Phelps, marijuana and the suddenly empty pedestal
My eight-year-old thinks Phelps is the coolest dude ever to walk the earth. With a devotion hitherto only accorded to cricket, soccer and football, he devoured the swim events at … Continue reading
Ajji (Grandmother)
By the time I was 30, I’d lost all four of my grandparents. I know my paternal grandparents as Avva and Thatha, but only by way of referring to them … Continue reading
Anatomy of a miscarriage
It hit me finally on the British Airways flight from London to Washington, D.C. Something was terribly wrong. I was six weeks pregnant and I was bleeding heavily. In the … Continue reading
The Streets of Philadelphia – Deccan Herald
This past 13th* marked 13 years since the day I arrived in the US – with two huge suitcases, one handbag and one really thick jacket my mom and I … Continue reading
Why are the first steps the most difficult?
I carried my son, cradled in my arms, out of the house and into the garage. I had his “diaper bag” (a backpack, really, because we were “cool parents” and … Continue reading
Chacha
My memories of Pedda Chacha (a combination of Telugu and Hindi, literally meaning “big uncle”), my father’s oldest brother, range from extremely dim to non-existent. Even those dim recollections may … Continue reading
9/11 remembered
A generation ago, the question was, “Where were you when President Kennedy was shot?” For my generation, there are too many questions. Tragedies and calamities abound in our collective memories, … Continue reading
