys.. So, I guess it's ok..

I'm eager to get back home, but leaving a place is always a wrench.. I will miss Neil horribly.. feeling depressed about that.. and of course, Lucy..Tia.. Nondi said yesterday that she felt like coming with us to India.. but she won't get leave.. will come in December, so that is something to look forward to.. She is like her name, Nandita, means, which is, joy.. anand.. (which my Ma told me).. She has a great spirit to enjoy life to the hilt.. I always enjoy and respond to that whenever I am with her. She hates being still.. in one place.. I am the opposite in that respect, but there is a part within me that has that spirit too..

Wherever we go together, for example at the hospi or at the wine tasting place the day before yesterday, people always ask if we are related.. I am often asked if she is my daughter.. which I used to also be asked when I used to carry her around when she was a baby.. I was 15-16 years old when she was born..

Friday Morning Sky Colours

What delicate shades of silver blue/grey/pink/oranges in the sky... all of which I can see through the branches of the big cottonwood tree and a few pines just outside the bedroom window.. It's a rise and savour the morning colours kind of time of the day.. I love these still hours when the house is still asleep.. I have just a couple of weeks more here to enjoy these spectacular Seattle sky colours.. I've persuaded Nondi about preponing our tickets back to India.. I think it's important for us to go back while Ma is feeling and doing good. The long flight from here to India takes a toll on even younger and healthier people, at Ma's age, along with her chronic health problems, it just gets that much tougher.. Of course Nondi is sad about having to let Ma go (she has always been Ma's pet, favourite child).. and Ma too is sad about leaving Nondi and especially Neil.. grandson and grandmother have such a beautiful bond between each other.. And I know Raphy, who treats Ma so tenderly.. makes her morning tea for her and that kind of stuff.. will also miss her.. and me.. we discuss so many things with each other.. And my heart is breaking about Lucy.. I know I will never see her again..

But, I guess one has to be practical and do what has to be done..

So, Bangalore skies, here I come..  (trying not to think morbid thoughts about Flight 370 :/ )

A birthday poem to myself – On my son's birthday

There is quiet
in these empty rooms.


the dragonfly floats
trapped in the mud-skin
of its stagnant pool
the sun ebbing
on its cobweb wings.
a broken feather hangs
suspended in the
moribund clouds
a wisp caught
in a death wish.
every pearl drop dries
in every blade of spring.
the earth’s lungs
collapse
with the songs
strummed off-key
with each dying
season’s strings.


So, now, it’s just
the empty rooms.

This day, 34 years ago

This day, 34 years back, I brought a new life into this earth.. my son. My precious son. How fast these years have gone by, from a baby whom I crushed to my chest and protected with all my life, today he is all of 34 years old, independent, wise beyond his years (has always been), loving, sweet, kind, stubborn, argumentative.. I know better than you Ma, always on his lips from way back when he was a mere toddler.. :)

Happy Birthday, my son.. you are the greatest joy of my life...!

It's 3 am, dark and silent outside, and I am wide awake.. I think I need some coffee..