Special Mom’s blog

July was very busy for our family. We made multiple travels and have gone out of comfort zones and exposed my special one to new things. The signs of pandemic have all gone and every one seems to be enjoying the new found freedom and slowly forgetting the lock down days.

Last Saturday was Pickle festival in Pittsburgh (here is the link) and this Saturday we had to be at the Temple. The Annual Religious Festival is going on at Sri Venkateswara Temple, Pittsburgh. Two crowded places, overwhelming sound and sight and I had to follow different strategies and I am glad I could execute both.

This is a four day festival at the Temple and today being the third day, they had some interesting things happening which I thought my boy would enjoy.

It had been a hot week but we got heavy rains this morning and it cooled down. The block party was today but I thought I would skip that to be at the Temple, but as soon as the music began down the street my younger one got food for his brother from the food truck😊. Okay, he got his treat even before we left and I was confident his mood was going to be good.

We then left for the temple, but we had to pick up some stuff from Indian grocery. I did write a blog on Monday that we are facing rice shortage. But stores now have rice and are limiting one bag per customer but the prices have increased one and half times. But my boy cared more about samosas and vada pav that were sold, so we picked up a few and he had one samosa in the parking lot. Things have been going smoothly until now and it was 6.30 pm and we drove to the Temple for the main event.

I had on myself a new saree which I got at a fund raiser two weeks back. Luck would have it or my inner subconscious picked up the saree because I already had a blouse that matched it. One skill that would have helped me in this country would have been to learn to stitch saree blouses. Growing up I was not a fan of the sewing machine. Anyway even now I am not into tailoring and depend on professional tailors.😊

My saree did match up with the Golden Chariot that was outside . I passed my phone to my husband and he took a quick picture of me since most of my selfies are looking horrible.

The Golden Chariot with the deities then did circumambulate the Temple with dance and music. The event being outdoors my boy could tolerate the sight and sound and even tried to make a few dance moves. I would give an A when I said “dance”, he spun around himself and a temple volunteer came to him and shook his hands😊. With all the enthusiasm I forgot to take pictures. Maybe somethings are not to be recorded in devices but just in our brain 😊.

We had free food served there and when I looked at my phone it was 8.30pm. We had spent a good two hours at the Temple with not much drama.

I did go to watch Oppenheimer yesterday and that was fresh in my mind at the Temple. I had many questions for God, yet I know I am not that smart or mature enough to receive direct answers from Him.

Anyway I was able to talk to a priest today, a thing that I was postponing about a zoom class he has been conducting. I have been learning Sanskrit scriptures, but I think I am now being given an opportunity to learn Tamil Scriptures too. Poetry in any language is always beautiful so one that is going to be in my mother tongue I am really excited.

For Natalie’s Weekend Coffee Share.