A Step Back in Time

It was really hot in the San Fernando Valley today, and I made some Mango and Pista Kulfis (Indian Ice Cream). Asniff of the fragrance of Cardamom and Mango, and I was transported to the magical days of our childhood. Mangoes were a big part of our Summers. Mangoes in all their varieties, color, texture and flavors. Our mothers would use the raw mangoes to make pickles and chutneys. In the Summer heat, we would fill a tunb with ice water and leave the fruit in there to chill and exude a heavenly flavor and fragrance. Then we would all sit around the tub and eat our Mangoes. Some would suck the nectar-like juice out of the tiny "Tapka" mangoes, while the more finicky among us would take another variety, slice and dig in to them. Somehow, it was always more fun to dunk them in ice water, than chill them in the refrigerator. At times, we would try to chase the Summer heat with an icy Mango Shake. YUM. We did not know about the currently popular "Mango Lassi". It used to be a long Summer Vacation, and we had to find things to do, since this was before the age of Television and video games. Days were pretty long, even after the volumes of home work we had to do. We would bring out the old Ice Cream churner, send someone for a block of ice the size of a suitcase, get some coarse salt, and try to make Mango Ice Cream. These were not electric machines and we would have to take turns churning the mixture.  Some days we would get perfect Ice Cream and on others it ended up as a mush. Whatever the case, it would cool our throats, aesophagus, and stomachs. Never since have I had Ice Cream that chilled me so! Maybe it's been glorified in my memories, I don't know.

Mention of Ice Cream and Kulfi is sending me twirling into my past almost like Dorothy got whisked on to the Yellow Brick Lane. It reminds me of Summers spent at our Grandma's. Those were the days when nothing moved on a Summer afternoon. Almost everyone retired to a cool room for an afternoon siesta.. Even the pets would stay close to water and fans. We were at an age when napping was a waste of time, and we would rather fill our afternoons with something more fun. There was this hawker who used to come at the perfect hour when our elders were deep in slumber, and we could creep out in the smouldering heat. This man used to sell the most unique kind of Ice Cream or Kulfi. It wa like a solid block of frozen mixture, wrapped around a cone. Then he would cover it in layers and layers of cloth to insulate and keep it solid. He would be hawking" Khoey Malai Wali Kulfi" ( Ice Cream from evaporated and condensed milk). We would run outside, give him our money, and he would shave layers off the cone, and serve them to us on large leaves. I think they were "Peepal" leaves. It was so good, we would even lick the leaves, and then go back inside, smacking our lips, savoring the taste and waiting for the next afternoon.

What a nostalgic trip down memory lane! All because of the King of Fruits! 

Out of Sync

For any system to work, I mean just work, not even efficiently, parts have to be in sync. At least to a certain point. Take any creation, human or divine, all organs have to work together. If the body of your car is in great shape, but the engine sputters, huffs, and puffs, it is no good. Similarly, if the engine works OK, but the doors are falling off, you won't go far, This is the easy stuff. A mechanic can fix the body and the engine, and it is somewhat decent again. The human body has been compared to the automobile, the computer etc., but the main difference is that we cannot discard the body and get a new one, or change the CPU and go merrily along. If all parts worked together, road to the Golden Years would not be so bumpy. Problem comes up when the mind says "Go,  put in another mile. You used to do it last year", and the body is saying, "Are you crazy? That was 365 days ago". The mind proposes and the body disposes! It is a nice cool Summer morning, perfect for gardening, and you have plans to work out, do couple loads of laundry, shop and cook for the week, and go see that movie everyone is talking about. This is what your mind has planned for your day. Your body sweats through gardening and tries to make a deal with the mind, "Look, I worked in the garden for an hour. That should count for something. Also, it's getting hot now. I can go to the Gym tomorrow". The mind frets and fumes, and goes to the next item. Body complies and puts in a load of laundry. Mind ( we all know who is the master here) keeps going to next items on the list and the body does OK. Around mid-day, the mind nudges, and the body plays dead.  The mind yells GUILT, body says, "We'll deal with it. I have been your slave for years. I have followed all your commands, now slow down or you'll drive me crazy". So they go, day in and day out, the mind bouncing ahead, prompting the body to follow along, and the body trying, really trying, and not keeping up, like a dog that chases its tail, never catching it. The things to do list? It is still there in some recess of the mind, the body couldn't care less.

ADIEUS SUMMER

Summer came and went, well almost. The season might still be Summer, but the lazy days, the sleeping in, follow own schedules--it's all over, as of this Monday. Monday is the last day of semi-freedom, and then on to living my life by the clock. The alarm will go off at 5:15, get out of bed at 5:30, morning tea, shower/dress, short prayer, breakfast, off to work Am I ready? I think so. It has been a great relaxing summer; a mixture of rest, fulfilment, and family time. The Summer heat just came in spells, Southern California weather often switching between Summer and Fall, confusing my plants.

Back to being ready to go back to school. I though I'd aid the process a bit by shopping for some new rags. That always helps the mind-set. What an exercise in frustration and futility. Has anyone tried to find a pair of decent pants lately? Some forces seem to be conspiring against me ever owning any decent clothes. I have to buy Petites, and if you ever go into a petite section, the discrimination against short people is GLARING! The section is less than 2% the size of "Regulars". Then, if you do find some pants and try them on, they grind and groan, and stop at your hips. I thought pants were supposed to fit around one's waist! And then you look down, and your legs look like sausages, prepared by a novice, with lumps sticking out in unseemly places. Disgusted, you decide you'll just stick to your old pants, but buy some new tops. Not much luck there, either.  Anything and everything that is half-way decent is made for women over 5.9" tall, weighing a hundred pounds! People like me? I think we'll just have to do with other people's discards and pretend like they are stylish and flattering. I still had to buy something; everyone else goes shopping for going back to school. So, I buy shoes, and more shoes! I can still find some that  fit right, look good, are comfortable and make me feel good! So, folks I think I'll just wear "Moo Moos", but a nice new pair of shoes, every day of the week!