Hi Pappa,
Do you know what Sohan woke up said to me first thing? "Mom, today is going to be an awesome day. It's going to be better than yesterday." How is it that that sounds just like you?! I had an awful day yesterday...you know the kind where everything goes wrong? But your optimism has certainly filtered through me to the kids.
I miss you today especially. Five years ago, you went to sleep in God's arms. But you've never truly left us. Your voice, your laughter, your sheer drive for life is everywhere. There isn't a morning I wake up where I don't put 200% into the day. You taught me that. You taught me dedication, perseverance, how to always stay positive, how to work hard, how to give life your best...thank you Pappa.
I'm kind of at a loss for words right now. But while thinking of you might make me sad. I know you wouldn't want that. So I'm raising a glass to you (a glass of milk of course! We always ended our evening with that and Mom's cut fruit, remember?), to the person you are, to the person you made me.
Not soon after you went to heaven, a beautiful white bird began frequenting our backyard. I knew it was you because I had never seen it before. And you know how we believe in our culture that God brings us the deceased back in different ways. Even the kids spot you! We were at Disneyland once and the kids said, "Mom, look! Arvind dadda!" It was the only white bird in the park, how beautiful is that?
Fast forward to this year and the wonderful family that now lives in our first home said they see you too. :) In fact, a few weeks ago, Stacey, with whom I have become great friends with, said you have a companion! Between her sense of humor and the photograph she texted me above, I was over the moon. That's just so you Pappa! Always making friends, always carving your own path. Live it up up there. Because I promise you, I'm doing the same down here.
