Describe your perfect birthday cake. #bloganuary I grew up in India in a small town called Dehradun. Birthdays, in those days, did not rate as high as festivals like Holi, Diwali which celebrate the community rather than an individual. Probably special food was made and if possible, family or friends were present to give me …
Tag Archives: childhood
The Monsoon
write a poem about rain #bloganuary – An Elegy to Harriet Monroe The staccato rap-tap-tap of thunder heralds the short and wet season:From the Bay of Bengal, humid, earth-scented,Howling, darkening shadows across the parched Delhi sky.Scented with drops of water falling on arid earth, soaring, trees shuddering in a maddened dance of excitement, announcing its …
Color Me Happy
Pistachio ice cream, Tangerine whip. I read the names of the colors as I hold my mother’s hand by her index finger, tightly, while she chatters on with the man behind the desk of the paint store. What kinds of names are these I think: not green, not orange but pistachio ice cream, tangerine whip! …
I Pledge Allegiance. Twice.
APJ Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India passed away on July 27 2015. August 15 2015, India turned 68 years old.We celebrated independence day and honored APJ: his dedication to science, education and patriotism to India. In these days of deep divisions, I believe, in death Abdul Kalam wanted to send us a strong message. APJ, a Muslim born of …
Route 15 From Las Vegas
“..two roads diverged in the wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference…”: Robert Frost Roy jammed the 10 gallon hat on his head as he settled down on the hood of his Pontiac thunderbird. This time it looked to be a long wait and the sun was …
Ageless in Alien Worlds
…. I, to the world am like a drop of water That in the ocean seeks another drop, ….. William Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors We made it! We made it on time; equipped with low chairs, a picnic basket and adequately chilled wine. The setting sun casts an orange glow over the grassy slope where we …
Do Brown People Tan?
I am not one to swoon in support of Bobby Jindal, the 13th or 15th (or is it 20th?) declared aspirant in the republican nomination – you know that guy – tanned and ready? Before he was tanned and ready he was American and not Indian American. And even before that he was Christian and not …
Memorial Day is for Moms
Matt and Priya were classmates. I met Mrs. Manoukian for the first time when she came to drop Matt off for a birthday party. She rang the doorbell. “Can we stay too?” Matt ran in without pause. I saw Matt’s brother looking up at me. His chubby palm circled mommy’s manicured finger. His look was …
A Walk in the Wetlands
The wetlands behind Shoreline Park, just a short distance from Highway 101 but a whole world apart, are magical today. Finally, after a year of severe drought we have had a month of rain, hard rain; enough to bring the water level back up to the edge of the walking trail. Water has been pouring …
Garden of People
My father leans over the balustrade to look at his garden. He is making sure plants that need protection from frost have been tended to. There is a chill in the evening air and a good chance that temperatures will dip below freezing tonight. I stand on my tippy toes, bolstered up by my elbows, chin …
Neerja Raman 