Letter to a daughter

 Dear Sanjana

My first memories of you is when you were born and I held you in my arms. And it was the best thing in my life. And the first time when you walked to me when I came home from SFO when you were 10 months old. Mom had spent the entire week teaching you to walk and when I came home you walked to me and we hugged and laughed and it was the happiest time in Irving. Another favorite memory of you was I would take you to Tom Thumb in Irving and I would let your ride a mechanical horse and you loved it. Once I took you there and you asked me innocently, “Do you have money??” to ride the horse and I was blown away. You were 2 and a half years old. My other memories of you were playing the Monkey and the Cap story over and over again and you never tired of playing that when you were 4 and when Meghana was born.

I still remember you and me holding Meghana together and welcoming the little devil into this world. This was in India. I also remember the first time when you came back to Houston from India when you were four and we went to get the car. You were so fascinated by me and I felt so good.

The most I was proud of you, of course, was when you stood up for your sister at a friend’s house. That was the happiest day of my life when I knew you going to be the best-est big sister ever.

The times at Anderson Elementary where I was WatchDog and you being so proud of me for being a WatchDog Coordinator is something I cherish. I do remember having Friday lunch with you and organizing play dates with your friends and it was a lot of fun. So was playing softball with the Bombpops. Those games were a lot of fun. The times at Barnes and Nobles, Braum’s ice cream were a lot of fun too.

Middle school was fun as well with Band and accompanying you as the “Band Dad”. Middle school went pretty fast and here we are. You are going to be leaving middle school and now going to high school.

I know it has been rough as you become a teenager and I have become older for the last couple of years. The little devil (Meghana) has not made it easy either. 

 I always remember Muttavva(ML Padmvathi, my maternal grandmother) and she always expected a lot from us and never gave up on us and she did it in all kinds of ways. I am who I am because of her. I know you want to be a doctor and the journey is going to be long and arduous but Amma and I will always be there for you. If I am to you was Muttavva to me, I have done my job and you will appreciate what we did when you have children and grand-children.

We are lucky to live in the safest time in the history of mankind. We owe it to us and to people before us to do justice to this opportunity and we will be there cheering you on every step of the way.

Love,

Dad and Mom

Memories of Chitthappa

My Chitthappa

                My first memories of Chittappa were his Java Motorcycle. I was 4 years old or so. I thought it was the coolest thing. He was tall and slim and just a cool guy. My Chittappa name was Venkateswarlu, Kondababu or just Lu.

I remember going to visit him in Nellore where he worked and I had a good time with my brother and two cousin sisters. I also remember coming to Madras on the Jammu Tawi express. It was a short trip but the memory is there.

He actually bought a tape recorder and was a big fan of Carnatic Music and Balamurali Krishna. He bought his cassettes the Utsava Sampradaya Kritis and Bardrachala Ramadas Krithis. Those songs continue to resonate with me to this day. Melukovayya in Ragam Bowli of the Utsava was my favorite. He also used to play a “game” where we would listen to Carnatic music on the TV and he would basically close his eyes and then he would listen to the song and tell what Ragam it was. It was so cool.

                My earliest memories of him were him being proud of me reeling of statistics of the Australian team that visited India in 1979/80. Even more pleasant were taking time off from school to watch cricket along with my dad and my Chittappa. Another thing was that he had purchased a Dyanora TV which was a big deal in those days. Watching Allan Border bat bravely was so cool.

                One of the fun memories of hanging out with Chittappa was to go to Swagath hotel and have Pongal Vada. He would actually tell us lot of fun stories when we would eat there. Or go to Shanti Vihar and have Bhel Puri or go to woodlands and have breakfast and coffee there.

                Another favorite memory was playing cricket. He was a very good cricketer and played for his company team. I remember him scoring centuries on us and he was a very good medium pace bowler. He always had knee pain and he would ask us to sit on the knee (he would call it idli).

                The 80’s were a lot of fun with him working for ICI and doing shifts which messed up his sleep cycle a lot. But he remained stoic and kept going and working hard and playing hard. He also got involved in the Union and was part of a strike. He was a labor leader and a team player for the company cricket team. He did it all.

                One thing about Chittappa was family was family. For my Chittis’ sister wedding, he led on all fronts and he was basically running around in messed up clothes shoring up and getting the food ready. I remember being totally impressed by that. He loved his wife and her side of the family no less.

                He was very proud of me for being a Kesari High School alum just like him and my dad. He visited me in CIT once in my first year and it was a total surprise. Visits to Chennai during College were a lot of fun and hanging out, talking cricket and just chilling.

                I distinctly remember him taking me on his bike taking cash to the bank to get the statement for US Visa F1 interview. That was a huge deal for me. It was a full scale family effort. When I visited India for the first time, I got champagne and we toasted the new year with it.

                Further trips to India were always memorable with trips to the beach, hotel and visiting them in Adambakkam. Also fun were his visits to US and visiting him. Visits were always sprinkled with Carnatic music and lots of coffee.

                The last trip was also fun with him having dinner with the grandkids and us and just enjoying the good time. He loved his kids, grandkids and nephews. He was a totally chill guy and was very patient.

                Chittappa, you were an inspiration and you made me and my life better. Love you, Chittappa. All of us will cherish your fond memories and affection.