The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

I was leafing through my journal and saw this excerpt from Zafon's Spanish novel The Shadow of the Wind which I read over the summer. Aside from the fact that I think it speaks of how literature has influenced my life, it also reminded me of my goddess-sister who tagged me to come up with my own list of must-reads...something I hope to put together within the year...anyway, here is that lovely excerpt from page 6 of the novel which summarizes my personal thoughts and feelings about books...

"Once, in my father's bookshop, I heard a regular customer say that few things leave a deeper mark on a reader than the first book that finds its way into his heart. Those first images, the echo of those words we think we have left behind, accompany us throughout our lives and sculpt a place in our memory to which, sooner or later—no matter how many books we read, how many worlds we discover or how much we learn or forget—we will return. For me, those enchanted pages will always be the ones I found among the passageways of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books."

Nathan on the Runway

My nephew, my sister's firstborn, the first of the 3rd generation of our family, turned 11 yesterday. And what better way to begin it than with a fashion show debut* together with his younger brother, JT. It was the opening of Fashion Wear Week in Manila and my darling boys strutted their stuff on the runway. And there I was, their proud Masi (in Sindhi this simply means "Sister of your Mom") at the fore, taking photos and cheering them on. It was only a couple of years ago when they were babies I would cuddle and woo to sleep and now, they're growing up so fast.

I am grateful to God for the blessings these children are to our family and how they have brought us closer together, how they give me hope and cheer me up when I feel that life is too much to take, how just seeing them and being a part of their lives makes me feel accomplished and how just spending time with them is such a pleasure, a breath of fresh air, and a reminder of God's promise that I will have my own, just like these two precious ones, one day.

I also know they will lead the next generation into the light.

Happy Birthday, Nathan darling! You sure ruled the runway yesterday. Cheers!!!

*found out recently this was his pre-teen debut, his first walk on the runway was a couple of years ago for a Regatta show...he started much earlier than I thought! How time flies!

Amma's Dhal~

Amma. Lachmi. They all say I look like her and I'm proud of it. Some poeple would say it to me thinking I'd get offended because she was olive-skinned, old in the photo, couldn't speak English at all and simple. But they didn't know that was exactly what I loved about her. Because beyond that supposed simple old woman, was a big-hearted, petite, slim and strong lady who committed her life to her children, striving to make both ends meet, if only to have food on the table or should I say floor, everyday.

She could turn a simple, yellow, lentil bean called dhal into a dish generations of Menghrajanis will love. I myself can never resist dhal wherever and whenever it's served. Its sourness and saltiness trying to beat the other. As the late Doreen Fernandez would say of sinigang, "it had a nuanced sourness." And boy was it lovely!

My sister and I grew up looking forward to Saturdays at Amma's where Basmati rice was cooked and eaten with dhal, dudu and crushed papad. She would call my Dad everyday asking if he was awake and had he eaten, if he was on his way to the office, what would he want for lunch? And each of us would take turns answering her in what little Sindhi we knew, "Na Amma, Daddy sumipay (No Amma, Daddy is still sleeping) or "Daddy, Bathroom." She would call over and over till she got Daddy on the line.

She was my father's anchor and his heroine. My paternal grandfather died when Daddy was only 4 years old. And Amma had to single-handedly raise 7 children after that. What was amazing was she was able to do it. And that kind of love and care would find its way to us, her grandchildren. The moment our parents brought us home after being born, Amma was already there waiting to massage our newborn bodies with oils that smelled like coconut, herbs and spices. She would also gently put surmo in our eyes, that black inked liquid eyeliner that needed a silver instrument to create ancient, exotic-looking, dark eyes. How we loved the coolness of the silver as it rolled around our lids quickly. I hated the first part because my eyelashes were too long and putting the instrument in was torturous for me. But after some tears and lotsa anxiety, the ordeal would be over and I would look like a native Indian girl. Not that I needed all that eye make-up to look authentic, but it did make my strong features even stronger.

But that was then...soon Amma's dhal would become but a memory until Daddy would bring us back to those warm Saturday lunches with his own version of this simple meal generations of us have come to love. I miss you my Amma. You had the best hug ever. I'm glad i still get it today coz it's just like Daddy's hug.

Mama & Her Wheelchair

You know that moment when you realize that you're entering a new phase in your life, that you really are getting older and the world is catching up with you? It was one of those moments for me this past month as I gave my grandma a wheelchair for Mother's day. It was a pretty, light and modern one and finding it was such a treasure--a sister-friend sold it to me and when I saw it, I knew she'd love it.

But the mere thought of buying her a wheelchair one day never occured to me or canvassing for the best one that would fit my budget through friends who've recently been in the same boat.

It's basically a milestone for two reasons: 1) Like my Uncle Bobby said, it's a blessing that Mama is still around now that she's almost 80--and I couldn't agree more--yes, she's got her illnesses but her mind is still as lucid and as sharp as ever... amazing! 2) It's an accomplishment for me to give my dear Mama Rosie that wheelchair, it's proof that God has sustained and blessed me so that I can share what I have with those I love and they can enjoy it...a sign that He will continue to fulfill His promises to all of us.

I'm really growing up fast now.... :)