The Season of Many Happies

It's not easy knowing that while December is my favorite month with it being my birthday and Christmas, this year, it's a birthday without my Dad. You see, we were born on the same day and so, it's a bittersweet day for me, but I'm thankful for every year that I have my health, family and friends.

This year, I felt like I had a birthday week with each of my best friend's taking me out to lunch or breakfast. Talk about feeling loved! It's a real blessing to have a few true friends vs. 100 fake ones. I've always believed in quality over quantity, I mean with time being as limited as it is, who would want to waste time with someone who doesn't make you feel good? And at 39, I'm loving the people I choose to hang out with, you know who you are!

And speaking of feeling good, my hubby and kids made me the cutest cards. With Christmas around the corner, getting the decorations up and seeing the twinkle in everyone's eyes made me smile. After all, I may be feeling a little low without my Dad, but that would be no reason to deprive us holiday lovers the spirit of the holidays, gifts and all. And how lucky we got with having two Christmas weekends. One weekend with Sunil's brother and his family from Sarasota and one weekend with just us. Oh yeah, now the kids think we'll be doing this every year!

Well, it was a long year but like I said, when you have your health, family and friends, you can safely say, you have it all. God bless everyone.

The Loneliest Day

Dear Pappa,

Remember when you tried to teach me how to ride a bike? I kept falling off and kept getting hurt and you told me to keep getting up. I wish you were here Dad, because I can't seem to get up today. I miss you. It's the first Monday since I came back home and there such a deep silence in the house. The kids are at school, Sunil is at work. I am here. Alone. And surrounded by a thousand memories of you.

Where do I go when it feels so lonely? I need you to tell me. You know, back in Irvine, when I was at your old desk in the garage, I found your work diaries. You never shared these wonderful writings! I pored over them in the still of the night. They were so wonderful...all about management, sales, marketing and things you have learned at work. The last page was dated August 2008, three months before your heart attack. The attack that took everything from you.

I'm trying to understand what it is to say goodbye. Saloni asks me all the time if I'm sad about Arvind dada. What a gem of a girl. Sohan has wiped my tears so many times. And you would be so proud of Sunil. Pappa, he said the most beautiful words at your funeral. I tried to say as much as I could, but it's not enough.

I looked at the clouds this morning on the way to the kids' school and said hi to you. Saloni asked if you could hear me...can you?

It's cold, windy and gloomy here. But I hope where you are it is sunny and warm and beautiful. And most of all Dad, know that you gave us the best in so many ways. No matter what corner of the world you were in, you were with us.

I love you Pappa.

Death called me today

The saddest of songs, the gloomiest of days...nothing can sompare to what I felt today. In 24 hours, my life changed completely. Last night, I was on a high from a successful fashion show. Marcia and I sold handbags, made contacts, made it on stage and even met the press. I was so happy and elated. All I could think of was how proud my parents and Sunil would be.

Come the morning and I was decorating and cleaning the house for a DCMSA brunch. That's when the call came from my sister. My dad died. He passed away in his sleep. Peacefully. No falls or pain or anything. It was God's will. And as the broom fell from my hand, I was overcome with tears and emptiness.

I called Sunil's parents right away. I had just told his Mom an hour prior how great the show was and how I was looking forward to them coming tonight for a Diwali pooja (prayer) and dinner. It was not to be. The next 24 hours felt like 48 hours. Perhaps it hit me more when I had to explain to Saloni what it meant when someone dies. It's like your best friend being in an accident and you never get to be with them again.

I'm enroute to CA tomorrow and I am scared, empty, sad and hungry all at once. Just a month ago, we were laughing together. Time may heal all wounds. But the time now just hurts.

October Symphony

 If you don't know the song "October Symphony" by the Pet Shop Boys, I highly recommend, you hear and download it. It's the perfect autumn song and it rings true for this month.http://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?p=october+symphony+the+pet+shop+boys

Happy Birthday Saloni!

For her first birthday party to celebrate turning five on September 30th, Saloni was in the driver's seat. We took her to choose her cake, choose her pinata (a cute purple guitar) and preview the venue - our favorite Beaches Diner in Atlantic Beach. Friday night was the night and everyone started to arrive around 5:00pm.

The menu was easy and hey, no cooking for me! We picked up the beautiful balloons which Winn Dixie so thoughfully had ready and packaged so they weren't flapping all over the place in car. And the cake was decorated with music notes and all her favorite colors. As rushed as every parent feels to make everything go on time, the evening could not have gone smoother. Everyone, albeit a few friends, came to party. And the best part? Nothing went worng. No, really. You know how you look back at weddings, parties, other events and laugh or reminscince about things that went wrong. This night was one to remember for everything that went right.

The kids had a blast from Sunil directing a Disney channel Bingo game we created to breaking the Guitar pinata stocked with candy to an arts and crafts project the kids got to take home. It was so much fun and the food was so yummy.

Want to see what I mean?

Photos coming soon!

Aiko? Aiko!

Hey guys Aiko's coming to town. And he's bringing his Mom and Dad too, this is Nisha and PJ from Atlanta. That's what I love about Sunil's family, they're the family that always visits from every corner of the globe.

