Report of 1 Jan '06
Happy New Year to all!
Hope the new year brings you health and happiness.
We are well and back after 2 weeks away. It is time to return to the Banyan. There is one patient in particular whom I'd like to see heal. This is the young woman, Ms. S, who had multiple health problems owing to bacteria in her blood ("septicemia"), and was hospitalised w/ the B spending 500,000 bucks on her care. She is much, much better, but continues to complain of pain in her leg and walks w/ a marked limp. She does have an attention-seeking disorder and is given to making up complaints, and throwing things, but I have noticed that she limps even when no one is looking. There is a good orthopedic surgeon working at our local hospital for the overprivileged and I would like him to see her. They treat our folks for free and Dr. Balaji Srinivasan has successfully operated on one of our patients w/ long-standing pain, diagnosing her w/ an infection in her bones ("osteomyelitis"), and surgically treating it. Let's hope he can help S.
The tutoring wound up for 2 weeks. We have many more impoverished kids showing up to be tutored, and I have often wondered what we accomplish there as it seems so rudimentary and unprofessional (none of us is a trained teacher, although the young tutors are working wonders - let's hear it for peer education), but the kids come happily, and ask to learn more, and color and draw, and get candy at the end of the session. We were tremendously privileged to get the school supplies very diligently collected and assembled by Rex Cassidy, husband of my friend Carrie, and little Blythe and Lauren Cassidy. There were pencil boxes identically packed w/ leftover school supplies (markers, scissors, etc.) and we gave these out to the students at our end-of-year party. Let me tell you, the considerate Cassidy work was greatly appreciated by us, and the gifts were eagerly received by the kids, whose supplies are pretty minimal. School scissors are unheard of here, and I imagine several parents as well received these supplies at home w/ glee. We are very grateful to the Cassidys and their school for this donation.
Naren and Navin had end-of-term arts performances, w/ Navin singing Indian music and Naren taking part in South Indian folk dance. I really like the fact that the school has these arts, and indeed, the SI folk dance master teaches the kids arts that are dying - like Silambam, a martial art/dance w/ long sticks. We have insisted that both boys study something local, as opposed to English drama, and they enjoy it. The performances were good. The Indian music troupe only had 4 kids, it being a not-very-popular option among the hip kids, but Navin did sing however bashfully. I used to think everyone had a sense of rhythm, and you only realise the truth when you see someone who does not quite have said rhythm. Naren's group did a dance called "Devarattam," which ostensibly a bunch of gods and goddesses did for Shiva and Parvathi, and it was very good. Naren leapt and twirled in pretty good rhythm, and we enjoyed the show.
We saw the annual Little Theatre performance called "King Arthur and his nights," and it was good, as usual. The money raised goes to scholarships for poor kids, and is a cause dear to us. The play is usually a romp of irreverence, great dialogs, pithy political observations, wonderful humor and lots of dancing. Annually, the cast goes out into the audience at one point in the play and dances w/ 'em, and we usually sit next to the aisle, as we like to dance and show our support. No difference this year, and we had a blast.
