July 4th

"Sela, what are you doing?"
"I'm the Statue of Liberty."
"Oh, why do you have your eyes closed when you are the Statue of Liberty?"
"Well Mommy, the Statue of Liberty can't see."

Jobs

In preschool, they were talking about what their parents did at work. The other day, Sela had told me that she wanted to go where the real people worked, not where I work, so I was pretty sure what she thought of me. I was very interested in what Sela's teacher was going to tell me about her response regarding her father. Let's face it, he doesn't have the easiest job to explain.

Sela said "My daddy stands outside his office all day and smiles and waves at people. Right now he's where President Obama lives and then he's going to India."

Bear Baby

I have never heard sounds come from a baby like the many varied roaring growls that rumble up from this belly. She's added a new sound to the repertoire that's more of a one-cheeked trill, unduplicated by any, that makes her look something like a stroke victim. I think she missed her decade, where she could have made it big in radio.

March

Last Saturday, I went for a run - layered, gloved, and ear muffed - in the snow. Just one week later, I thought about shaving my legs as I laced up in my shorts and T-shirt on the back steps before heading out in the heat of the glaring sun. Hallelujah! for almost unheard of March spring and crocuses in the lawn.

The warm sun gave me time to reflect on the unexpected conversation that I had with Sela before she went to bed last night.

"Mom, how did we get to heaven before we were born?"

"How do we get to Earth?"

"Why do we die?" "How do we die?"

"Do kids die?"

"Why does Daddy love me so much?"

"Why do we have a heart that is always going in our body?"

"Why do we need blood to go in our body?"

"Why do we have a brain in our head?"

"Well, how does our brain tell our body to do things, because it doesn't talk?"

"If babies have brains in their head, how come they can't do things?"

"Why do mommies have different names?"

"How can I be a mommy when I grow up if I am going to be a princess?"

"Why do people want to have babies?"

"Why did you name Skye that if the sky isn't always beautiful?"

Suddenly, I find myself in the dark waxing philosophical about the meaning of life, death, and neurotransmitters all in one conversation with my three year old. Tonight, she started off with, "Mom, I want to talk some more about things in our bodies." I am going to have start a little more preparation for bedtime.

I have felt justified in my quest to get Skye to say my name. If by chance she happens to learn other words along the way, like "Dada", then so be it, but the primary goal is "Mama". As any mother knows (and father if they stop to think about it), this is the proper order. My efforts, however pure in their intent, have somehow backfired. I point to the Dada and state his name a few times (under my breath) as an example, point to the sister, casually say her name a few times, and then point to myself with a bold finger, emphatically repeating, "Mama". Skye, a very smart little girl, catching on to the importance of the situation, now waddles around as she busily goes from task to task, firmly pointing a plump, dimpled finger at herself and repeating, "Mama, Mama."

California

Lots of food, friends, and family. Life is good.

North

for a girl in a princess stage, it is hard to beat Rajasthan

We are all on the same road

present and the past

color in the clothes. color in the food

why didn't we stop to get that unbrella?

lost in a story playing out in my head

perspective

you've seen it before, but you still feel it when you go. Uncommon feeling for something made by man

a stage like this really helps with those 'exploring' games

It was fast. It wasn't restful. We moved too quick to think. What will the girls remember. I'm holding on to the elephant exerience. A few pictures on the blog and a lot of pictures in my mind.

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Regal Rajastan was fun with it's palaces, forts, and handicrafts. Someone looking at all of our pictures may notice that Sela is wearing a certain lovely necklace at every opportunity. Whatever Dan and I may think of princess stories and princess garb (we have been suspecting something is in the day care water), it turned out to be very fortuitous that Sela is so "in tune" with royalty as we explored the ancient palaces of the Maharaja and the Maharani. Otherwise, she may have been just as indifferent as Skye who prefered to point out every bird in the sky, but less pleasant about it. It was also handy to have Sela around to discover and show us through all the secret passageways - lost without her. She thought that most women we saw were princesses with their beauty and colorful fabrics, so the stories must have really come to life for her.

We rode camels right on the busy street. There was a calm looking palace floating inthe middle of a lake on the left, gas stations and shops on the right, and multiple boys around our feet telling us all the things that they were doing for us that deserved our money. Despite the unmagical setting, we had a great time. Camels, like elephants, are really cool, big animals with neat feet. The swaying ride down to the ground as the camels got to their knees for our dismount was also fun, and I didn't drop the baby.

I have been trying for years to use the wooden block fabric stamps that Dan has been collecting for me. We were able to watch some men using the prints to make elaborate fabrics. I still don't know if I will be able to replicate any results, but I have some new ideas about uses for the spinach and beets in the fridge.

We started to wind down our portion of Indian Grande Adventure by traveling to the Taj Mahal. There are some places that you can see hundreds of photos of, but when you see it in person, it still takes your breath away. The Taj Mahal is one of those places.

We ended back where we started, in the land of Bollywood and in the comforts of Dave's hospitality. Touring Dave's work place ranked right up on the list with the Taj Mahal for Sela (don't know if the chocolate had anything to do with it). It was indeed a Grande Adventure. I count us very lucky to have had the experience and to have been able to do it with my parents and Dave. We will add a little more cardamom to our tea, honk our horns a little more, stand a little closer to the people in front of us in the line at the grocery store, and throw on an extra colorful scarf as we head out the door.

Kerala

Looking for Jesus

where breakfast comes from

Tea plantation

Sela - "I want to be held by the princess"

a dream come true. Skye has already completed her bucket list.

Traffic jam...but what a cool traffic jam

a quiet getaway in India?

We traveled south to the tropical land that Columbus was looking for - full of spices. Even Sela appreciated the potential of the spice trade as she carried around one cardamom pod in her little palm and in various pockets for two days. It was a very sad day when little cardamom jumped ship. She replaced him fairly quickly with a nutmeg 'fruit'?. We traveled around, with trusty Samir, to new places every day, with which the girls did fairly well, considering. We were safe on the winding road, of course, as we were protected by a talisman at the front of the car that had Ganesh, the Muslim Kaaba, and Christ's crucifiction. If in doubt, best be protected by it all - who needs seat belts? The scenery was beautiful and fairly laid back (if we don't count the Santa on speed), from the strangely manicured tea plantations, the spice farms with black pepper trees and vanilla vines, and the calm backwaters. The people we met were friendly. The highlight for the girls was the elephant ride. With Sela's mortal fear of animals such as dogs, squirrels, and banana stealing monkeys, the jury was out on how it would go, but she let us know, with no uncertainty, that she was going to ride in the very front. I think that seeing an elephant pretty much just blew Skye's mind. She was practically hoarse from trumpeting by the end and collapsed in exhaustion just after the experience. We had to alleviate her fears of having her birthday right after Christmas - Happy 1st birthday, little one. I think it made up for the not-so-tasty Plum Yum birthday cake. Riding the elephant was pretty cool, I have to admit. Unfortunately, we did not pack appropriately for the cold, winter 75 - 80 degree weather. Apparently, judging by those around us, the baby should have been dressed in her snow suit and we should have all brought our ski masks, gloves, and ear muffs.