Patchwork

My grandmother was an extremely talented seamstress. She could make beautiful dresses, tablecloths, bedspreads...pretty much anything she put her mind to. But what made her skill really special was her ability to make these from scraps of discarded material. She had a whole cupboard dedicated to housing the cloth scraps that she collected over the course of fifty years. She had them arranged according to type, size, age and uses. And in one corner of the cupboard, were the discarded pieces...those that were just no good for even patchwork.

From the time I was six years old, I would watch her carefully pick and choose which scraps would make it to the quilt. It seemed incredible that she knew that the red would sit well next to the green. Or that the velvet would not look out of place next to the plaid. No matter how hard I tried I could not differentiate between which pieces could be salvaged; fixed to make something which was entirely new and even more beautiful than it was before, from the ones that would be discarded... only good for stuffing pillows.

I have inherited my grandmother's height, her curly hair, her short temper and even her initials. But I still lack the discernment to see what can be mended and made new again, and what should just be let go off, because it's no longer good for anything else.

Things I learned from children

There's nothing quite like a warm cuddle from a four-year old.
Zebras can be rainbow coloured.
Most times, despite your better judgement, you enjoy seeing someone else get in trouble.
There's nothing that can't be fixed with a kiss from Mum.
If you've had something in your hand for more than fifteen minutes, it's yours irrespective of prior ownership.
You really can make loud noises continuously for more than an hour, and not be in the least bit tired.
If you wait in the loo for long enough, someone will eventually come to wipe your butt.
Humans have the ability to go from utterly distraught to unbelievably happy in under two seconds.

Perfect People

The people who were a part of the happiest times in my life are surrounded by an aura of perfection.

I met some of my 'perfect people' today, and was so relieved that the magic of spending time with them had not faded. The conversations you can have with the friends of your past, the ones who know you and all the stupid, almost insignificant details that make you who you are, are irreplaceable.

After hours of talking that seemed to go by in minutes, I realised that maybe the happiness came from being with them, and not so much from what was going on at the time. And there is a comfort in knowing that someone gets me, and will always know what I'm saying even when no one else does.

In these days when I seem to be not making a whole lot of sense, it's reassuring to know that at least two people think I'm not just plain crazy... yet.

Sunny California: The Myth

In India,we have two seasons. Summer and Not Summer. It's really just that simple. The summer months are hell on earth that you suffer through in the hope that you live to see the two weeks of pleasant weather that may or may not occur in December. You grumble when it's hot, you grumble more when it rains and you get down on your knees and thank God when you're not dying from a heat stroke or drowning in the floods.

But while watching television sitcoms based in California, we were lulled into believing that this far-away paradise epitomised the place with perfect weather. It was sunny, but not muggy. It was pleasant without being cold. It was just nice enough for men and women with perfectly shaped bodies to walk about at all hours in various stages of undress... but that's a post for another time.

The fact is, California is just as cold as the rest of America. My hope for experiencing one day in this state where I would not have to be bundled in socks and a sweatshirt have been shot to hell. I have visited here on three different occasions, all at different times of the year, and it has ALWAYS been cold. This myth of a sunny, warm California which has been perpetuated for decades via glossy TV shows have given us a completely false impression of the place. So the next time you're watching TV and yearning for the sun and warmth of the Californian paradise, remember, it's all just one big marketing illusion.

I'm sure that there are indeed a few spots here which experience optimum weather conditions all year round... but they could not possibly exceed one square mile radius.
For everywhere else, it's just plain COLD.