Who do I delete and when

 Who do I delete and when?

Anyone get what I am implying?

No, I am not refereeing to my Facebook or Instagram accounts, where at times I feel there are people, who have no inclination of keeping in touch, or even showing that they are alive, but are there – squatting, snooping, & unnecessarily occupying a place on the list.

Will deal with that issue and those people sometime later.

Today I am thinking of those that have passed on and are no more.

Relatives, friends, colleagues, classmates, childhood acquaintances, former neighbours etc.

I have quite a few of them as contacts in my phone list and hence on WhatsApp too. Often when I scroll down I come across the names of these good souls – I vividly recollect we called each other , and exchanged news, pictures, prayers and jokes on WhatsApp regularly, and now they are no more.

Whenever I come to their name or see an old message or photograph, I pause and reflect & it just makes me sad and at times a trifle depressed & melancholic as well.

I think of them – of when we last met, of our last conversation on phone, of the last message or pics that we exchanged & on a few occasions I have almost messaged them as a matter of habit.

Do I keep them on my list or do I delete them – if so when?

Keeping them on my list is what I would prefer.

I know this is a rather somber thought but it is what it is .

Who do I delete and when

 Who do I delete and when?

Anyone get what I am implying?

No, I am not refereeing to my Facebook or Instagram accounts, where at times I feel there are people, who have no inclination of keeping in touch, or even showing that they are alive, but are there – squatting, snooping, & unnecessarily occupying a place on the list.

Will deal with that issue and those people sometime later.

Today I am thinking of those that have passed on and are no more.

Relatives, friends, colleagues, classmates, childhood acquaintances, former neighbours etc.

I have quite a few of them as contacts in my phone list and hence on WhatsApp too. Often when I scroll down I come across the names of these good souls – I vividly recollect we called each other , and exchanged news, pictures, prayers and jokes on WhatsApp regularly, and now they are no more.

Whenever I come to their name or see an old message or photograph, I pause and reflect & it just makes me sad and at times a trifle depressed & melancholic as well.

I think of them – of when we last met, of our last conversation on phone, of the last message or pics that we exchanged & on a few occasions I have almost messaged them as a matter of habit.

Do I keep them on my list or do I delete them – if so when?

Keeping them on my list is what I would prefer.

I know this is a rather somber thought but it is what it is .

Let us all be thankful

 

LET US ALL BE THANKFUL

 

We should feel blessed that we woke this morning

That we could look up at the rising sun

That we could stand, walk, and run

That we are alive.

 

We should feel blessed this morning

That we have family, friends & colleagues

Shelter, food, and drink

Above all, a purpose to live

 

Very often we take life for granted

And assume that all will be fine

Just because, right now it is

But life is so unpredictable

 

Let’s take a moment to be thankful

Just a few minutes will do

Thankful for the graces we have received

We may not be free from flaws and defects

But we are vibrant beings

And we are ALIVE!

 

 

 

Let us all be thankful

 

LET US ALL BE THANKFUL

 

We should feel blessed that we woke this morning

That we could look up at the rising sun

That we could stand, walk, and run

That we are alive.

 

We should feel blessed this morning

That we have family, friends & colleagues

Shelter, food, and drink

Above all, a purpose to live

 

Very often we take life for granted

And assume that all will be fine

Just because, right now it is

But life is so unpredictable

 

Let’s take a moment to be thankful

Just a few minutes will do

Thankful for the graces we have received

We may not be free from flaws and defects

But we are vibrant beings

And we are ALIVE!

 

 

 

Grandparents are fun

 

They say that nothing prepares you for the day you become a parent – it is just an amazing, life changing experience. Then the kid or kids grow up, find a partner, take wing, and fly the nest.

 

However, that is not what this story is about. My wife and I are now proud, doting grandparents.

This happened a little over two months ago, and if being a parent is amazing, then being a grandparent is surreal & simply mesmerizing!

 

‘Evana’, our little bundle of joy, (God bless her) entered our world on March 14, while ‘Covid’, literally raged all round her! 

 

Growing up, my grandfather spoiled me rotten whenever he got the chance, and over the years, I have seen innumerable grandparents indulge & spoil their grandkids and not feel guilty about doing so. I would look at them in horror and complete disbelief & vowed that would never happen when my time came.

 

Well - It did, and I have to say, we have ‘sort of’ joined the bandwagon.

 

 No excuses. I know it should not have happened and all that, but it did and by the way things are progressing, it will continue for some time. To say we are both smitten would be a gross understatement.

Spoiling their grandchildren is the prerogative of grandparents and no one will ever be able to change that.  In one fell swoop, all our vows to be firm, yet loving grandparents were discarded, as we gazed, smiled, and made goo- goo eyes at the ‘miniature doll.’  

 

Can you help it when a bundle of joy is placed before you, swaddled in a tiny pink robe with booties and a bonnet to match?

She is cute, cuddly, angelic, and simply adorable. I was waiting for someone to say she looked like me, but no one did. I did broach the topic in a rather matter of fact tone, but there were no takers. Never one to throw in the towel so easily, I will try again, sometime soon.

 

Now, I do not want to go over the top with words of praise, because I know she is just a normal baby, but like all parents and grandparents, we are already seeing signs of genius in her. Will she be a great cook like her mum, a basketball player like her dad, a musician like me or a teacher like her grand mum?

 This is just conjecture - My mother saw genius in me too and was off by miles!

 

My daughter and son in law are the modern age parents so they have read books, watched videos & done their research on how best to bring up kids. They are already well entrenched into the circus act of parenting, while balancing priorities, juggling responsibilities and quickly flipping between the needs of Evana, other family members and themselves. It appears that as parents they will be consistent, devoted, firm and loving.

