The Candy Man

Mowgli tried popsicle for the first time a couple of weeks ago. He said "Nyam Nyam" with every lick. I winced and watched him sit in a place and slowly and surely thorougly enjoy his treat. I dont know why I winced. I am not against candy by any means, I am guilty of feeding him french fries in a restaurant to keep him sitting in his high chair for a few minutes more so I can eat. I also make his lunch and dinner every day and its fresh and nutritious, often not very tasty and almost never fully organic ( dairy the only exception). I guess I am yet to learn the art of a delicate balance between the conscience, the pocket and my own sanity.

This one is for you kutti - your childhood and to candy, and everything forbidden that is soooo wonderfully, unfortunately, absolutely delicious.

The Candy Man - by Roald Dahl

Who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it with dew
Cover it in chocolate and a miracle or two
The candy man, the candy man can
The candy man can 'cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good

Who can take a rainbow, wrap it in a sigh
Soak it in the sun and make a strawberry–lemon pie
The candy man?
The candy man, the candy man can
The candy man can 'cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good

Willy Wonka makes everything he bakes
Satisfying and delicious
Talk about your childhood wishes
You can even eat the dishes

Who can take tomorrow, dip it in a dream
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream
The candy man, Willy Wonka can, the candy man can
The candy man can 'cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good

And the world tastes good'
Cause the candy man thinks it should

I am here.

Yesterday Mowgli climbed a new set of stairs. I stood 2 steps behind him, as he scampered up with confidence, trying to act all grown up and navigate the stairs without using his hands. He stopped suddenly and turned around and said "Mamma?". Searching, questioning, making sure I was around. "I am right here Kutti" I said as he went onward owning the stairs. I thought of my Amma and the comforting thought that she is always there. Maybe not standing 2 steps behind me, but standing with arms still outstreched to catch me when I fall 9000 miles away. I thought of Patti who is still right by me, to catch me when I fall a whole universe away. I wanted to tell Mowgli that I would always always be there even if he did not look. But he was busy climbing. When he reached the top he turned around and reached out and held my hand and demanded "Whoo" ( Help me walk down like a big boy ). I guess he knows. :)

Home Sweet Home

Not one with a white picket fence, But a nice gate and home nonetheless. Not one that Coolboy and I built brick by brick, but one that will be held together by the memories we will make here together. It has a garden that my Patti would have loved tending to. Lemon trees, carrots, lime, basil, thyme, mint, blueberries and Kumquats. She would have planted roses as well. I will too.

For me home is my 650sq ft flat in Bombay. It has held as many people as it needed to at different points in life. If it could speak, it would tell of my mischief, of sisters and brothers, of love, of births, life, death, children, childhood, adolescence, rebellions, marriage, family secrets, nonsensical conversations, everything. If you tore it apart, it would echo our laughter and bleed our tears. That has for 32 years been "MY" home and the only one I have ever known. It has been everything I wanted and more than what I needed. My own "Room of Requirements". My own piece of Heaven.

Lee and family move out today. She sent me a lovely email saying how they are all so sad to leave a home filled with memories, that brought them so much joy, and wishing it brings us the same. I hope so too. We will finally take posession of "our new home". One that Coolboy and I will make our own for Mowgli like my parents did for me. The bar is very high. A 650 sq ft apartment in a crowded suburb of Mumbai will be the benchmark of happiness for this 2700 sq ft single family home in So-Cal.