Rekha's Ramblings

  Sometimes life has a way of reminding us that we are never as alone as we think we are. Last weekend, after helping our daughter settle into her new home in another state, my husband and I began the long drive back. Like many parents, we were carrying mixed emotions. We were proud of her and excited for this new chapter, but saying goodbye never gets easier. A few hours into our drive home, our car suddenly started acting up. Within minutes, we found ourselves in one of those situations every traveler dreads. The car was losing power in the middle of the road. Somehow, my husband managed to guide it to the nearest exit and into a gas station before it completely died. There we were. In a different state. It was Sunday evening. Home was still four or five hours away. And we had no idea what had gone wrong. Panic began to set in. I walked around the gas station asking if anyone might be willing to help jump-start our car. Without hesitation, two complete strangers came over to help...

My daughter graduated in May. I've been meaning to share the happy news, but I hesitated. I grew up in a culture where there was a general belief that if you celebrated—or worse, bragged about—your accomplishments, you were inviting bad luck. You would jinx future accomplishments.  We were taught to stay humble, keep our heads down, and let our actions speak for themselves. Also, around that time, my sister was visiting, life got busy, and before I knew it, some difficult things happened. The bad news arrived before I ever got around to sharing the good news. I lost all interest in posting. Somehow, sharing something joyful no longer felt important. But as I've reflected on it, I've realized something. The good and the bad are both part of life. They come in cycles. Difficult times are going to happen no matter what, just as joyful moments will. One doesn't cause the other. That's simply how life unfolds. I've also lived in the United States for many years now, ...

  For the past two days, my heart has felt heavy, over the loss of all of our rose bushes, 12 of them to be precise. They once brought me immense joy.  Even today, I almost didn't step outside. But then something unexpected happened. My neighbor stopped by with fresh vegetables from his garden. He invited me into his yard to admire his beautiful daisies. We chatted for a while, and somehow, that little act of kindness was enough to get me out the door.                     So I stepped outside. It was hot. It was humid. But somehow... it felt better. As I wandered through  my yard, I did something I hadn't done in a couple of days. I looked up. In the midst of the sadness over losing my roses, I had forgotten that nature never puts all of its beauty into one flower. I had forgotten that nature has a remarkable way of making room for new beauty, even while we're grieving what we've lost. It's crepe myrtle season, and my...

  Yesterday, we said goodbye to all of our roses. They fell victim to a disease called Rose Rosette Disease , and there was no saving them. If you would like to read more about it, here is a link,  https://www.provenwinners.com/learn/pest-management/what-rose-rosette-disease? If you've followed me for a while, you know these weren't "just" rose bushes.  They had become part of my daily life. Over the years, they greeted me every morning, rewarded me with beautiful blooms, and reminded me to slow down and notice the little things.                                                  When our children left home and we became empty nesters, I found myself caring for these roses with even greater affection. They became my babies in a different season of life. I celebrated every new bud, photographed every bloom, and found comfort in their quiet, faithful pr...

  Some days just don’t go right and today is one of those days.  I was already running behind this morning after barely sleeping last night, worried about my family in India. And then I looked outside. My rose bushes apparently have some sort of virus. The same rose bushes I have admired for years, the ones that have brought me immense joy,  season after season, are now infected with something called “ rose rosette disease.                                                     My once very beautiful Roses. For those who have never heard of it, rose rosette disease causes roses to grow strangely deformed stems, leaves, and flowers. It slowly destroys the plant. Anyone else ever dealt with this? If you would like to read more about it , here is a link.  Rose Rosette Disease: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention I have twelve rose bushes. ...

Last Christmas, I was in Jacksonville, Florida, attending my kids’ marching band event. What made the trip even more special was that some of our longtime friends live there. Life has a funny way of keeping us busy. Though we were only ever a phone call away, somehow months — sometimes years — slipped by between meaningful conversations. Children, jobs, responsibilities, schedules… life kept moving. So when we finally sat down together and started chatting and catching up, it felt comforting, familiar, and almost therapeutic. At one point, my friend asked me, “So what are you up to these days now that you’re an empty nester? What do you like to do?” I laughed and replied, “I gave up my job completely. Now I walk and watch TV.” Simple answer. But honestly, there was a lot hidden in those few words. Walking has kept me going. What actually brought this entire conversation back to my mind recently was my brother-in-law visiting us. During his stay, he became completely fascinated with the...

A friend recently brought me a box full of lilies from their yard. What a lovely gift. Yesterday, my firstborn helped me plant them in the backyard. We spent some time digging, planting, and imagining the beautiful blooms that will hopefully greet us in the seasons to come. After we finished, he carried the empty boxes into the garage. "Why did you put those in here?" I asked. "They belong in the recycling bin." Without missing a beat, he replied, "Have you taken a look at your garage? You guys"—referring to his parents—"are hoarders who never discard anything, so I assumed you'd want to keep these boxes as well." Hmmmmm... Guilty as charged. His comment made me laugh, but it also made me think. As an immigrant from the Indian subcontinent, I arrived in this country over three decades ago with just two suitcases. Two suitcases contained everything I owned and everything I thought I might need for my new life. Today, if you were to peek into m...