it's a brand new year!!!

There is a silence in the thinking aloud household...the kids are too quiet and my mind refuses to cooperate...The last 10 days were very hectic, with my parents and nephews around. My boys had a terrific time with their cousins...not so the neighbors...and time just flew...and now, after the hullaballoo of the week before, the silence is too loud...:(

It is a strange feeling to get up with no agenda, no mom to smile at, no dad to pamper, and nothing to do...*Of course i have to help Swaraj finish the school project but that's not what i want right now*....

I loved the role reversal, when they were here. It was my turn to pamper them, which i did to my heart's content. As usual they felt I was too thin, not looking after myself and doing too much. As usual, I felt I should be doing more for them...It felt great to be giving back in some way

I'm going to take my time and leisurely read all the posts i've missed. I've managed a to catch up on a few good ones. One of the first posts happened to be Madhumita's review of the movie'KITE RUNNER. Ziah finally posted her new chapter making my day, Ps gave me a wake-up call, and hip grandma's nostalgic tale took me back in time...gosh, i've missed quite a lot of good ones...

This is such a great way to start the new year...My mind's still in a feel good mode, i don't feel like pressing it to function...I still have a week of vacation left and i'm going to live it up with the kids and hubby...

It is a beautiful morning here and I'm drunk with joy and contentment.So, here's raising a toast to 2008...I'm looking forward to more writing, seeing a few goals achieved, raising a few bars here and there and continuing being friends with my children!

It's a brand new year, what will you do with it?




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Coincidentally this happened to be the propmt at sunday scribblers...
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renewal

Ever since i read this prompt 'renewal' on writer's island (thanks to ps), it's been buzzing around in my head...Why? because its a complete reflection of my current state of mind...

Recently a dear aunt expired, leaving us all in shock.She had been ailing for some time and was lucky to have her son, daughter and husband by her side ALL the time, for those agonising 3 months. Still, when the end came it was a shock to everyone. For me, she represented all those happy memories spent in Bangalore every summer where the entire clan would gather. To find one of the pillars supporting our childhood memories crumble, has been a devastating experience.

Her death has shaken us up...The bereaved family is still trying to cope with their loss...My mother (she had been her youngest sister) breaks down everyday...My grandparents have withered under the weight of this death ... It has also brought a deep sense of regret in me...regret that I could not do more...regret, that in recent years, communication had been reduced to the mandatory phone call...

Our family is going through some tough times. A sis-in-law's battling breast cancer. It is true that most of the time we don't know how lucky we are. We realise the value of something only when it is no longer there.

At this stage in my life it is definitely time to renew all those relationships I've taken for granted. The relationship of a granddaughter, daughter, sister, friend,and daughter-in-law. Being in a different country makes it very difficult...But I try...

...Parents, Grandparents, In-laws, Mentors, see them in a new light ...You will see them worried about what the future holds...The tables are slowly turning, though against my will...it is now our turn to nurture and support them...To give them the time they deserve and need...To tell them how much they mean to you...So that if the inevitable happens, you don't say:"I wish I had done more...", you say "I'm glad that I did" ...

Yes, it is definitely time for a renewal...