Appuppa Had a SPA

APPUPPA HAD A SPA Dated 10-07-03

When I say APPUPPA you do not have any slight clue what am I talking about. Well, in my mother tongue, APPUPPA means grandfather, whether from mother’s side or father’s side. It is a rare opportunity to spend a whole day with your grand daughter, particularly, when she is only about five months old. This is the time, when she can recognize your face, your voice and all your KOOCHIKOO that you utter.
I had that opportunity the other day, in my home in Naperville. My grand daughter, the very first one, and her parents came visiting us from Arlington heights where they live, which is roughly forty five miles north of here. Her real name is Vaishali Subash. But I call her Vavini, just a playful name, that is all. They arrived early at our house to spend the weekend with us. The very sight of the grand baby invokes in me, the sense of happiness, just by seeing her face and pretending that I am really talking to her, gives me the pleasure that words cannot describe. The expression of joy, first a puzzled look, and then gradually blossoming smile and a then a giggle bring in me the unfathomed happiness.
After their arrival, we, my wife, and I were playing with our grand daughter for a while, while the parents were eating breakfast and arranging their clothes etc in their room. A while went away, and even before we noticed, it was noon already. It was now time for Vavini, that is what we call our grand daughter, to get a bath. Of course, as like any other baby, she was also afraid of water. As soon as her dad or mom take her to the sink-top tub for her bath, she would start screaming, showing her fear or dislike of the bath and water. Seeing this, I was thinking about a way to show her that he water is okay and it is all right to take a bath. So I decided to try to show her my way of taking a bath, and asked my daughter to leave the baby in her grandma’s hands, which she did and left. I filled the Jacuzzi slowly with warm water, while vavini watched in amazement, the flowing water and Appuppa getting into the tub and gradually sitting in it. Yet she was still puzzled as to why anyone would get into the tub and get wet, sitting in the tub. Once the water was about six inches high in the tub, I asked my wife to put the baby in my lap, half of her body immersed in the 6 or so inches of water in the tub.
Grandma just did that, and for a moment or so Vavini cried. Then Appuppa, while holding her with left hand, showed her how to get water in a plastic bucket and pour it gradually back into the tub. She was quite thrilled at he sound of the flow, and raised her hands to grab the stream. She could not reach it, and so I raised her a bit and she could touch the flowing water> She was quite fascinated by this trick
Now she is all for taking a bath at any time of the day or night. No screams, or cries. If I ask, “Vavini, shall we take a bath”, I can see the brightness in her eyes, as she gleams her smile at the prospect of playing with water and the rubber ducky that grandma bought for her. Mom and dad also say that it is very easy to give her a bath, no hassle and no problems.

An Ode To Happiness in Eternity

AN ODE TO HAPPINESS IN ETERNITY
Let us be happy
For the sake of ourselves, and for the rest of us.

Thirty seven years went by, noticeably long
In a wink, it seemed too quick,
In these years did our will grow pretty strong
Or in a second, did we become weak.

Not rich I am to buy you diamonds or gold,
Nor the clothes of colour that you love
Yet I can say I love you, I am bold,
To utter these words, my feelings above.

To kill is easy with a vengeance and a knife
To live with happiness is tough and scary
‘cause people cruel and give you strife
They steal the happiness and make you weary.

Dear, let me say this to you for all and once,
I was a weakling from the start, did you know,
But always had the weakness for you and since
It all ends up somewhere we do n’t know

All the others cheated me time and again
Whereas you stood by my side through time
I pray and hope you’ll do the same again
From here to eternity in my destiny

For I have no life but without you
Had suffered enough throughout life
Has made me a weakling, and am afraid
Will do some harm to myself, alas!

I offer to you my heart and a red rose
This’ll signify my dedication and love
My blood, my brain, my body and my soul
Accept these with love with your heart.

Grandpa's raspberry Shorbet binge

One sunny summer afternoon I wanted to cool off
Have to have a cup of Shorbet, raspberry
We have a shop nearby, grandpa said . In a hurry
we darted out the door, Grandpa and me.
Hopped in his car, he behind the wheel, I in the rear in my child seat
belted and all, like people in space craft
painful. The crave did me good in bearing the agony
to get my Raspberry shorbet in my mouth so fast
so we went about a mile and half, to the diary oberweiss
where sparsely any body except a few kids lined up
at the counter ordering their stuff and waiting
told me my grandpa, go sit at that table
where on there was a chess drawing and pawns.
he ordered two scoops and a spare cup, paid the cashier
got the shorbet and came over to the table
I was waiting restlessly, handling the pawns,
Sat he and offered the shorbet to me, and I offered him half,
it is only fair that he gets a taste , you know. So we enjoyed
playing chess and having shorbet. Pretty soon shorbet finished
and I made him lose the chess game in a snap.
He accepted defeat just for me, just to make me happy
that is my grandpa who always loves me.
I love my grandpa too, we are the best of friends you know
as always been and always be forever and ever.