Grandparents are not just a photo frame in your drawing room. They are treasures of moments and stories that draw your personality's characteristics.
The other day my cousin's marriage made me spend some time with my maternal (and only) living Grandma. Everybody left in bus loads to the church far from the house and I was (granny-sitting?). It was such a peacfeul time in the balcony,with the gentle breeze from the garden for occasional company. She was content in just sitting quietly and maybe praying silently as is habitual of her age.
Something about the morning made me remember tidbits of my childhood spent in mom's old house which is in Paippad,Kerala. I decided to dig her memory a little and asked if she remembered the ducks which kept running away when they sensed they are going to be cut soon.
My granny broke into a smile and gave a sigh. She said that home was the one which she was married into. Hence it was quite beloved to her. Though the ducks were an annoyance,she has fond memories of how Appai (my grandfather) had novel ideas of luring the ducks towards you and they somehow used to fall in his trap...literally.
Appai was a master farmer. I do not recall him having endless fields and dozen cows grazing away in green pastures like a calendar picture. He managed his limited inheritance with grandeur. In the little space around the house,there were all types of vegetation possible. Pepper,banana,jackfruit and ofcourse coconut. His skills have been generously succeeded by my mom who herself along with Dad (another genius green boss) have a variety of flowers and vegetables growing in our garden.
Granny then spoke in length about the utensils they used. I was surprised to know everything (yes) was cooked in earthern cookware. There were no metal utensils, like aluminium,steel etc. Or atleast they couldn't buy. A family of 7 children and total 9 to feed were quite tight on luxury.
Breakfast was mostly rice stuff.Wheat was unheard off. There were no sliced bread,jam,juice...in short no processed foods and definitely no bed coffee. Though in limited quantities, everything was fresh and wholesome. Isn't that a luxury now?
She went on to say how my mom and my uncles and aunties used to study under street lamp(one in entire stretch of road) when the kerosene lamp finished. There were no motor vehicles and every trip (even marriage ) was on foot. My granny narrated how on one sepia day, when she was 7 months pregnant with my youngest uncle and she had to walk 4 kms or so to visit another lady. Though she was tired she trodded on through the kuccha road knowing well the distance and but even then a courtesy call was important on one's neighbors.
Having said all this my granny's eyes were moist. Sitting under an electric fan and old tired feet on vacuum cleaned tiled floor must have made her grateful to God for the amenities she enjoys in her children's homes....or maybe the memories were sweeter than I can imagine.
The other day my cousin's marriage made me spend some time with my maternal (and only) living Grandma. Everybody left in bus loads to the church far from the house and I was (granny-sitting?). It was such a peacfeul time in the balcony,with the gentle breeze from the garden for occasional company. She was content in just sitting quietly and maybe praying silently as is habitual of her age.
Something about the morning made me remember tidbits of my childhood spent in mom's old house which is in Paippad,Kerala. I decided to dig her memory a little and asked if she remembered the ducks which kept running away when they sensed they are going to be cut soon.
My granny broke into a smile and gave a sigh. She said that home was the one which she was married into. Hence it was quite beloved to her. Though the ducks were an annoyance,she has fond memories of how Appai (my grandfather) had novel ideas of luring the ducks towards you and they somehow used to fall in his trap...literally.
Appai was a master farmer. I do not recall him having endless fields and dozen cows grazing away in green pastures like a calendar picture. He managed his limited inheritance with grandeur. In the little space around the house,there were all types of vegetation possible. Pepper,banana,jackfruit and ofcourse coconut. His skills have been generously succeeded by my mom who herself along with Dad (another genius green boss) have a variety of flowers and vegetables growing in our garden.
Granny then spoke in length about the utensils they used. I was surprised to know everything (yes) was cooked in earthern cookware. There were no metal utensils, like aluminium,steel etc. Or atleast they couldn't buy. A family of 7 children and total 9 to feed were quite tight on luxury.
Breakfast was mostly rice stuff.Wheat was unheard off. There were no sliced bread,jam,juice...in short no processed foods and definitely no bed coffee. Though in limited quantities, everything was fresh and wholesome. Isn't that a luxury now?
She went on to say how my mom and my uncles and aunties used to study under street lamp(one in entire stretch of road) when the kerosene lamp finished. There were no motor vehicles and every trip (even marriage ) was on foot. My granny narrated how on one sepia day, when she was 7 months pregnant with my youngest uncle and she had to walk 4 kms or so to visit another lady. Though she was tired she trodded on through the kuccha road knowing well the distance and but even then a courtesy call was important on one's neighbors.
Having said all this my granny's eyes were moist. Sitting under an electric fan and old tired feet on vacuum cleaned tiled floor must have made her grateful to God for the amenities she enjoys in her children's homes....or maybe the memories were sweeter than I can imagine.
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