Sheer Bliss

Thank you all for your good wishes and blessings. I shered them with the kids, too  and we truly wish you'd been there to share in the fun - I know you would have loved it, specially dressing up and the food, and the pre-wedding songs, and the stag party that Digbijoy had. - Oh the restaurant where they had that party called me three times at night to apologetically say, “Sir, could you have a word? They're having a lot of fun, but they are a little noisy!” Needless to say, I didn't have a word with Digs. This is the first time in 25 years that  I've heard a complaint about him. I was getting worried that he wasn't 'normal'!

The wedding photographers are still putting together the pix and I'm hoping to see them all  too, soon!

Thank you Albert - I'll be sure to post the link.

Heh - boy, now that its all over I can go back to my jeans and t-shirts! Every one has left. The house is so quiet and it has a different kind of quality to the quietness - d'you know what I mean? Something like the stillness that comes after a thing well accomplished. A serene acceptance of a future that once was and is now past. And an opportunity to contemplate a whole new beginning for Panda and me, while Digbijoy and Atika are doing the same in their new life?

Jeanie, d'you know how long it takes to dress in a starched turban, not to forget the number of buttons on a jacket - or the pain of pointed embroidered shoes? I'm sure. Trade you your hoodie for a turban! Throw in a sneakers, and I'll send you the guy who ties turbans, too.

Mimi - Yes, it was a fairy tale setting, unforgettable to the last minute. I can't wait for the photos which seem to be coming at Noah's Ark speed. But the real accomplishments were: moving past gulfs of backgrounds and unusual circumstances to have it all happen: we have different backgrounds religious backgrounds - while I'm neutral on religion, Panda did some agonzing work in that area; cultural differences - we're  individualistic while Atika's family is a solid community; my family is practically disfunctional when it comes to working as a team, but by the time the wedding happened, we were working so smoothly it was astounding that we were the same family; Panda was managing a major health problem, and coincidentally, so was Atika - both had been hospitalized uptil a month before the wedding, and yet they made it, going over and beyond circumstances that would ordinarily be enough to delay a space launch. Digbijoy spent a lot of time being torn between which hospital to go to - the one with his precious one, or the the one where his mother was, and still be on time for work, as well as get to know his new family-to-be, everyday! By the way, a Hindu ceremony is pretty gruelling, especially for the bride and groom who have to fast all day and cannot eat a thing until the sacred sandalwood fires, chants, readings from the scriptures and vows have been made. Atika's face and demenour show not a hint of the strain and Panda did a creditable job too.The most that I suffered was wearing a traditional outfit. I guess just the joy of moving past all the circumstances with honor and completing the union almost without a blemish made it picture perfect.

Now, the last of 'my brood', Shubhra has kindly informed me that she will be ready to marry in two years time. My turban and sherwani will need to be at the ready one more time before I can retire them, though she insists that I need to be there for her kids weddings too. I wonder if she'll be kind enough to have a Civil Wedding which can be quite inspiring, too. If you wear blindfolds and earmuffs. MAybe an online wedding? My nephew did that in LA.

Jeannie, one tie-er on-er coming up. Just make sure she's got  enough to tie on - low slung saris which are the rage today, turbans, necklaces with lots of blingy stones, etc. If she gets bored she could just tie one on, and her favorite is Bristol Cream. Says she's willing to head out provide she has a bathtub filled with the stuff at least once a week, but its negotiable.

Hey Krissy - I'm so glad to see you!

And yep, Hummingbird, the truth really is that everything is Maya! Widen the frame of the picture and the view is different.

It's been great  to talk with everyone on this blog. I wonder often about how it really is with every one - what challenges you face in your lives, what you're up to accomplishing. Not as a nosy parker, but as someone who finds the diversity of people on our planet fascinating, and the shared values so touching. Fellow journeymen, if you will. I'm also so touched that you find my little life, really a speck among something like 6 billion people on this planet interesting enough to share your time and comments. Thank you.

And my Ark has started to drift in: I managed to get some photos onto an album called Digbijoy & Atika here.

Jeannie, don't miss all the stuff that there was to tie up!

 

Thanks Hummingbird, and I really liked: when diversity is not embraced it is a cause of suffering. A whole new domain opens up when I make like an amoeba and engulf differences!