We took a 2-week trip - saw my little niece's naming ceremony and were really pleased to see our childhood friend Farshid, who lived in the U.S. for a long time and is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Ecology from Holland w/ field work in Mysore (I must say it's nice when childhood friends are the sort you'd choose as an adult, too, and Farshid is a great soul); visited relatives in Coorg and Mysore; spent Christmas w/ my parents in Madurai; hung out w/ Scott in Bangalore and then went to my sister Anu's for New Year. Her son, Aditya, played the drums in a local band for a New Year's Eve party and we went to hear the music and dance. It was a fun event, w/ many of Anu and Benji's friends, and a great way to ring in 2006. We got home yesterday and got lots of good tidings. Ruth Ranalletta sent us a box of journals and candy which are oh-so welcome here (for different reasons - I love the journals and the kids veritably inhale the candy: Ruth knows us well); Phil Bagley sent us some beads that we can use to teach our kids math, and they are lovely - quite what we desperately need; Carrie Cassidy phoned - so nice to hear friends' voices - and told us the Key Club and Kiwanis wanted to send us some money for the carnival we are to have for poor kids (this will make for a great carnival!); Tori Scott sent a giant parcel of chocolate through our friends, Christine and Ganesh - Tori outdid herself w/ this stash and we have attacked it already, w/ tremendously wam thoughts of the entire generous Scott family in our conversation at every bite. A pediatrician colleague, Sai, whom I'd put in touch w/ Tulir, the orgn that deals w/ child sexual abuse, (and Ability Foundation, the orgn dealing w/ disabled folks) phoned and thanked me for the same, and I was so touched - because Tulir needs her services, and she was thanking *me*. Those who work w/ the destitute are inclined to think this way - who needs the services now - and I am privileged to know some wonderful folks. We were also happy to get back in touch w/ George and Carol Tilley, friends from the boys' infant days, and the Tilleys gave them Curious George books, which they loved. We were also glad to see Matt Newcomb, Scott's former Infosys colleague, now back in the U.S. setting up a business; as Matt apologised for not coming w/ a Xmas present, I told him he'd brought the best possible present - himself. That is indeed how we feel, tremendously happy that we have great friends whom we can see off and on, and whom we hear from regularly. I nearly forgot - I got a very lovely, appreciative note from a former poor patient in Indianapolis who said her diabetes and blood pressure were better due to lifestyle changes she and I had discussed, that she was very happy w/ these results, and that she wanted me to return to Indy soon; Scott said this letter was the kind to put in a frame. I was really touched by this thoughtful letter.
On this euphoric note, as I got ready for bed, I got a call from my widowed sister-in-law, Susan, talking about the umpteenth argument she and her son, Sudhir, had had. Sudhir has not done well in college, and mother and son simply do not get along. I spoke for a few minutes, urging counselling, which Susan is balking at going for since Sudhir will not go, and I tried to emphasise the importance of solo counselling as well. As my day slowly deflated, I realised that if at times we don't taste the bitter, we might never know what is sweet.
The best to you all in 2006! What's the deal w/ this "Happy Holidays" msg in the U.S.? If it's Christ's b'day and Christians celebrate it, what is wrong w/ saying "Merry Christmas?" Yeesh. Some people simply have too much time on their hands.
"The freedom of a society varies in proportion to the volume of its laughter."
Love from the 3 Weiss men and me -
Renu
Hope the new year brings you health and happiness.
We are well and back after 2 weeks away. It is time to return to the Banyan. There is one patient in particular whom I'd like to see heal. This is the young woman, Ms. S, who had multiple health problems owing to bacteria in her blood ("septicemia"), and was hospitalised w/ the B spending 500,000 bucks on her care. She is much, much better, but continues to complain of pain in her leg and walks w/ a marked limp. She does have an attention-seeking disorder and is given to making up complaints, and throwing things, but I have noticed that she limps even when no one is looking. There is a good orthopedic surgeon working at our local hospital for the overprivileged and I would like him to see her. They treat our folks for free and Dr. Balaji Srinivasan has successfully operated on one of our patients w/ long-standing pain, diagnosing her w/ an infection in her bones ("osteomyelitis"), and surgically treating it. Let's hope he can help S.
The tutoring wound up for 2 weeks. We have many more impoverished kids showing up to be tutored, and I have often wondered what we accomplish there as it seems so rudimentary and unprofessional (none of us is a trained teacher, although the young tutors are working wonders - let's hear it for peer education), but the kids come happily, and ask to learn more, and color and draw, and get candy at the end of the session. We were tremendously privileged to get the school supplies very diligently collected and assembled by Rex Cassidy, husband of my friend Carrie, and little Blythe and Lauren Cassidy. There were pencil boxes identically packed w/ leftover school supplies (markers, scissors, etc.) and we gave these out to the students at our end-of-year party. Let me tell you, the considerate Cassidy work was greatly appreciated by us, and the gifts were eagerly received by the kids, whose supplies are pretty minimal. School scissors are unheard of here, and I imagine several parents as well received these supplies at home w/ glee. We are very grateful to the Cassidys and their school for this donation.
