2010 draws to an end

2010 has been a good year so far. A trip to Singapore and India in March to visit family was a good way to start. A month in DC with Mom, Bro and Sis-In-Law was the highlight of the summer. Aadit's 2 week "stint" at daycare in September marked the beginning of fall. Winter highlight will defnitely be my kitchen winter garden with beets, spinach, peas, onions, radishes and carrots on the card.

It's been 10 years now that I started working. Time has just flown by. Grad school is just a distant memory. I often wonder how my fellow students are doing. It would be good to meet them and see where life has taken them over these 10 years.

Aadit and Udit

A friend asked me yesterday how I came about to naming Aadit ... was it supposed to rhyme with Udit (my brother). Well, yes, and no. When I was pregnant, and found out it was a boy, I wanted a meaningful name. Of the thousands of names I reviewed, I liked Krishiv (combo of krishna and shiv), aadit (meaning first born) and vipul (combo of vinay and pooja ;-) ). Living in america, we figured that it's best to go with the easiest pronounciable name, (my number one choice anyways), which was Aadit and the rhymability factor with the uncle was the icing on the cake. It is remarkable too that if you look at aadit's baby pictures and udit's baby pictures, the resemblance in uncanny! Like Uncle Like Nephew Indeed!

2010

2009 was the year of Aadit. I marvel at the progress he's made in terms of knowledge, understanding, milestones and the ability to get what he wants by crying out loud :-)

2010 begins with a planned trip to India. Going on an international trip with a toddler is a challenge. I have an excel spreadsheet with a list of 90 must-have items for hand luggage and another 90 for checked-in luggage. But then there will be sight-seeing in singapore, a trip to the famed mustapha's shopping store and then ofcourse, shopping in India. I just hope we all don't fall sick, especially aadit.

Remembering Papa

Today marks 12 years since my beloved papa passed away. It's been such a long time that it does not hurt the way it used to .. i.e. I can get through the day without shedding buckets of tears.

I focus on the qualities that I think I have imbibed from my papa. I *think* I have his sense of innocence, the quality to see the good in people, the capacity to love and respect people for who they are and his ability to show love and affection openly. Sadly, I don't have his mathematical skills, his immense patience and ability to stick to his morals without offending anyone else.

If I have one complaint of god is that he took away a good man way too early. There are so many people who would have benefitted from knowing him and spending time with him. Me included. He was a rare man indeed.

Love You Papa where-ever you are. We all love you and miss you so much. Din Mahine saal guzarte jayenge. Aapki yaadon me ham jeete marte jaenge.

Love and Detestation

Can you love someone who makes you miserable at times ? Yep!

I love my mom to death and would do anything for her. Yet at the same time, her behavior on occassions irritates me to no end! Especially when she gets into her over-protective mom mode .. hello I am 30 plus now and can very well take care of myself and think for myself! And no, there is nothing called jaadu-tona in this world!

Same goes for my husband ... I love him but at times I want to run a knife through him!

So I do understand when someone close to me does not want to let go of a person who causes pain to him. It's just that it's very hard to see him suffer in silence. But I do understand his behavior. Both of us are painted with the same brush of love and understanding.

For Papa

September 16th is my father's birthday. Had he been alive it would have been his 60th birthday today. Happy Birthday Papa. We miss you terribly. But I know you are with me always. I sense your presence, especially when I'm low. Thank you so much for being there for me always. You're the bestest dad in the world. Love You sooooo much ...

Expansion of Boundaries

Several generations ago, one of my forefathers ventured out of the little village of Mahensar in Rajasthan to seek a better life. Not sure what exact route was taken but my grand-father ended up in Bhagalpur, Bihar. The expansion of boundaries from Mahensar to Bhagalpur is lost in the mists of time, but after that, we know what happened. My father expanded his boundaries from Bhagalpur to Amritsar, then Gwalior. And thereafter began the international expansion, with his jobs in Nigeria and Trinidad. The next generation, i.e. my brother Udit and I have now expanded to the USA which is now our home.

From a tiny village that you can't even find on a map to the USA ... what an expansion of boundaries!

I don't know what will happen in the next generation .. perhaps an expansion beyond the planet Earth? Maybe not in my lifetime, but I am sure that future generations of the Mahensaria clan will expand to realms that we can only dream about today!