Report of 1 Jan 2020
Happy New Year, dear folks!
We hope that the year brings you good health, happiness and whatever you are working for.
I have just eaten a bowl of cold pomagranate. Cold is usually good. The lady who helps clean our house and cooks for us anticipates well: if pomagranates are sitting around, she shells them. What a treat! To not have to do the work and have cold fruit at the ready. This lot, though, I think we shelled. It is quite a treat to do it: the seeds are nestled in nooks and crannies, and it feels like hitting the mother lode when one stumbles across a hitherto-unpeeled section, and finds the seeds hidden.
Last week was magical, and passed like a dream. Both Naren and Navin were here, and my sister hosted Christmas in Vellore. All of us were in 1 spot, plenty of pictures were taken and our presents were appreciated. We ate non-stop. We left Vellore on Christmas evening, and returned to Chennai to have breakfast early the next morning with Navin's friend, Srivi, and her boyfriend, Thomas. That was simply spectacular: to sit and eat and listen to extremely intelligent young folks talk. Navin visited a few friends that evening, Naren preferring to hang out at home, and both boys stayed home on the 27th. We ate, played a board game - Rummikub - and talked about their lives. It was nice. The boys did not live in this house before they moved to the U.S. and stated once that this did not feel like home, which is understandable. I think some familiarity is setting in, helped largely by the balcony I am sitting on. The sight of abundant greenery and the blue sea is a treat.
The boys left on 27th night and we then attended a wedding in Chennai, preparing to attend another one this week in Madurai.
I did not work at all last week, happily taking the week off. I did return to Swaram on Saturday and saw some patients. That evening was the wedding of my friend Rosammal's son. Scott and I went, and I reunited with some Lady Doak College classmates after almost 40 years. Needless to say, that was grand fun and all of us enjoyed ourselves. On Sunday, I swam and on Monday, returned to the Banyan. Clinic was very well-run and good.
The patient who lost his wife last year came for a checkup. He mentioned that he had been eating at restaurants, as his daughter-in-law's cooking was not quite the same as his wife's. He said this with an air of deprivation and grief, and I was sorry. I requested him not to eat out due to the vast potential of food-borne illness, and then thought to myself that I should not say that, I should understand his grief and coax him to eat healthy, whether at a restaurant or at home. So I said that, and we had a cordial visit. Another patient came by: her late husband used to be a dancer, and I have often requested her to dance in the exam room, to which she practically rolls over laughing. We had a student from the Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health (BALM) visiting, and I had to ham it up a little: after the patient's checkup, I stood up, twirled her around and I danced, while she desisted. The Banyan is great about providing variety in our day.
Our young assistant, Keerthana, was also sick after the B's Christmas meal and the powers that be are at work trying to improve hygiene in food serving and prep. This is the joy of the B: I usually say things once.
My sister and brother-in-law were in town, and we met at my favorite restaurant, Writer's Cafe. We had a splendid visit, with lots of chatter and laughter. They had done some shopping prior to our meeting, and then left for Vellore.
On the 31st, my friend, Joan, and her husband, Mohanraj, invited us to lunch with their sons, Kevin and Niranjan. It was a stupendous way to end the year. Kevin and Niranjan are tall, stunningly handsome, personable, intelligent and fun, and we spent a lot of time talking and laughing, and listening to their considered viewpoints. Joan and Mohanraj are friends whom we consider soulmates. It was a very lovely time, and Joan packed some leftovers for us, which we tucked into today.
This morning, I did my usual weights routine - God bless my Fort Wayne personal trainer, Zach - and swam for quite a while, which was a splendid way to start the day. I talked to my Dad and that was lovely. He seemed surprised at my wishes, then stated he was not, that he was aware that it was New Year's Day. We will see him later this week - Insha Allah - and will attend a wedding.
It is a good life, thanks, God. Nice profession, fun husband, opinionated and affectionate children. Engaging extended family. Fine, fine friends. Many blessings.
We hope you have countless blessings of your own this year and next and next.