Naren and Navin had end-of-term arts performances, w/ Navin singing Indian music and Naren taking part in South Indian folk dance. I really like the fact that the school has these arts, and indeed, the SI folk dance master teaches the kids arts that are dying - like Silambam, a martial art/dance w/ long sticks. We have insisted that both boys study something local, as opposed to English drama, and they enjoy it. The performances were good. The Indian music troupe only had 4 kids, it being a not-very-popular option among the hip kids, but Navin did sing however bashfully. I used to think everyone had a sense of rhythm, and you only realise the truth when you see someone who does not quite have said rhythm. Naren's group did a dance called "Devarattam," which ostensibly a bunch of gods and goddesses did for Shiva and Parvathi, and it was very good. Naren leapt and twirled in pretty good rhythm, and we enjoyed the show.
We saw the annual Little Theatre performance called "King Arthur and his nights," and it was good, as usual. The money raised goes to scholarships for poor kids, and is a cause dear to us. The play is usually a romp of irreverence, great dialogs, pithy political observations, wonderful humor and lots of dancing. Annually, the cast goes out into the audience at one point in the play and dances w/ 'em, and we usually sit next to the aisle, as we like to dance and show our support. No difference this year, and we had a blast.
We took a 2-week trip - saw my little niece's naming ceremony and were really pleased to see our childhood friend Farshid, who lived in the U.S. for a long time and is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Ecology from Holland w/ field work in Mysore (I must say it's nice when childhood friends are the sort you'd choose as an adult, too, and Farshid is a great soul); visited relatives in Coorg and Mysore; spent Christmas w/ my parents in Madurai; hung out w/ Scott in Bangalore and then went to my sister Anu's for New Year. Her son, Aditya, played the drums in a local band for a New Year's Eve party and we went to hear the music and dance. It was a fun event, w/ many of Anu and Benji's friends, and a great way to ring in 2006. We got home yesterday and got lots of good tidings. Ruth Ranalletta sent us a box of journals and candy which are oh-so welcome here (for different reasons - I love the journals and the kids veritably inhale the candy: Ruth knows us well); Phil Bagley sent us some beads that we can use to teach our kids math, and they are lovely - quite what we desperately need; Carrie Cassidy phoned - so nice to hear friends' voices - and told us the Key Club and Kiwanis wanted to send us some money for the carnival we are to have for poor kids (this will make for a great carnival!); Tori Scott sent a giant parcel of chocolate through our friends, Christine and Ganesh - Tori outdid herself w/ this stash and we have attacked it already, w/ tremendously wam thoughts of the entire generous Scott family in our conversation at every bite. A pediatrician colleague, Sai, whom I'd put in touch w/ Tulir, the orgn that deals w/ child sexual abuse, (and Ability Foundation, the orgn dealing w/ disabled folks) phoned and thanked me for the same, and I was so touched - because Tulir needs her services, and she was thanking *me*. Those who work w/ the destitute are inclined to think this way - who needs the services now - and I am privileged to know some wonderful folks. We were also happy to get back in touch w/ George and Carol Tilley, friends from the boys' infant days, and the Tilleys gave them Curious George books, which they loved. We were also glad to see Matt Newcomb, Scott's former Infosys colleague, now back in the U.S. setting up a business; as Matt apologised for not coming w/ a Xmas present, I told him he'd brought the best possible present - himself. That is indeed how we feel, tremendously happy that we have great friends whom we can see off and on, and whom we hear from regularly. I nearly forgot - I got a very lovely, appreciative note from a former poor patient in Indianapolis who said her diabetes and blood pressure were better due to lifestyle changes she and I had discussed, that she was very happy w/ these results, and that she wanted me to return to Indy soon; Scott said this letter was the kind to put in a frame. I was really touched by this thoughtful letter.
On this euphoric note, as I got ready for bed, I got a call from my widowed sister-in-law, Susan, talking about the umpteenth argument she and her son, Sudhir, had had. Sudhir has not done well in college, and mother and son simply do not get along. I spoke for a few minutes, urging counselling, which Susan is balking at going for since Sudhir will not go, and I tried to emphasise the importance of solo counselling as well. As my day slowly deflated, I realised that if at times we don't taste the bitter, we might never know what is sweet.
The best to you all in 2006! What's the deal w/ this "Happy Holidays" msg in the U.S.? If it's Christ's b'day and Christians celebrate it, what is wrong w/ saying "Merry Christmas?" Yeesh. Some people simply have too much time on their hands.
"The freedom of a society varies in proportion to the volume of its laughter."
Love from the 3 Weiss men and me -
Renu
posted by Renu Weiss at
9:22 PM
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