$sareespeak #womenofsareespeak
#silk #kanjivaramsilk #kanjivaram
#SS 70/100/2020
Yesterday, I declared to all and sundry that it was the last post of the year.
Well, that is not to be.
This is the last last-post-of-the-year.
This day is in preparation for the tomorrow of New Beginnings.
Arose not early.
Took almost everything out of the fridge. Mixed this and that, a rasam, sambar, paruppu and came up with
A Rasam Sambar Satham,
An avatar of a paneer curry,
Pre-loved brinjal curry,
Pickles, Achar, Potato crisps, fryums,
And of course, thayir satham.
Ran the dishwasher three times.
To clear the old, to make way for the new, tomorrow.
Planned our upcoming sunny beach retreat, and discovered it would be raining all through our trip.
Told the girls to
Vaccum, dust, draw the kolam at the entrance of our home, hang, fold clothes;
Pack Articulate, BalderDash, Cluedo, Monopoly (at the risk of breaking up families and marriages);
Download some thrillers, comedies, chick flicks;
(Horror of horrors, no Wifi at the place we’re going to);
Checkout nearby activities, supermarkets, cafes, restaurants, treks, trails, mountains, beaches;
And pack raincoats along with beach wear.
Wrote a checklist for myself – toiletries, food, clothes, essentials.
Argued with the family about something or the other.
Settled down to work on my class today.
Then decided to continue writing.
About Gratitude.
What is an end of year, last last-post-of-the-year without being grateful for..
2020 – however sad or bad it has been, there has been so much I have imbibed from so many experiences;
This group and dear Vini, for letting me literally regurgitate (I wanted to use a more polite term than vomit), my all, especially during this year, when we need friends, counselling, therapy.
What better therapy than to drape a saree, write a heartfelt bare it all post, and receive such love from all of you.
So with a lot of love, emotion and gratitude, head bowed, palms together, to dear Vini and each and everyone of you 150k++ sakhis, sareeing sisters, here’s wishing sincerely that you will have a beautiful blessed 2021 and many more to come.
Aptly, my sister sent me this poem which I share here.
“May Light always surround you;
Hope kindle and rebound you.
May your Hurts turn to Healing;
Your Heart embrace Feeling.
May Wounds become Wisdom;
Every Kindness a Prism.
May Laughter infect you;
Your Passion resurrect you.
May Goodness inspire
your Deepest Desires.
Through all that you Reach For,
May your arms Never Tire.”
Staying up to make absolutely sure 2020 is out the door, and 2021 comes in with no fanfare.
Draped in intense colours – black, red, gold checked Kanjivaram, the colours of Bhavani, my namesake,
The embodiment of Ferocity and Mercy.
Yes, we needed both ferocity and mercy to have taken us through 2020, as we will, going into 2021.
Stay merciful, compassionate, fierce and firm, dear Sakhis.
Happy Last Day of 2020 and Day Before New Year 2021.
Bavani’s Happy Place 