The View from my Window

Being Grandparents -19

April 27, 2010 on 5:45 am | In Miscellaneous Musings!, Family/Self | Comments Off

This post is a continuation of the earlier posts (Being Grandparents ,Being Grandparents - 2, Being Grandparents - 3, Being Grandparents - 4, Being Grandparents - 5, Being Grandparents -6,Being Grandparents -7, Being Grandparents -8 , Being Grandparents -9 , Being Grandparents -10, Being Grandparents -11, Being Grandparents -12, Being Grandparents -13, Grandparents -14, Grandparents -15,  Grandparents -16, Grandparents -17  & Grandparents -18) as the previous posts were becoming a tad bit busy.

 Friday 23 April 2010

As Nina/Sunjay had postponed their travel to UK until June - they had decided to take their tour of USA now rather than as earlier planned to go there after coming from UK.

They left by car for Pennsylvania, USA on Friday 23 April 2010 and crossed the border at Kingston . Both kids have a long car ride and all arrived at their destination at about 11.00 p.m . They were guests at Sanjay/Sapna home . They also have a 3-month old baby .  We are told that Sitara is really very excited about the baby - though the first night she went to bed without meeting the baby -as it was already late. 

This Friday became a historical date for the family - my mother (who was close to being 89 years old) in Kenya - went sick with pain in the back and all over the body. She was admitted to the local MP Shah Hospital and was placed in the ICU for treatment. This was all so sudden - she was okay-her normal self -  till Friday morning. Then worst news came around mid-night. Nina received a call on her cell phone from Kenya (her SarlaAuntie) that mom had passed away. Mom  passed away at 6.10 am (Kenya Time) of Saturday 24 April 2010 and her body was cremated on Sunday 25 April 2010 at 3.00 pm at the Hindu Cemetary in Nairobi.  Born In Kenya, Africa and died in Kenya, Africa. 

Poor Nina ! She had to handle this sad news. She phoned home (Deep River) and let her parents know of the sad news. She then informed her brother Sunir in Toronto .

Both Nina & Sunjay suggested they come home as they were concerned about my (her dad) emotional state . Sunir also phoned from Toronto and suggested that he come to Deep River next day on Saturday -as he was also concerned about me (his dad) . But all that was not necessary and we all decided that when we meet in Toronto during May - we can have a memorial prayer (puja) for my mom on Sunday 9th May 2010 - the Canadian Mother’s Day at the Ram Mandir (on Export Blvd off Derry Road)  at 4.00 pm.

Baa had seen Sitara’s photos and video clips - specially when we were in Kenya  last year. She was happy to see Sitara’s video clips - all playing and smiling and just being a happy child. However, I do not think she has seen Sachin’s photo - though she was excited and gave her blessings when he was born.  Sachin is the youngest - newest of her great grandchildren - and now the last one that she has known about.

 We (nana/nani) miss the kids while they are travelling but that is life. We will miss our Baa too that she is on a very long journey to eternity.

Thursday 29 April 2010

This day the grandchildren were conspicuous by their absence. Of course they are with their parents travelling in the US - and visiting their relations ( Sunjay’s side). At once, while having lunch time at their home in Deep River, their nana missed them - it’s almost one week since they are gone on their escapade to US. 

Well that’s life !

Thursday 6 May,2010

The kids were back in Canada after visit to the States and visited Nina’s friend Moreen (& family) in Southern Ontario and after that spent a night at Sunjay’s uncle -Shantilal’s home in Mississuaga.  On Friday (7 May 2010) they all came to Sunir/Shannon (Nina’s brother & his wife) home (in Toronto) to spend time with them. They stayed there till Monday morning ( 10 May 2010) . This gave both borther/sister families to enjoy each other’s company and the kids to be coddled by their favourite uncle and auntie.

However, the weather was aweful - all stormy and cold. This let the kids remain indoor, which allowed the kids to play and bond deeply with their Sunir uncle and Shannon Auntie.

In the meantime, grandparents had also come to Toronto on Thursday (6 May 2010) to attend a Gala for Professional Engineers and an Annual General Meeting. Thye had stayed at a downtown hotel till Sunday morning and then had gone to Sunir/Shannon’s home .

Sunday was a Mothers Day as celebrated in Canada - all were invited at Shannon’s parents home for lunch - where all celebrated the Mothers Day . Shannon’s grandparents  (Ken & Rae ) were also present at the celebration and her aunt Pat from Ottawa. Shannon’s one sister Heather & her boyfriend (Brian) were there. Her sister Erica could not attend as she is in France at this time. Nina/Sunjay were there with Sitara and Sachin (our grandchildren), we were there and of course  Shannon & Sunir also celbrated the Mother’s Day with a great sumptuous vegetarian meal - prepared & presented by hosts Kathy and Doug (Shannon’s parents).   Chico, the dog, was a star attraction and Sitara enjoyed playing with him.  