Arriving Saturday afternoon, dinner out at night, Jag game Sunday. 18 holes of golf Monday...I'd say it was packed alright! And we wouldn't want it any other way. The kids were in heaven with Aiko, and this dog was right at home walking from room to room and even coming into our bedroom Sunday morning at our beside to wake us up..too cute.

Do we see getting our dog in the future? Hmm, we're not there just yet! But all my old fears aside, I'm getting so much better with dogs now. And Sohan was right at home eating Cheerios off the floor with him!

Thanks again for an awesome time guys, we always have so much fun with ya'll.

Being goofy..the key to staying young

Even though Saloni is just about to turn five this month and Sohan is at 2 1/2, they have already made me improve my life in so many ways. We adults tend to get so stuck in the rut of our habits, mannerisms and moods, that we forget to just let lose and be. To move on from the coffee spilling, to say "who cares" if there's laundry piling up and by all means, grab a hand and dance or bake. Play dress up, shout, be goofy, call a friend on a banana, tackle Pappa and oh, always smile.

Love those stormy skies

Some days...

Some days I just have to realize that friends come and go.
Some days, I have to remember how sweet it is when Sohan brings me an Oreo because he notices how he and Saloni got one but not me.
Some days I have to appreciate all the days of work Sunil puts in and can't be home to nap or pick up the kids from school.
Some days I have to remind myself that even though I'm constantly doing thankless chores, there is such a thing as silent thank you's in kisses, hugs and smiles.
Some days, pulling out my old photos and having a good laugh at my teenage thick eyebrows is just the kind of free humor I needed.
Some days, seeing a butterfly whip across the driveway and into the big blue sky makes me stop and breathe.
Some days, it's good to look in the mirror, put on a little color and straighten my back and say, "Mash, I love you."

Because some days are just a little tougher than others.

The Buccaneeeeeers!

Hanging with the Sarasota Joshi's is always a blast especially when you add a Jaguar game to the schedule! We set out on Thursday and had a ball with Arjun and Neelam. I of course spent most of my time yapping away with my sister-in-law Adeeti. Makeup, clothes, in-laws, you name it, we talked about it!

Friday night, they got sitters and we hit the town for some really yummy Italian dinner in a setting that was worthy of a European cafe. And oh, did I mention the dessert and coffee was divine?

Saturday started the day celebrating Raaksha Bhandhan, a holiday celebrating the relationship between brothers and sisters. We then headed out after much-needed naps to Tampa for the game vs. the Buccaneeeeeeers - I say it that way because Sohan loves to stretch out their name likes he's singing it. Now, if you know our history, we've been booted out from the Jag games due to lighting problems before and yes, as luck would have it, we got outed again! And when you see the photos below, all those empty seats were not from the lighting warnings, but the real game in full swing. And the NFL thinks we have ticket sales issues! But oh, before that...Adeeti and I were sent back to our cars just because I had a backpack. Apparently, tote bags are allowed but not anything on your back. And oh what a long walk it was...

But when you win and have an awesome family weekend, who's complaining? The hotel was cozy with two separate rooms joined in the middle with a family room. Late night Burger King hit the spot along with some mindless tv and gossip.

Sunday morning, it was back to Jax.

Summer 2010

Love, popsicles, rain.
Disney channel, Selena Gomez, feeling the fame.
Water splashing.
Friends laughing.
Long afternoons naps and baking.
Is that sound the garage opening?
Pappa's home! All is good.
Love the Ashley Woods neighborhood.
Homemade sandbox.
Watching TV and Uncle Knickknocks.
We beached it.
We ran it.

This is summer. We loved it.

Terry Parker 20

I wish I could see my friends from when I was in elementary school and junior high. They'd probably laugh at much I've changed. I was such a nerd back then.

Going to Sunil's 20 year high school reunion sent butterflies in both of our stomachs. Funny though, because I didn't even know anyone. As soon as we got there though and he started to see familiar faces, the laughter started to roll and I of course, started clicking away. What it is about seeing your husband laugh with intensity that is so sweet?

There's nothing Plain about Plano

Little sleep, lots of food and plenty of girl talk. That's a Joshi weekend for ya! Saloni and I went down there for the weekend and we crammed in as much as we could. Sunil and Sohan stayed home to do some serious male bonding and claimed not to miss us that much!

This was a great trip for both of us though as watching Saloni feel so close to her older relatives made me all mushy inside. For me, this is the family I always wished for and am thankfully married to. It's true, no matter where you go, if there's a Joshi there, you are guaranteed good company and plenty of good food.

On the agenda? Daily ice cream. Shopping Priti style. Chilling Khushee style. Food 24/7 a la Daksha bhabi's kitchen. And even an adorable children's play. Not to mention the dinner out, the late night talks...whew...what did they put in my coffee?

And oh, don't let the photos fool you - Saloni's till a Jaguar and Gator fan...she's just appeasing her sisters. Hee hee.

And when we were onto Harshad kaka's house, it was yoga, gymnastics and lots of eating, again! Ami kaki, we loved those cupcakes! I just don't know how someone can contort their bodies the way cousin Roma and Harshad kaka and Ami kaki can. I had more fun taking the photos!