With Love and Gratitude

We did not sleep well last night.

Sury is down with the ‘flu.

Vidur’s allergic dry cough is back with a vengeance and he had long bouts of coughing through the night.

My injured leg suddenly became much worse and showed signs of the same allergy as my arm, which is healing now. The foot is quite swollen and I can barely walk around without wincing.

The morning, however, dawned bright and clear.  Thinking about this special day, I was full of love and gratitude.

At 6.45 am, as has been the tradition for sixteen years, my dear friend phoned to wish us a Happy Anniversary.

(This friend has never missed my birthday or my Mom’s from the day we met in November 1987 when her son was about five months old, and after I got married, never missed anniversaries and birthdays of Sury and Vidur)

The sun did shine brighter after I heard her voice.

We waited for 9 am so we could go see the doc.  We did. Rather than feel sad that our outing on this special day was to the doc, I chose to see it as an investment in our health and was full of gratitude that we had access to a good doctor we trusted.

Normally, we would lead up to Feb 9 with all sorts of plans depending on what day of the week it is on – and finally either have a special lunch at home together or go out for dinner and sometimes, a bit of shopping. Since 2010, Feb 9 has been somewhat sad as my Mother had just passed away on Feb 8, 2010. But as my Mom would say, “respect the dead, celebrate the living” – we hold each other close and feel grateful for what we have.

• Unconditional love and gratitude
• Compassion for each other
• Trust in each other
• My folks think i am a great cook and will appreciate whatever i make
• Health – most of the time, such as it is
• A kind and loving son
• A nice home
• A decent income
• No debts
• Close friends who care
• Loving friends who email or call to ask how I am doing
• Wonderful memories together
• Happiness
• The ability to keep standing, no matter what
• A spiritual backpack full of joy
• Not being stuck in a rut

Sixteen years have sped by, or so it seems. It feels like just the other day when I wrote about 15 years of being married in a post titled secrets of a happy marriage. Like most marriages, ours wasn’t perfect. We argued, we disagreed with each other, we had ego problems. Yet at a basic level we are always united. We’ve grown together over the years, and grown on each other. In sickness and in health. Through joy and sorrow. With love and gratitude.

We are not worried about not going out to dinner, as we are just as happy sitting at the dining table regaling each other with “do you remember” stories.

We did not worry about gifts, as we give each other gifts throughout the year, without waiting for special occasions.

Our house is filled with love and humor. And dust. But I don’t care about that right now. My heart is full and I am happy.

Let me conclude by reproducing last year’s Haiku dated Feb 9