March means a LOT of milestones in my family. The first week of the month, my step- brother celebrates his birthday. He lives in India and I adore him so.
Source:dreamstime.comNext comes, my baby girl, Krista, whose birthday is counted as the latest addition to the list of celebrations I am trying to catalogue here. Originally her due date was on March 18th which was our Wedding Anniversary. But due to some complications with my health, the doctors induced me by March 13th and there she came, a week before her scheduled birth date!
The day after Krista’s birth is my Dad’s birthday. I do not get any chances to meet with him on his birthdays anymore- that is one of the things I had to give up when I got married and moved away from home. Up until my wedding, I was always present on his special day and enjoyed those moments with him and my brother.
After this, comes our wedding anniversary. Every year, my husband and I go out for dinner on this day except last year when the anniversary fell just a week after Krista’s birth. As you can imagine, I was just back from the hospital at the time and did not have the situation or energy to have a nice celebration or anything. But we had a quiet and peaceful time together.
Then, towards the end of the month, is my birthday which I do not even care about. But here in the family, everyone comes together and order food from a good restaurant when one of us is celebrating their birthday. The company will include my in-laws, Sister-in law and her family and us. We all eat happily and have some real good quality time! Each member of the family’s birthday is celebrated this way- I would also consider it as ‘bonding time’ for all of us.
Last, but not the least, there used to be someone else who used to have her birthdays on March 31st. She was a writer and my role model who urged me to explore the world of words through her works. Her name was Kamala Das while she wrote her English pieces of literature and took the pseudonym of Madhavi Kutty for the writings in Malayalam- hers and mine, mother tongue. She passed away four years ago but still lives in the hearts of the people who love her. I was a die-hard fan of hers especially in my teens and one day, I learned that she lived very close to my home town. I excitedly shared the news with my Dad. I thought wistfully about running into her someday.
My good old Dad that he is, searched online and phone books to get hold of her contact information and managed to book an appointment to meet with her in her apartment. Of course, I did not know about any of this and my Dad took me for a ride one day. He drove for a while and finally we reached at the upscale suburbs where all the luxurious looking condos and apartments are lined up. It was the first time that I am even setting my foot in that area and questioned my Dad about the reason of our visit. We always used to go for long drives at the time and when we set out, all I thought about it as one of those trips. But I clearly knew now, that was not the case.
My Dad asked me: “Who would you like to meet most if you get a chance to meet your role model, if you have any?”
I raised my eyebrows and said instantly “Dah! Kamala Das, who else?” and gave him a defiant look, clearly convinced that he is just playing with me.
Dad with his smug look then delivered his punch line: “Well, here we are!”
“What? Where?” I asked him uncomprehendingly, thinking that he is turning crazy or I am.
“Honey, Kamala Das lives here!” He pointed to a beautiful looking white mansion towering over us.
I became speechless and felt like I was hit by a huge moving truck.
No, that can’t be. How can it be? Who said that wishes can come true this easily? A mind-war raged on inside me.
By that time, my Dad already started walking to my dear Author’s door and was knocking his way in. I stumbled after him.
“But, wait! Do you have appointment?” I whispered in horror, but of course, he didn’t hear.
Her maid greeted us and showed us in.
Okay, he does have appointment. Gosh, how cool is this? I tried to suppress the goofy grin threatening to break out of my face.
My heart was beating faster and I thought I am going to die with a cardiac arrest. But I wanted to see her before it happens.
Then she gracefully walked in.
Kamala Das- she looked so lively and vibrant and just as I imagined! She was beautiful and I forgot to smile back at her when she welcomed us with her warm gesture and a tight embrace.
That day was one of the most beautiful and rewarding days of my life. I got to spend a whole day with her. We talked about the poems that she wrote, her works I liked best, her hobbies, my interests etc…I was very pleased that she and I shared birthdays on the same month. She was awesome!
After that, I saw her few more times until she moved to another state. I kept in touch with her writings and she never failed me in words. I kissed my Dad with all my gratitude and the excitement of an adolescent on that eventful day. My birthday was in few more days and I told Dad benevolently that I do not need any other birthday gifts from him as this one was perfect! The gift of meeting Kamala Das in person made my day and ten more years of birthdays to come! I also added this rendezvous with my favorite author on that hot and humid summer day in India to the list of milestones for the month of March!
Do you have a special month that comes packed up with a tonne of milestones you cherish? – Be it birthdays or any other special occasions? Would you care to share how you celebrate them?
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WHOA! We have lots of bdays in March, too, but you have us beat!
Lana recently posted…The Secret to Easy-Peel, Hard-Boiled Eggs
That’s right Lana..March is very special 🙂
What a beautiful blog post, filled with dreams that came true. You can tell in this post how passionate you are and how special you and your dad’s relationship is.
