14 July
2014
12 July
2014
Priceless moment…
The last time she hugged my hand and went off to sleep on my shoulder was probably eight years back. Dad was still cool and not something to be embarrassed of.
The quality of the picture is ruined by the fact that the passenger behind has the window open, I cannot budge at all and have to do the whole thing including this post with my left hand!
8 July
2014
FIL-MIL Mehfil: A curious practice of my father in law
While vacationing in Hilton Head, I noticed that my father in law always put his cap on his shoes. That reminded me that every time I would go out with him in my car with the roof retracted, he would fish out his cap from the shoe closet in the garage.
Finally, I asked him “Uporey tupi, nichey juto, maajhey manushta-i habeesh. Ki byapar bolun to?” (It’s like the cap is there on the top and the shoes are there on the bottom but the man is missing from the middle. What gives?)
I am glad I asked. Because he had an impeccable reason. Apparently, he was getting so frustrated of losing his cap because he would simply forget to pick it back up, he started the practice of putting it next to the shoe. Regardless of wherever he went, he figured he was going to put his shoes back on, anyways, before stepping out. That way, he would remember to put his cap back on too.
Pretty cool. I should try that some time. Maybe keep my ID, wallet, cash, cards, phone and phone charger inside my shoe!!!
4 July
2014
FIL-MIL Mehfil: One more checkbox crossed off.
They had never been to an ocean. Not anymore, after today.
Checked into Hilton Head with my inlaws and family for the weekend.
Some of you may know that my mother in law has severe sight issues (from a very early age) and certainly is constrained in locomotory capabilities. She can walk, but very slowly.
The sand in the beach was not making her ability to move easier. But after about ten minutes, she got past the twenty yards of loose sand and stood on the firmer and wetter sand near the waves.
For what seemed like hours, she just gazed into the evening ocean. It was almost like she was in a trance. We went for a walk – but she just opted to stand there and keep looking at the ocean.
Eventually, I had to tell her that we should probably go before it became too late for dinner. I did promise her that she can sit by the ocean tomorrow whole day…
1 July
2014
Relaxing on a Monday evening
30 June
2014
Fighting fire with fire!
I remember I had once called Tasha almost a year back on her cellphone. She promptly sent a text message “What?”. “Why are you calling me?”. Evidently, for her and kids her age these days, a phone is for texting, not making calls. Oh! how I wish Graham Bell had seen what we have done with his instrument to talk to each other!!
In any case, sitting in my plane today, before taking off, I figured I should check on Tasha since I had not talked to her the whole time after leaving her at Brown. I was careful not to make a phone call. I simply texted “Everything ok?”. No response! I texted ten minutes later enquiring if she was enjoying everything. No response still.
So, I was wondering what did I need to do to get her to respond. I was like “Rajib, think. Think hard”. So, I came up with an alternate idea. I know these kids do not Facebook – but they Snapchat all the time. So I wrote the above message on my iPad, and then using my iPhone took a picture and Snapchatted it to her.
Under ten seconds, I got a text message “I am fine”.
Dad’s old technology plus wily ways: 1
Daughter with new technology: 0
🙂
29 June
2014
I am never good at saying Bye…
29 June
2014
Natasha at Brown University
20 June
2014
I am a glutton for punishment!!
So what would you do after four days of a three city tour including four flights – two of them coast to coast and two of them much delayed? If you are much grounded in sanity, you will probably stay on ground for a few days.
But then I have to stay true to the one-word adjective my wife summarized me by – “quirky”. So, at the end of the work week, immediately packed up the family (including inlaws) and headed back to the airport.
A few phone calls and deft maneuvers later, here we are on a flight for the inlaws to see the Niagara Falls for the first time (and I am sure only time) in their lives. The kids have seen the Falls from the Canadian side but never from the American side.
Should be good!
On a serious note, just like for my parents, I am always scared which one of the trips is going to be the last time I get to see my inlaws (they are nearly 80). They are visiting us after 10 years. (Usually I go to India to see them every three months). I am lucky to still have both my parents and inlaws alive – albeit at various stages of physical abilities. I am acutely aware that that count is going to go down to 3 soon. How soon and which one, I do not know. Therefore, I am determined to create some “indelible moments” in their lives.
15 June
2014
Taking it easy
After a hard day of entertaining guests (admittedly Sharmila and her mom did all the work 🙂 ), my father-in-law and myself taking it easy at our favorite bar watching a World Cup Soccer game. He hid his wine so that my mother-in-law – who has gone with the girls to yet another party – won’t see it in the pic 🙂
