The weather is getting warmer and there is spring in the air. All that is lifting up my mood and my spirit.
September was fun! Even though spring had not quite sprung, I was able to do a few things in the delightful company of some wonderful people.
September was also marred by anti-immigration or may I say white supremacist rallies across the world. Why I call it that is coz you are an immigrant only if you are of a colour other than white, or else you are an expat. The world is losing tolerance and with the cancel culture, we are more divisive than ever. I am forever concerned about the world that we are leaving behind for our future generations but I am hopeful that this too shall pass. Human generations have survived on Hope!
I kicked off September with this wonderful show at Opera House by the Songwomen from the Borroloola community in the Northern Territory. Ten performers, nine female and one male singer, with a live band introduced and sang songs from some of the aboriginal languages. The stories behind the songs took you on a journey and showcased the resilience of the oldest people in Australia, our First Nation people. We have so much to learn from them. It was an amazing night, certainly one for the memory books.
The next evening was the musical “The Little Mermaid” at my son’s school. it took me back to my school days and the various dance drama I participated. The production was excellent and it was heartening to see young boys and girls in it, some of whom I have seen grow literally in front of my eyes.
I fulfilled my long standing desire of watching a live tennis match. While the Australian player lost, it was a wonderful match and will be part of my annual ritual from now on. Next up, Australian Open!
September is also a birthday month for a few of my close friends. So we celebrated it by doing langar at Gurudwara for one and dinners for others. I also squeezed in a high tea for my bestie whose niece had come over to usher in her golden birthday.
This year I went for the Onam Sadya organised by world malyalee council. It was a cultural affair and I loved the food and atmosphere. The idea of serving food to others is a very Indian philosophy and sewa is inbuilt in our culture. It is therapeutic for the server and receiver. This would now be my annual affair.
My bestie turned 50 and we celebrated dinner with family at Bowral. Padma and I met through our boys but bonded through our common values and love for our very similar husbands and family. She is now my best friend and someone I will grow old with.
The month ended with my breakfast ritual with my bestie. When Poornima moved 20 kms away to her new home, I was devastated. We used to go for evening walks, travel together to events and it was a comfort to know that she was nearby for long chats and anything really. So when she moved away, we decided that our friendship was too precious to have distance as a barrier. Every relationship needs intent, commitment and effort to nurture. So we booked last Saturday of the month for us. We catch up every month for breakfast, unless one of us is travelling and that is the our time. Of course we chat every day but that Saturday is sacrosanct. I have seen people cancel their commitments for whatever fancy comes along and then wonder why they have no close friends or relationships. The world has more people than ever but is getting lonelier every passing day!
When I am about to die, I wanna make sure that my head is full of memories and the relationships I made on this life journey. That is what living is all about.