A Note of Gratitude: Rest in Peace - Dear Grandma

On a cold chilly weekend in early February, I received an unexpected call from India during late night hours. It was from my Ma who declared with a sad feeble voice that my Ammama passed away after putting up a valiant fight with deteriorating health and old age. At first, I was startled and refused to believe. Then, the copious amount of tears followed. Its strange how death makes us question our own mortality and forces us to face things which we would not have otherwise. They say one learns more from pain than from pleasure. I completely understand the theory now.

Ammama, my Grandmother was a true inspiration and a matriarch of our large jumbo family. She was specially close to my Ma and shared with her, her deepest thoughts and feelings. She loved feeding people, enjoyed their company and believed in nurturing relationships. She enjoyed concocting traditional Konkani dishes in her cozy kitchen and made use of seasonal vegetables, pulses and fruits. She enjoyed reading the daily newspaper, watching her favorite TV programs and decorating dolls with sequins and decorative fabric when time permitted.

Last year her health went from bad to worse and she switched to liquid diet. She also confided that soon after she had the dentures placed, she lost interest in food and naturally so. She loved Mangoes a lot and waited every year for summer season to arrive which meant she could enjoy the season's best juicy sugar sweet Mangoes. During the monsoon season, she'd procure the special variety of Mushroom (Gudgud Alambe - the ones which spring up only where thunder and lightning hit the landscape) and gladly make Alambe Ambat and if possible sent it over to her sons and daughters. She loved sipping on rich hot Tomato Soup during winter season. Every time anyone would visit us from her house, she would send me a steel box tiffin full of spicy Bitter Gourd Pickle (Karate Nonche), which is her specialty and one of its kind. She loved Coffee, Parboiled Rice (Paej) and Pickle (Teek Nonche) of any kind. She led a simple life, loved to wear her cotton sarees and took great interest in creative art and crafts, linguistics, books and literature. She loved learning and propounded often that 'Knowledge is Power'. I believe I got my 'Reading Bug' from both my Grandparents who loved, adored and worshiped books. She specially liked reading the newspaper page by page during the early morning hours. High on life, full of funny anecdotes, humor filled remarks and quotes, she adored monsoon, flowers particularly Ratnagandhi which grows in abundance in North Karnataka region. Above all, she loved her kids and grand kids. Her life has been a parable of valuable lessons on life, love, people and relationships for my family.

Sometimes, its hard to fathom that she is gone and I reminisce the times we've spent together during my last vacation in India. The solace is my Ma was by her side all through her good, bad and worse times. She also fed my Grandma her last meal before she breathed her last. I hope I am able to care for my parents the same way and be by their side. I was very close to my Grandma and the bond we shared was deep and wonderful.

Thanks Ammama for giving us Roots and Wings. Roots to realize and remember where we came from and wings to fly and reach our fullest potential to live a life we aspire and desire.

Rest in Peace - My Darling...