Long time no see!

See that adorable terrier mix wagging his tail furiously in the crowd? The one nervously wondering if you’re going to throw a rock at him or give him a warm hug?

That would be me, gentle readers, making a stage appearance on this blog in the style of Madhuri Dixit and other celebrity mothers on semi-retirement.

It’s been such a long time since I wrote anything worthwhile that I fear I may have forgotten how to write. The only reason I’m wiping the dust off this blog - at least for this one entry - is to thank all the people who write in from time to time asking how I am. You guys really make my day!

To all readers, here’s a quick recap of the last year or so that this blog has been lifeless:

• Work – Mom’s first job in India lasted a mere 14 months. A pity, because just when she started enjoying myself, her entire team disbanded. One moment the woman felt like Cinderella at the ball, and the next moment she found herself standing beside the road holding a pumpkin. She jumped ship like the rest of her team did, and is now part of a huuuuge organization, feeling much like a fish out of water.
  
• Play – Socially, my folks have never been busier. With dad’s sister living across the street and other friends in the complex, Friday nights and weekends ensure a steady stream of parties and impromptu get-togethers. So much so that when grandparents call, they preface the talk by asking, “What party this weekend?”
  
• Pati –Mom has gotten so used to seeing dad as a permanent fixture on the couch, laptop balanced on knees, that she dreads the time it might end and he’s back in the work force. For now, she thanks her lucky stars that he’s there when she leaves in the morning and pretty much in the same position when she returns – unflappable, quiet, reliable and extremely undemanding.
  
• Patni (exact opposite of the above) – The family made one trip back “home” in April. Living in India still feels like a vacation. Mom longs for the comfort and familiarity of their house in Chandler - the dry bathrooms, the sunlit kitchen, the spacious study, even the match-sized kids’ room. According to her, every nook and cranny of that house is filled with memories of me, the beloved pet, and mom in her younger days, when she was fitter, thinner, richer and more in control.
  
• Aur woe – You see, the vacancy I left behind has not been filled. I doubt it ever will. The only way I foresee a dog in mom’s life is if she quits her job and stays home. “Well, why don’t you, Amma?” asks her seven-year-old. For starters, mom would go nuts. And secondly, it’s the money, honey. “But Appa has a lot of money," Kuki offers helpfully. "That’s why he keeps going to the bank to get some.”