Somedays
all I need are the roses.
#MSU Horticulture Gardens
It's after the cousins have finishedwith their choreographed dancesafter the henna has dried on my hands
My aunt, the brides' mother, comes upto her sisters and sisters-in-lawLet's get on the dance floorshe says, It's our time now
Then let's go, let's go, let's gothe bride's mother saysgesturing to the dance floorlooking like she's already dancing
It's the same far away look she haswe have no time to losewe can't waste a single minute, she saysbut she seems also, so far away
and everyone is ooh-ing and cryingeven more than usualbecause--you know--we know
and when I finally get to congratulatemy uncle and my aunt
My aunt who's made no mentionof what we all know all weekend longfinally breaks. Gripping my uncle's hand
in a way both hard and tender, she says--I just hope he gets to see the babyshe says, as if there is no time
Luckily for me (and everyone who needs to be in contact with me), R made a house call, set up their magic massage table, and I spent the rest of the day transfused with flexibility, thankfulness, and calm.
I'm thankful I had the time, some extra cash, and a kind and accommodating professional to help me feel well enough to be a good person today.
Otherwise, tons of work for me, six hours of outpatient care for Nu; both of us came home feeling depleted. Nu had a good cry, I held it together...but couldn't wait for the parenting day to be over. Then I got lost in a book. And so to bed, hoping for a kinder tomorrow.
Pic: Scout and Huck could hear Dada's voice but they don't "see" things on screens, so Nu tried to show them up close. 💗
Nu helped me with the bigger limbs while Big A did our annual mow. After they got tired, it was just me listening to bird calls and dragging stuff out and taking it to the piles by the firepit and being plied with lemon water by Nu and visits from Big A.
We have kindling for the rest of the year. At least.
The rest of the day was a nice soak, then Impossible burgers I had prepped at breakfast, smores by the firepit, and so to bed (with a detour to finish Elif Batuman's Either/Or, which I loved).
While I was gone all afternoon, Big A took Nu to the cat café where Nu played with all the cats he wanted to and had a great time. Big A and I are both allergic (and I'm mildly ailurophobic) so poor Nu has to make do with visiting. I've been informed that when Nu is grownup, he will live with cats and rats and that we can take allergy meds when we want to visit. I think that's very fair.
Pic: Nu making a cat friend (and Big A's reflection).
It reminded me a bit of the anklet in Silapadikaram The Story of an Anklet and I was gratified that Nu remembered the plot-point about how there were rubies inside the heroine's anklet and only pearls in the queen's.
We picked up Big A from the train station yesterday--horrifyingly for me and Nu who tend to be very diligent about masking--he hadn't worn a mask on the Amtrak, so we made him test at home. Also, WTH. I mean he seemed suitably chastened, but I thought we were on the same page about this.
And I got my Bluey car back! A couple I met on a shuttle in an airport parking lot a while ago told me about "Save A Deer" whistles, so I'm putting some on this weekend. Please stay away from me on the highway, deer!
Still feels unreal that At is now a 25-year-old, but we made it official with birthday biriyani, presents, and cake today. I think about all...