For our part, I am determined that my wife and I will not interfere too much either, but when we visit, soft music, dim lights and me creeping around on tip toe because baby is sleeping is not my ideal evening! I am encouraging them to lighten up.

 

Now you are not going to believe the next part, but it is true. I have carried her just once. I carried my daughters a few minutes after they were born but I guess I am out of touch, after all these years, and feel a trifle nervous doing so right now, what with “Daddy- hold her back properly, please support her neck and put a bib on your shoulder”.

 I have decided to wait for a few weeks.

 

However, we have already celebrated two birthdays on the 14^thof April and May, cut cakes bought gifts and done a bit of a jig!

 I guess that is why it is said that grandparents need any excuse to spoil their grandkids.

I could be slightly wrong, but she already has clothes for at least six months and books to read till she is about four. 

Being a grandparent is truly a blessing.

 

“There are no words to describe the happiness in holding your baby’s baby.”

Grandparents are fun

 

They say that nothing prepares you for the day you become a parent – it is just an amazing, life changing experience. Then the kid or kids grow up, find a partner, take wing, and fly the nest.

 

However, that is not what this story is about. My wife and I are now proud, doting grandparents.

This happened a little over two months ago, and if being a parent is amazing, then being a grandparent is surreal & simply mesmerizing!

 

‘Evana’, our little bundle of joy, (God bless her) entered our world on March 14, while ‘Covid’, literally raged all round her! 

 

Growing up, my grandfather spoiled me rotten whenever he got the chance, and over the years, I have seen innumerable grandparents indulge & spoil their grandkids and not feel guilty about doing so. I would look at them in horror and complete disbelief & vowed that would never happen when my time came.

 

Well - It did, and I have to say, we have ‘sort of’ joined the bandwagon.

 

 No excuses. I know it should not have happened and all that, but it did and by the way things are progressing, it will continue for some time. To say we are both smitten would be a gross understatement.

Spoiling their grandchildren is the prerogative of grandparents and no one will ever be able to change that.  In one fell swoop, all our vows to be firm, yet loving grandparents were discarded, as we gazed, smiled, and made goo- goo eyes at the ‘miniature doll.’  

 

Can you help it when a bundle of joy is placed before you, swaddled in a tiny pink robe with booties and a bonnet to match?

She is cute, cuddly, angelic, and simply adorable. I was waiting for someone to say she looked like me, but no one did. I did broach the topic in a rather matter of fact tone, but there were no takers. Never one to throw in the towel so easily, I will try again, sometime soon.

 

Now, I do not want to go over the top with words of praise, because I know she is just a normal baby, but like all parents and grandparents, we are already seeing signs of genius in her. Will she be a great cook like her mum, a basketball player like her dad, a musician like me or a teacher like her grand mum?

 This is just conjecture - My mother saw genius in me too and was off by miles!

 

My daughter and son in law are the modern age parents so they have read books, watched videos & done their research on how best to bring up kids. They are already well entrenched into the circus act of parenting, while balancing priorities, juggling responsibilities and quickly flipping between the needs of Evana, other family members and themselves. It appears that as parents they will be consistent, devoted, firm and loving.

For our part, I am determined that my wife and I will not interfere too much either, but when we visit, soft music, dim lights and me creeping around on tip toe because baby is sleeping is not my ideal evening! I am encouraging them to lighten up.

 

Now you are not going to believe the next part, but it is true. I have carried her just once. I carried my daughters a few minutes after they were born but I guess I am out of touch, after all these years, and feel a trifle nervous doing so right now, what with “Daddy- hold her back properly, please support her neck and put a bib on your shoulder”.

 I have decided to wait for a few weeks.

 

However, we have already celebrated two birthdays on the 14^th of April and May, cut cakes bought gifts and done a bit of a jig!

 I guess that is why it is said that grandparents need any excuse to spoil their grandkids.

I could be slightly wrong, but she already has clothes for at least six months and books to read till she is about four. 

Being a grandparent is truly a blessing.

 

“There are no words to describe the happiness in holding your baby’s baby.”

The good old DOOLIE

 I went to the fridge last evening and as I opened it, it got me thinking. I wonder if I am alone, or do any of you have these idiotic thoughts too.

Whatever the size of your fridge, it is never big enough and always seems packed to capacity.

There is always ice in the ice tray. However, when there is a get together, that ice tray is more often than not, empty. I cannot seem to fathom this out, as no one at home has anything with ice in it!

What do vegetarians keep in the freezer compartment? Often wondered about this too.

I often see limes, small chocolates and even medicines in the egg tray.

If there are too many things on the topmost shelf of a large fridge, the lower shelves look dark

The bulbs – oh those bulbs which fuse so easily

Have you ever opened your fridge to put something in – then the cat jumps in – then you close the fridge and cannot find the cat – then you realize it may be in the fridge- you go and check – and sure, it is! (Please tell me that this has happened with someone) This then called for a complete emptying and cleaning.

Here is something else.

Do any of you even remember how families managed before Refrigerators came into existence?

We had an item of furniture at home called a Dooley. Have you heard of the word or seen / owned one? Maybe your parents did- so you can ask them to enlighten you !

“Most families in the 60’s and 70’s had a ‘dooley’ or meat safe & it was a compulsory piece of furniture in many Indian homes. They were wooden storage cupboards with wire mesh on all four sides. Cooked food, milk, and vegetables was usually stored in them to keep fresh overnight. The ‘Meat Safe was also quite necessary to protect the food from cats, mice, and insects as well. In order to deter ants from crawling up and attacking the food, the four legs of the Meat Safe were placed in four small containers of water. Another name for the meat safe was ‘DOOLEY’

As for cold water , we had the 'surahi' - the earthen clay pot which kept the water cool - it tasted good too .