Outings to the park, Kukki's home and Ganesh

Two days of non stop partying is a good thing i suppose. Pre monsoon rains are already here and the weather is getting cooler. Bina is getting more and more adventurous every day ( or she is letting me push her out of her comfort zone). We took her out to the park and showed her all sorts of people of all ages exercising, socializing and just living. She is getting inspired to restart her life.

Bina also ventured out to Kukki's home in the morning and stayed for four hours. She eats little and has low energy but otherwise she is in great spirits. There is a respite before next Chemo and we are trying to take advantage of it in doing fun activities.


Ritu and Bina in Kukki's home. It was a good visit, they got to meet the kids and we had a nice lunch from outside. ( called in to get delivered)

This doctor ( some famous doctor with Bollywood patients) lives in Ritu's building and has a collection of Ganeshs from all over. ( He himself looks like one and was very pleased to get his picture taken:). This is just a very small sample of what he has all given by his clients. I wonder how he gets them cleaned?


                                     

Evening beach walk never disappoints. I saw this fruitwala ( Every vendor in Hinglish is a "wala" meaning carrier of ...) .  All these fruits: Jamun, Raw Mango slices, Star Fruits, Dates, are my favorite childhood fruits. We used to take them off the trees and savor them where ever and whenever we could. The word, "steal" never entered our minds.  I think it was because these trees were all over the town and were not necessarily anyone's property. If they did belong to someone, there was s so much fruit that the farmer was happy to get rid of some of it. 

Looking at people savoring the fruits and the Pani poori, Chat etc off the chatwala's cart and eating pani puri made out of that ( dirty) water, I am realizing the prize we pay for being " privileged" or coming back to India so infrequently.

People of all ages, religions and cultures were enjoying the food, the ocean and the company

 There was a huge gathering and speeches going on near that shops and it turned out to be the , " Animal rights movement". I tried to listen to their speeches and decided  not ot think too seriously about not eating meat. I am very conflicted about the whole thing. I can feel the pain and empathize  with the animals but not eating them at all involves major commitment and a life style change.I may almost be ready ot do that, may be start with just eating fish and chicken and only organic ones.

On The other note, Lumber puncture for my nephew was done yesterday and the results are negative. We are still waiting for more results but everyone is worried about having to open the brain for getting the tissue sample. According to neurosurgeon it is a routine procedure, nonetheless it is a major surgery. In science there is a phenomenon of clustering and there is some theory that things happen in clusters, in life philosophy, Buddism as well as just plain random life events: things happen that are beyond our control, we can only do our share of Karma and leave the results to the unknown. I know it will all work out for the better but going through it is painful and we are collectively trying to be calm.  One part of Hindu religion teaches just that : Do your Karma and leave the results to the universe. But, more astrologically inclined Hindus believe that if the Saturn is in wrong place, it takes seven and a half years of suffering to get over that phase...and my nephew is going through it. There are many people ( including the prime ministers...that does not say much :) who swear by the influence of the planets on our lives.....some of my family is one of them and i have to admit I spent many years studying astrology and palmistry ( I will write about that some day and share my thoughts)  

What ever it is , i know we will collectively deal with it and all will be well.....