Just a little Mesa-Sunrise

After a lot of hurdles, I finally booked our flight to Goa to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday. When I knew I was going for his birthday, I decided that I would make something special for his birthday - something I would create.  I knew I wanted to write since that is something I knew he would like.

I went on several runs, long runs, and short runs, but no words came to me. I did realize I wanted to write him a poem. He enjoys art, so I also decided to get him a nice painting. It was a week to go, and still no words. No painting/art I had liked! What was I going to do??? I knew the words would come but when? On the flight with a toddler ? No way, Jose!. 

I tried to clear the clutter - keep my brain empty. Is that even humanly possible ? I had no job to work on, so that was clear, I had a meeting with my graduate advisor, and I had made my to-do list for when I got back from the trip, and the last thing that was remaining to do - pack my bags. I packed more than a week before my trip, and this included Adhrit's diaper bag as well ! 

After getting Adhrit in bed, I decided to give the poem a shot, and the words just flowed, and believe it or not, the poem was written in less than 3 hours. I couldn't believe what just happened once I cleared the clutter. Should we do this in our life too ? Clear the clutter and the task at hand will just work out - definitely something to think about.

I still had the art/painting part of the gift missing. Karthik suggested that I go to Chataqua and take a picture myself. My dad loves the Flatiron mountains and so that became the theme for the picture. So, a day before my trip, at sunrise, I went with a camera, my running shoes to Chataqua trails. One of the trails is called the Mesa trail, and something about this trail just opens my heart, so I decided to run on this trail and get some shots. After the initial uphill, I got to the trail, and started taking pictures.I hadn't run on this trail in almost 2 years - its a trail you run only when you are fit, otherwise it definitely gets the better of you. The trail was fresh, and I could tell very few people had been on it. It just smelled fresh, and untethered. There are a few favorite spots - one of them is a 2 step bridge, with a little water below it and to the right, I don't know why I always imagine that there is a lion/tiger in a den. I thought of the same as I ran through that spot. I took a moment to enjoy that spot - very serene. I ran through and then the next favorite spot - you run up and you see the sun, and all you want to do is clasp your hands in a prayer and do a sun salutation. That spot is just breath taking, I spent a moment there. I ran through the meadows that followed, but I did not accomplish my mission. There was a part of the trail that would give me the best shots, but they had closed it down cause there were supposedly bats inhabiting it. I was sad when I got to that sign, but not upset or felt demoralized. I called Karthik, and he told me to go to the Chataqua trail and the right position to get the pictures. So, I got myself to run back and on this new trail. Something magical happened on the way back, I saw acorns fall from the tree right as I ran on this trail. I don't know why, but to me that was something I had never experienced. They smelled fresh, and definitely brought a big smile on my face.

I hurried back to the trail, and on my way back stopped by the Sun Spot as I call it, and my Tiger Spot, and to the Chataqua trail. I took around 200+ pictures, and finally narrowed down to three best pictures, to finally select the best among them. The 2nd picture is what I selected to print on the canvas.

The canvas print was ready at 4 pm - the evening before I was leaving, and my dad loved the print, as well as the poem.

Under the green and leafy tree

The last two years have been very different years of my life. Being a mom has taught me a lot of things and I wouldn't say has transformed me or made me a better person. I look at it as a new feature that I have added to myself - truly a statement by a software engineer!

Adhrit, and I have had a lot of memories and I have to be honest and say, they have been good, and not so good memories. He and I recently took a trip together to India - a 15 hour non stop flight from Newark, NJ to Bombay - yea, just the 2 of us. When we got to Bombay, I realized how good a team we were. We had our moments - he was too tall to fit on my lap (he was not yet 2 when we travelled) and the flight was completely booked, and was sick with a bad chest cold. But we endured the journey, and had a great time with families back home (my home) and got back in one piece (one team). We went there to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday, and he understood the concept of birthday, and cake and so when we got back (a week before his birthday), he told me that he wanted "Dino cake", and "Buzz Light year" cake - he knew exactly what he wanted.

The evening before his birthday, we got the cake, Buzz Light Year balloon, Pichiba (Mickey Mouse) balloon, and a "2" candle and got home. I couldn't wait for tomorrow. All's well that ends well - of course not to be. Middle of the night, he threw up and we thought he might have caught the stomach bug! He was definitely not himself the next morning, no throwing up, but just not himself. I still tried to decorate the table with his cake, cup-cakes, the balloons, all his birthday presents (including the caterpillar truck!), and Dino cake, and his "2" candle. We did sing "Happy Birthday" for him, but he was not into it.

He and I stayed home, and took a nice nap, and he felt better. We talked to his cousin on skype, and she sang "Happy Birthday" to him, and slowly I could see life back into him. He said to me "Mama, let's go for a walk and play". How can I ignore something like that? So, we took a ball to kick, and went for a walk. In a field very close to our house, he saw boys playing football - so he asked for the ball and he and I played kick ball (just kicked the ball around) for 45 minutes or so. He was so happy to just kick the ball around. After some time, I had a blanket with me, so I lay it under a tree - and he wanted to lie down. And we lay there together, and we saw the blue skies, white fluffy clouds, and green tree. And he said to me "Sing it Mama - Under the green song", and it was just perfect we sang "Under the green and leafy tree, Ready for a Jamboree, We are happy as can be, Under the green and leafy tree". I thought to myself - this was the best moment of the day. And how apt was the song that he picked to sing. This was picture perfect way to celebrate his birthday. We played a little longer, and then he asked me to go running, so we ran to the park together, and had more fun there.

Happy Birthday my li'l boy Adhrit! I love you, and love you, and love you!