A couple of weekends ago I met with an desi ex-colleague of mine for lunch. She was telling about our VP’s wife who belongs to the same circle/caste as does she, and since there are not that many of that sub-caste people around, her parents get invited to… “things”. Apparently Usha did a full on griha-pravesh ceremony (Indian housewarming party), and everyone had to check-in their phones and any electronic device before they could attend. Then the function itself was hard core South Indian function with puja and all, with her and kids in Indian attire etc. But nothing of that comes out. Apparently she’s the same at temples too. She regularly goes to the local Shiva Vishnu Temple, but before she goes the temple is locked down – she gets a room to herself to change into Indian attire, do her pujas, and then changes back into western outfits before she leaves the temple premises. All I could think was, so much effort to hide who you are because your husband is a fucking racist and representing a party that’s gone full Nazi. Imagine she could’ve married any other rich white decent American and she’d never have to hide her own identity the way she does now. Power truly corrupts people.
Macro
Speaking of dog, I swear my dog is throwing serious shade at the female golden retriever across the street who has been obsessed with him. She barks if dog is in front yard, she barks if she sees him and wants to play with him. Two weeks ago she escaped her yard and came to our house, and we presumed it was to play with our dog. All this while, my dog has not returned even one advance. Not one bark. Not one tug or push. Like zero interest. It’s like he wants nothing to do with her even though she is the cutest and friendliest golden retriever ever. I guess male loneliness epidemic has spread to dogs too!
Our doggo is going to have such a hard time once in-laws leave. He’s bonded with them so much and fact that they are at home all day while we peasants have to do RTO means he’s basically become their chela. Heck he even accompanies them to their room to take an afternoon nap with them. It’s the most cute thing ever to see as the parents go for a nap, so does he and will not come back down until one of ’em wakes up and heads down.
A is out with her parents at outlet mall to get some India shopping done. I told the kid not to go, but she did – and now she is bored out of her mind while A and fam spend more than a hour inside a single shop. Yes kid, that was why your mom did not want me to accompany because I would be getting antsy too and I’d rather them shop in peace. Sometimes your dad is right and you should listen kid!
My in-laws are here for another 3 weekends and they will be back to their hometown and I am already feeling sad about it. It’s gonna be hard adjusting back to just three of us again in the house. I am glad that A is making the best of it with them (as have I) and every time we see our parents, we have to remind ourselves that we need to make more India trips (and them, here). We have to be able to spend way more time with our parents than we do.
One of A’s close friends is moving back to India next month so it was nice to finally catch up over zoom. Desire to spend more time with aging parents coupled with the uncertain political environment prompted their move. Their kid is only 6 years old and they want to do that move now and figure out if they will like it back there or make some other plans like returning. He is at a perfect age to start school and assimilate in India and it makes sense. I hope it works out for them! We will miss them.
I hope that the flop of iPhone air doesn’t convince apple that they don’t need to make a thinner phone. If anything they need to reexamine why people are ok with heavier phone. My guess is it come back to the camera. I would buy the iPhone air with the pro camera system. They ought to get to that vision. The current iPhone pros are just about bricks at this point.
Another swim meet weekend. Warmups at 7:30am, first race start at 8:45am, second race at 10:55am and third at 12:20pm. Cooldown, byebyes, shakes and fries with friends at the St James means not gonna be home before 2pm. Repeat again tomorrow. Glad A is taking first half of it while I do second half.
It’s been interesting to observe how completely out of news Pete Buttigieg has gone. There was a time where he was a regular on Fox News, and even after the election he seemed to be a strong voice against Trump – and then suddenly he seems to have gone away. I won’t blame him if he has decided its not worth raising red flags as a gay person but I wish he had the aggressiveness of Pritzker or Newsom coz he’s the one person who I think also has the charisma of Mamdani in conveying the same information. I won’t blame him if he feels this is not worth it but god I want to see more of Pete, and more aggressive Pete.
Yesterday I was missing my mom a lot in evening. I was by myself when A had taken her parents out to mall and R was at swim. I was eating a yummy dinner that my MIL cooked in afternoon and it stuck me suddenly that I don’t quite remember how my own mom’s home cooked food tasted like. I remember it in my brain but I just had that intense desire to feel that taste again in my mouth. And it just made me sad thinking about it – the last time I had mom’s cooking was in 2010, 6 months before she passed away. You never really get over grief of losing a parent.