Life is good!

Sunday morning cooking, family time, music (listening to "Re Mann - Shreya). Life is good!!

From then to now …

Pieces of Us

I woke up from a lovely afternoon nap to squiggly forms wiggling next to me. Kaju was chewing a paw and I mildly registered a concern to get him some anti-itch stuff and keep the humidifier on - it's so dry these days. Then my sleepy eyes traced the outline of Kishmish chewing on an ear that had turned black and brown - what??! I was awake now. Oh - she was chewing Kaju's ear and, I realized, he wasn't chewing his own paw either - he was tending to hers! Kishmish then deployed her tiny teeth to comb kaju's forehead while he pulled her whiskers - a little too hard and backed off immediately when she protested. Then they proceeded to inspect each others teeth, shoved more tangled limbs into each other and I stopped sorting through the brown, white and black blob next to me. 

It occurred to me that Kaju and Kishmish likely cannot distinguish their own parts and pieces from each other. They play together, eat together, sleep together and constantly seek each other out. You can't separate them - and it seems they can't separate themselves either. They are perfectly happy being a blob. Maybe they got it right. Maybe we can too?! 

Aadi’s Drip

 

Verse 1: 

I had drip since I was a youngin’, 

Head held high, always up to somethin’. 

Numbers and stars, they callin’ my name, 

Science and math, yeah, I’m ahead of the game. 

Kind heart, sharp mind, got the perfect blend, 

Every step I take, I inspire my friends. 

Rockin’ fresh fits, always lookin’ clean, 

Skincare glowin’, I’m livin’ the dream. 

Pre-Chorus: 

Gaze at the sky, constellations align, 

A universe of knowledge in this heart of mine. 

With laughter and care, I’m changin’ the scene, 

Empathy the crown, I’m the future’s king. 

Chorus: 

I’m Aadi, yeah, I’m destined to rise, 

Reaching for the stars in these endless skies. 

Funny, intelligent, got the world in my hands, 

With my crew by my side, we’re takin’ a stand. 

From the classroom to the cosmos, I shine so bright, 

A star in the making, I’m the guiding light. 

Verse 2: 

Equations flow like music in my head, 

Chasing my dreams, nothin’ left unsaid. 

Astronomy’s callin’, galaxies afar, 

One day I’ll reach that distant star. 

Style on point, confidence to spare, 

Looking good, feeling good, yeah, I’m self-aware. 

Friends roll deep, they’ve got my back, 

In this journey of life, we’re on the same track. 

Pre-Chorus: 

Gaze at the sky, constellations align, 

A universe of knowledge in this heart of mine. 

With laughter and care, I’m changin’ the scene, 

Empathy the crown, I’m the future’s king. 

Chorus: 

I’m Aadi, yeah, I’m destined to rise, 

Reaching for the stars in these endless skies. 

Funny, intelligent, got the world in my hands, 

With my crew by my side, we’re takin’ a stand. 

From the classroom to the cosmos, I shine so bright, 

A star in the making, I’m the guiding light. 

Bridge:

Dreamin’ big, but my feet stay grounded,

Curiosity fuels the world I’ve founded.

Kindness in my heart, wisdom in my soul,

With every step forward, I’m reaching my goal.

Rockin’ the world with my wit and my charm,

Making people smile, keepin’ ‘em calm.

Chorus (Repeat):

I’m Aadi, yeah, I’m destined to rise,

Reaching for the stars in these endless skies.

Funny, intelligent, got the world in my hands,

With my crew by my side, we’re takin’ a stand.

From the classroom to the cosmos, I shine so bright,

A star in the making, I’m the guiding light.

Outro:

I had drip since I was a youngin’,

Bright future ahead, you know I’m stuntin’.

Coffee Chat

I had Coffee with Kaju today. We talked about Mishti. He loved listening to her stories and conveyed with his soft brown eyes - 'I feel her too' - and then snuggled up to me. We both released a deep sigh. 

Today was the first time I could bring myself to sit in this chair for morning coffee since Mishti passed. We had shared so many mornings here together- she was always here to cheer me on to whatever the day ahead brought. Sometimes with excitement, often with boredom at my human strife, always with total trust - 'you got this' she said and then with some impatience- 'come on get on with it already, go get it done and then come back home and walk me'. I can't wait to take Kaju for a walk as soon as this winter thaws - and my heart too. 

Full Expression

            How we live, is how we die. – Pema Chodron

Today, we said goodbye to Mishti. Or rather she said goodbye to us. Last night she told me in no uncertain terms that enough was enough, and, it was time to let go. She spoke to me in an unmistakable tone – even trying to form the words with her non-dexterous mouth – ‘eh eh … go o o o’. This is how she lived every day, every moment - In Full Expression, on her own terms, always having the last word.

Queen of Snow, she, commanded the weather. 11 years ago, to the date, we brought her home in the coldest winter in Minnesota – the 2013 Polar Vortex. Tonight, the blizzard came to Michigan to take her back. After a long battle, she drifted asleep to Norah Jones singing “wake me up”. We hugged and cried and sang along and swayed in the candlelight wake that Mishti had arranged for herself – yes, the power went out and the snow was so bad we could not drive to animal emergency center. She colluded with the universe to block our way and any attempts to revive her one more time. It is time to let go.

Rest in Peace dear friend, teacher, Queen. You will always be with us. 

We are your Gang!

Glitch in The Matrix