Unw -
R
We hope that the year brings you good health, happiness and whatever you are working for.
I have just eaten a bowl of cold pomagranate. Cold is usually good. The lady who helps clean our house and cooks for us anticipates well: if pomagranates are sitting around, she shells them. What a treat! To not have to do the work and have cold fruit at the ready. This lot, though, I think we shelled. It is quite a treat to do it: the seeds are nestled in nooks and crannies, and it feels like hitting the mother lode when one stumbles across a hitherto-unpeeled section, and finds the seeds hidden.
Last week was magical, and passed like a dream. Both Naren and Navin were here, and my sister hosted Christmas in Vellore. All of us were in 1 spot, plenty of pictures were taken and our presents were appreciated. We ate non-stop. We left Vellore on Christmas evening, and returned to Chennai to have breakfast early the next morning with Navin's friend, Srivi, and her boyfriend, Thomas. That was simply spectacular: to sit and eat and listen to extremely intelligent young folks talk. Navin visited a few friends that evening, Naren preferring to hang out at home, and both boys stayed home on the 27th. We ate, played a board game - Rummikub - and talked about their lives. It was nice. The boys did not live in this house before they moved to the U.S. and stated once that this did not feel like home, which is understandable. I think some familiarity is setting in, helped largely by the balcony I am sitting on. The sight of abundant greenery and the blue sea is a treat.
The boys left on 27th night and we then attended a wedding in Chennai, preparing to attend another one this week in Madurai.
I did not work at all last week, happily taking the week off. I did return to Swaram on Saturday and saw some patients. That evening was the wedding of my friend Rosammal's son. Scott and I went, and I reunited with some Lady Doak College classmates after almost 40 years. Needless to say, that was grand fun and all of us enjoyed ourselves. On Sunday, I swam and on Monday, returned to the Banyan. Clinic was very well-run and good.
The patient who lost his wife last year came for a checkup. He mentioned that he had been eating at restaurants, as his daughter-in-law's cooking was not quite the same as his wife's. He said this with an air of deprivation and grief, and I was sorry. I requested him not to eat out due to the vast potential of food-borne illness, and then thought to myself that I should not say that, I should understand his grief and coax him to eat healthy, whether at a restaurant or at home. So I said that, and we had a cordial visit. Another patient came by: her late husband used to be a dancer, and I have often requested her to dance in the exam room, to which she practically rolls over laughing. We had a student from the Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health (BALM) visiting, and I had to ham it up a little: after the patient's checkup, I stood up, twirled her around and I danced, while she desisted. The Banyan is great about providing variety in our day.
Our young assistant, Keerthana, was also sick after the B's Christmas meal and the powers that be are at work trying to improve hygiene in food serving and prep. This is the joy of the B: I usually say things once.
My sister and brother-in-law were in town, and we met at my favorite restaurant, Writer's Cafe. We had a splendid visit, with lots of chatter and laughter. They had done some shopping prior to our meeting, and then left for Vellore.
On the 31st, my friend, Joan, and her husband, Mohanraj, invited us to lunch with their sons, Kevin and Niranjan. It was a stupendous way to end the year. Kevin and Niranjan are tall, stunningly handsome, personable, intelligent and fun, and we spent a lot of time talking and laughing, and listening to their considered viewpoints. Joan and Mohanraj are friends whom we consider soulmates. It was a very lovely time, and Joan packed some leftovers for us, which we tucked into today.
This morning, I did my usual weights routine - God bless my Fort Wayne personal trainer, Zach - and swam for quite a while, which was a splendid way to start the day. I talked to my Dad and that was lovely. He seemed surprised at my wishes, then stated he was not, that he was aware that it was New Year's Day. We will see him later this week - Insha Allah - and will attend a wedding.
It is a good life, thanks, God. Nice profession, fun husband, opinionated and affectionate children. Engaging extended family. Fine, fine friends. Many blessings.
We hope you have countless blessings of your own this year and next and next.
Unw -
R
posted by Renu at
3:40 AM
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