My two munchkins- Valeena and Venya

This is probably one of the weekends I will remember for a long time to come. This weekend, I reconnected with my long lost family after 14 years. I got to see my oldest sister (cousin but I really don’t see the difference) and meet my nieces for the first time in my life. Well, it was a rush of emotions. My sister looks exactly the way I remember her when I was a kid running after her and getting her to pamper me. Something things haven’t changed. She still managed to pamper me and my nieces are the smartest, craziest and funniest 8 year old twins I’ve ever met. They are my munchkins...one is sweet, rational and very observant (venya) and my other niece is a little diva in the making- sweet, beautiful and articulate (Valeena). Together they have become a part of my heart. I never thought I was kid person until I met my nieces. I always imagined myself to be this tomboy who really didn’t know how to handle herself around kids. In a matter of a millisecond, these girls melted my heart. They actually reminded me a lot of my brother and me growing up. Constantly trying to annoy each other- best friends and times and the well the worst when it came to the important things. We spent a glorious weekend eating home cooked meals, watching TV, dancing in the living room and I managed to even take them swimming. It was the oddest thing to swim in a pool fully clothed! I mean I was in pants and t shirt because I didn’t have anything else! The girls fought over who would sleep next to me and well let’s just say my back is in a recovery period right now because off all the kicks I got during the night. Call it a Thai massage at its worst.
My sister and I would stay up late into the morning talking about growing up, her married life, the kids and my mom. She kept saying how much I reminded her of my mother- the same looks, style and personality. I am proud to say that I am my mother’s daughter and I think that was the biggest compliment I have received to date. Commiserating over the past and planning the future really helped to shape my feelings of how much I’ve missed growing up with my family. It’s always been us 5 (can’t forget about the dog- coco) and after moving to Canada, it seemed so easy to lose touch and get occupied with your own life. Rediscovering my family has also become part of this journey to India.

Probably the most emotional period of my entire weekend with my new family was visiting my aunt’s house. I have the fondest memories of her when I was child and she unfortunately passed away from cancer in 1994. Even though I was just a child, I remember running through the rooms and into her open arms, being force fed idli and sugar (to this date I hate it) and eating all the custard apples I could possibly find. Walking through those hallways, I felt all those memories return to me and I felt her presence. She truly was very beautiful inside and out and now I see that spirit live on in my sister and my nieces. Even though I was 9 when she passed away, there are some memories you never forget and I paid my respects to a love that I have lost. In return, I have found love in my sister, my nieces and a new family I thought I would never know.

Random fact of the day: internet in Bangalore is dirt cheap....15 rupees for an hour and a half! Oh the coconut water you can drink! I truly am a tropical princess