Reflections, Banter and the Honest Truth

19 years ago today was like the start of something new for Gerard and me. And I am sad that he is not here with me, I am equally happy that I got those 19 years with him, because I did have a beautiful time.   Whenever this song by Merle Haggard (a singer whose music he enjoyed) comes up on my playlist, i can only think of Gerard.  The song below by Merle Haggard is I Had a Beautiful Time We met downtown in the barroom Both of us needing a friend And you brought me home to your doorstep And it was there you invited me in We spent the wee hours dancing To your favorite home stereo sounds We talked about what we been needin' Discussin' our ups and our downs And I've had a beautiful time Holding your heart next to mine I poured out my feelings while you poured the wine And I've had a beautiful time If I seem a wee bit uneasy You really sized me up right There's somebody home still up waiting She probably been waiting up all night And I can't say I found any answers...

There are quite a few things that make me feel warm and give me comfort, and not surprisingly quite a few of them belong on the list of food and beverages. Last evening, both my daughter and I were feeling under the weather, and I wasn't sure what to cook- that would make us all feel nourished and satisfied. My elder daughter would not put up with a meal meant for for a convalescent.  I quickly glanced through the fridge, and the kitchen cabinets. An apple, chicken breast, carrots, potatoes, masoor dhal, coriander leaves, onions- few of the things that caught my eye. I thought of a recipe that I had years ago, and had cooked just once before, soon after I was married. My husband relished it then and so did I.  So mulligatawny soup it was then.  I was introduced to this soup at the establishment that our (extended) family ran years ago, in Bangalore. And we always had it in the non vegetarian form. You would normally not call something like this a soup. A pottage, maybe? I...

I remember the sound of drums, from when I was little As processions from the temple near my home Went past and the smell of incense and smoke  Would waft through the cold air. I would run out in excitement to look at the people  Sometimes ladies dressed in silk and gold Sometimes men bare chested, with tongues pierced. Wailing, chanting, singing Depending on the occasion. And when the procession was three feet from my gate, The sounds and the vibrations of the drums,  Made my heart pound, like the drums. I would shriek and run into the house and peer from behind the door. I couldn't miss the sight and the sound of the traditional temple drums Even if it was from behind the door. It was probably a decade later, A different drum, watching Ustad Zakir Hussain Playing the tabla in the Taj Mahal Tea advertisement. Which was more fascinating? I now wonder. Watching the Ustad with his lovely smile and locks Or the rhythm of the tabla. A few years later, whenever we had family v...