You know wishes come true, so why not wish more, believe they will happen and have unwavering faith. Instead of saying you don’t get any chance of spending the day with your Dad on his birthday, say one day soon, I will have every chance to spend the day with him whenever I want. ::)
I have learned turning things the other way around make them happen. I wanted to share it with you, as you shared with me this beautiful blog.
You are a gift and I am so thankful to have met you. You really shine through your writing. 🙂
you are right Heather! faith is a great phenomenon and it is really hard to master.. If only it comes to us easy..:)
It’s May for us. In a family of seven, May holds four of our birthdays. Also in a family of seven, we all graduated high school and college in succession. There were years in which several huge parties were thrown in one month. It was nuts!
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you have a lot going on in May. Wow!!! Thank you for sharing that 🙂
March seems to be a big month in my family as well for birthdays, and other milestones. Love your blog post today!
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What a sweet and beautiful post. We have lots of birthdays and anniversaries in March as well. It really is a lovely time of year.
What a wonderful thing your Dad did for you. You can really tell how much you love each other and the bond you two share. That was an amazing gift he gave to you and I’m so sorry that she is no longer with us, but what terrific memories you have!!
Penny at Green Moms and Kids
Penny Roach recently posted…Children – The New Faces of Obesity
I really appreciate your kind words Penny 🙂 That was a special something my Dad did for me.. for that reason, I remember every detail of it even after years …:)
What a fab experience for you to have! That was so great of your Dad to do that! I wish I could spend the day with some of my role models!
Beautifully written as always xo
Our birthdays and celebrations are spread quite evenly throughout the year!
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Thank you Tasha! yeah, the experience was priceless 🙂
What a beautiful memory, I could feel all you emotions as if I had experience it myself. You are truly a gifted writer.
August is our crazy birthday month, my cousin on the 2nd, BFF on the 6th, brother on the 10th, me on the 14th, grandmom on the 18th, uncle on the 22nd, loves father on the 29th, and my godson on the 29th.
Huns family doesn’t really have a month, but him, his mother, his father and his brother were all born on the 13th of different months.
wow..lots of stuff going on for you in August, huh?? Its strange how it all comes packed up in a single month..:)
Isn’t it funny how things seem to hover around a certain month in each family? It’s May for my family- Mother’s day, my mom’s birthday, my dad’s birthday, my brother’s birthday, my sister in law’s birthday. I love it! It’s so fun to celebrate all together like that- although it can be tough on the purse;) I love how you always share such sweet stories about your family- especially your father. I have a special relationship with my dad too so I can really appreciate how close you two are;)
vicky
Vicky Willenberg recently posted…10 Reasons I’d like to be a Dad For a Day
You are right! I would love to celebrate our family birthdays with all the luxury that they deserve. But it does get tough on the purse 🙂 Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Wow, March is sure a busy and sentimental month for you! Enjoy!! Thanks for stopping by my site today! 🙂
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Pleasure is mine 🙂 Hope you had an awesome SITS day! 🙂
Momless Mom recently posted…March is for Milestones
WOW you do have many celebrations in March!! This was a wonderful story about meeting your role model and favorite author! What a wonderful birthday surprise!
We have several birthdays in February and in May. Both of my daughters were born in February, actually only two days apart! Also two of my nieces were also born in February. In May, one of my sons was born and it is also my birthday and one of my sisters birthdays as well! 🙂
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So, I guess its Feb and May for you!!! Isn’t it fun that some of the special days that means so much gets clustered around in one single month..? Thanks for sharing your thoughts 🙂
Momless Mom recently posted…March is for Milestones
What a wonderful story, Vinma, I enjoyed it very much! We have lots of celebrations in March, just like you, and December. I love birthdays, such wonderful moments to cherish!
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Birthdays are fun 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Delia 🙂
Momless Mom recently posted…March is for Milestones
March is special for us too! My birthday falls on the 18th and our anniversary on the 29th. Incidentally, I read a bit of Kamala Das while studying for my Master’s Degree in English. I’m sure it was amazing meeting her!
TK recently posted…5 things I wish I had back from my childhood
wow..our birthdays are just 2 days apart!!! 🙂 wonderful! Our wedding anniversary is on the 18th 🙂 Kamala Das was awesome. I still have her books in my library and read them once in a while. Thanks for stopping by TK 🙂
Momless Mom recently posted…March is for Milestones
Beautiful story and I’m so glad that you had the pleasure to meet such a important person to you, it was a wonderful gift from your dad. I could see that you have a lot of celebrations this month, this month is going to be a special one for my family, because changes are in the way for all of us, I can’t wait until the 31st :)!
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