Rekha's Musings

Little did I know that ‘life at 60’ would actually be so exciting!
It was the ‘eve of D-day’ and the usual get-together of the gang was expected. Dinner had been catered for and the usual drinks organized. Ice creams ordered, I had even baked my usual cakes! (which my mum baked for our B’days and which tradition I continued and I guess I shall carry on as long as B’days are celebrated in the family!) I was all set!
Sometime in the middle of the night the doorbell rang. I suspected it was my little brat going back on her decision of spending the night with Nupur. I’m sure she’s chickened out and come back! I opened the door, and couldn’t believe my eyes!
The whole gang stood crowding the lobby, Rhea leading the pack, all screaming ‘Happy B’day’! I couldn’t have awakened to a more beautiful 60th B’day!
At the stroke of 12, all my dear ones were with me to ring in this special day! After the rounds of handshakes and hugs; the blowing of the candle and the cutting of the cake! Then came the gift – not one but 60 gifts, one for each year, all wrapped in silver! And I was made to open each and everyone of them. The little one enjoyed that task! (Spending the night with Nupur had been a ploy. She had infact joined the others in packing the presents and generally enjoyed the excitement of being part of the whole ‘secret’).
Then came the gift from my better-half; a diamond set-no less! Was I touched! It even aroused my hidden poetic talent which I reproduce here:

TO YOU ON MY 60TH.
I always knew I had a Great Family! And you always proved I was right!
Today, you were all here, as the clock struck 12; With a bag full of gifts.
Nay - a bag full of love!
While some, my near ones; were afar - Their thoughts I’m sure were here
As I crossed over into the sixties!
You made my Day, my Year, my 60 years!
Ps: I warned you I was too old for presents; But as I unravelled the 60 gifts,
all wrapped in silver, I must confess I loved every moment!

And the cake and the wine went around and the midnight party was over and everyone left,
to be back in the evening.
The evening bash was the usual khana-peena, (now gaana too); and pulling legs tamasha that this family seems to revel in. A riot of noise, laughs and shouts are part of it. All in good humour and high spirits! The family that parties together, stays together!
I miss Rakesh & Shalu and Neil & Aditi on such occasions; but you can’t have it all! Then again, how would I have been able to celebrate my B’day thrice in a year?
And so the celebrations continued. In B’lore:
We had a cosy weekend at The WindFlower resort (Mysore), a charming getaway with a natural waterfall, swimming pool et al. The rooms were built along a huge, artificial water body with waddling and screeching geese. Each room had a lovely lawn and garden to sip your tea or just relax. They had a huge “Princess Bed” as the little princess called it, with silken curtains all around!
The Mysore zoo and the aviary were certainly worth the visit. It was a time for togetherness! Far from the madding demands of everyday life!
Then there were lunches at Spiga (Rhea just loves their pasta) and dinners at Sunny’s! We enjoyed every moment of it!
In NewYork:
First there was Aditi’s convocation; it was a truly majestic affair with Bagpipers playing and the Graduates dressed in Purple robes and head gear! Also some inspiring and some funny speeches.
The event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music was followed by our very own celebratory lunch and dinner with close friends and family. Another time for bonding; for both Neil’s and Aditi’s parents! Aided by a visit to the Broadway - ’31 Variations’ a super play starring Jane Fonda and karaoke sessions. Also went round the hallowed precincts of the NYU!
The visit to the island of Nantucket, off the coast of Massachusetts was fairytale stuff! It was the Memorial Day weekend made truly memorable. A huge Town House on the ocean front was our home for those 4 days. It had 4 bed rooms and the living area was as big as a football field! and a deck running all around the house! It was furnished with every possible requirement. The owners lived in New Jersey and let out the house when they are not using it. These people really know how to live it up!
A 5-hour drive to Hyannis and a 2 hour cruise took us to Nantucket. The island is only 14 miles long and 4-5 miles wide. Very closely guarded, the ecology, the forest cover, the construction activity is all controlled to protect the wild life and the environment. Of course it has its own airport, winery, where we went a-tasting and a well stocked Farmers’ Market.
As you walk along the roads you are greeted with rabbits and deer darting in and out of the bushes that surround the houses! I even tried my hand at cycling, after almost 40 years! The weather was brilliant and the locals so friendly; they went out of their way to help and make you feel ‘at home’.
Memorial Day is also the official beginning of the Summer in the US and Nantucket celebrates the day with a Grand Regatta called The Figawi Race. The race begins at Hyannis and ends at Nantucket. When we landed, the restaurants and bars around the pier were packed with the sailors (Figawis) participating in the races. Ted Kennedy was also said to be taking part. The Kennedys have a palatial house on the sea front at Hyannis.
Huge hoardings “Welcoming the Figawis” were all around the wharf. The mystery of the FIgawis was solved by a friendly local. She was walking her dog in the evening when she passed by us and got talking. She volunteered the following info:
Years ago, a group of sailors belonging to a nomadic Indian tribe lost their way and landed on the island of Nantucket - not knowing where they were, they asked the locals – ‘Where the f*** are we?’ Unable to decipher their tongue, the locals interpreted it as ‘Where the Figawi’. Since then sailors coming to the island are called Figawis.
This lady had driven all alone (with her dog) from Texas, a distance of 2000 miles. She was getting her house cleaned and prepared to celebrate her son’s graduation there.
NYC also had brilliant weather and Neil has moved closer to Central Park, infact you can see the trees from the balcony. So the evenings were spent walking in the park and expending the calories which were topped-up later - with a variety of wines that Aditi served.
And must mention the Sushi experience that Neil insisted we must have. Had to try it, can’t say ‘No’ when something comes with so much love and affection! I actually ate the octopus rings (they looked like onion rings) and the nigiri (raw fish wrapped around a morsel of rice) but kept away from the eel. I loved the wasabi that accompanied it.
But I enjoyed the nachos and the guacamalo at the Spanish restaurant. Not to forget daddy’s B’day dinner where we sampled quail and had some splendid thai food.
And so the celebration lasted over a good two months and spread across two continents! And as all good things come to an end, so did the celebration of my entry into the sixties!
I’m now wondering; why all the fuss? what was my achievement? I was sixty; so what?

# posted by rdbelite @ 11:11 PM