While Sitara was coddled and played with - she was mostly making her own games and playfulness - but Sachin , the baby was held and coddled by most . Shannon’s aunt Pat was so enthralled and played -cooed and coddled - with him for a good amount of time.

This Mother’s Day was a special day -as it came just a few days after my mother (Kasturben) passed away in Kenya (on Saturday morning - 6.10 am Nairobi time - 24th April 2010) .The kids (Nina/Sunjay & Sunir/Shannon) had gathered in Toronto when we were there - so we all can have a Memorial Service (Puja) for her . This was organised at Ram Mandir on Export Blvd. (off Derry Road), Mississuaga on Mothers Day  (9 May 2010) at 4.00 p.m. Pandit Vijay conducted the Puja.  We all were there but also joined by Kathy & Doug (Shannon’s parents), Jayaben ( Sunjay’s auntie) and by Bindu & Raju  (my father’s cousin brother Bharmal’s daughter (Bindu)  and her husband, Raju ) .

Pandit Vijay was enthralled to conduct the Puja at Shree Jalaram’s feet and we were all gratified by Shree Jalaram’s compassionate eyes.  Sitara participated in the Puja well and seriously and when I emotionally broke down- she was there to comfort me and put her hands on my shoulder and face and assured me that all is okay and not to cry. She is a god-sent child who could restore one’s faith in destiny.

After the Momorial service for our loving Baa (my mother) - Nina/Sunjay wanted a prayer (Puja) offerred to Goddess Laxmi to thank her for Sachin’s arrival in our family and praying for his good growth and progress.  We all gathered around Goddess Laxmi -and Pandit Vijay conducted the traditional ritual prayer (Puja) of Goddess Laxmi. Sachin was there - in his mother’s hands and Sitara participated in the offerings.

On Sunday, we all spent the night at Sunir/Shannon’s home - all under one roof - our complete family in Canada.

There was a bit of improvement in weather on Sunday evening - thus Sitara got an opportunity to go outdoors with her granddad (nana) to the park - opposite (just across the road) to Sunir/Shannon home.  Subsequently, her ShannonMami also came and joined her at the park and played in the huge sandbox for a long time.   Sitara/ShannonAuntie  played with a toy crane filling it with sand and then discharging it into a pail or other container. This was a new toy for Sitara.

On Monday (10 May 2010) morning before leaving for Mackey , Sitara again went to the park with her nana and had great time there for about an hour and a half. The weather was very conducive for outdoors.

Sachin all along was his usual self - trying to talk and making all kinds of responses for conversation. He also have started crawling but he is still not easy in crawling. He crawls up to a stretch of a couple of feet and then lies down on his tommy and starts “swimming” like feet movement - to try to move.  He is easy in sitting and also knows how to fall . He stands (holding the edge of a sofa or similar furniture) but not quite comfortable . He always has smile and laughter -  no cring at all and a bit playful and mischievious .   He ubderstands “ta ta” - bye bye and waves his hands in reponse instantly & mutters “ta ta” easily and happily.  He also speaks ” da  da ” and “ba ba” and continuously tries to expand his vocabulary . This is very exciting as he is only 9 months old. This little fellow does not take a soother  and maintains his composure and cool.

Grandparents came back from Toronto on Tuesday - while Sitara/Sachin had come home to Mackey on Monday with their parents. 

On Wednesday, they came home to Deep River .  Sachin and his parents came in the morning before going to Pembroke  - so Sachin can get his feed and parents also had breakfast here as they had to come early to Deep River to take Sitara to her BabySitter. 

Sitara was at her BabySitter’s during the day  (while her parents had gone (along with Sachin) to Pembroke for shopping -paint cans). Sitara was picked up from the BabySitter by her nana/nani - and then she had dinner with her nana -served by her nani, Sitara likes these days cheese sandwhich and chocolate milk. She also ate green peas. After Sachin had came home from Pembroke -he had his meal too.

Sitara played Hide & Seek with all (after her dinner) but then went outdoors with her nani and helped her to string the laundry clothes on the outdoor lines for drying.

Sachin played on the living room carpet - crawling or shuffling forward to get his toys etc.   Then all went to Mackey and house was quiet again.

 Thursday  13 May 2010

 I got the following from Sitara’s mom

” Sitara asked us to make NEMO for dinner tonight. So we did (we made indian Salmon and told her it was Nemo). She talked to NEMO all through supper telling him she was eating him and that we would see him again as poo poo! Then she told us she would eat TWO desserts so that Nemo could have one in her belly. How thoughtful.”
 
 

Pravin Shah .

My Mother - Kasturben - 1921-2010

April 26, 2010 on 4:40 am | In Miscellaneous Musings!, Family/Self | Comments Off