NRI Maami

Yesterday was the end of yet another Navarathri. Today I packed up all the bommais in neat brown paper bags and stacked them up in a cardboard carton to be stored away for a year. I was glad to reclaim our dining table for purposes of dining at it. I am also glad there is no more sundal, no more keeping the house neat for unexpected “vethalai paakars” and no more trying to fit into old pattu podavai blouses, atleast until next year. However, I have got to say that I would miss the socializing aspect of Navarathri if we didnt go through the exercise.  My golu is poised to grow bigger next year (god willing and my daughter willing).

I am really eager to attempt something different next time. Dont ask me what - I have a year to think about it. Finished Saraswathi Poojai. We also gave our poor cars their much needed car wash and ran them over lemons. It’s a good thing Ayudha poojai does not come in winter, because I cannot imagine trying to run over lemons on snow. Next thing do is wait for Deepavali.

As Navarathri approached, the blogosphere was bombarded with Navarathri and Kolu related posts. I ran into quite a few that attacked one of my favorites - Sundal. Krish Ashok talked about a 9 day mega orgy of protein intake (also pointing to a descriptive woe of sundal consumption by ATP). I had then made up my mind on dedicating a full post to the fun and joy of consuming varieties of Sundal during Navarathri and how special it made the 9 days. However, before I could dedicate some time for that, I was myself attacked by the much described woes of sundal consumption. Duh! Who would’ve expected it - that too after a mere 3 servings of sundal.. Cha cha.. Ennakae avamaanama pochu. So that kind of killed the fun of doing the post about Sundal anyway. My first round of Kolu visitors visited last Saturday. I only tormented them slightly with one ’saltless’ serving of sundal. Hopefully the accompanying rava kesari and bonda would’ve compensated for that. The dolls pretty much occupied every available inch of kolu padi space. I am hence forced to consider 5 steps for next year. The little tornado has been under control.. so far.. (I hope I’ve not jinxed myself). The next thing to be done is to inflict ‘The Sundal Effect’ on my next round of kolu guests expected tomorrow.

After much contemplation I decide that the best strategy was to invite everyone on both the Saturdays and make my rounds on the Sundays. I was able to get the treadmill to fold upwards thus creating some much needed space in the basement, but I would feel better if I could get rid of it for the timebeing (actually forever), but my husband thinks it’s impossible to move it even by a few inches especially since it’s on a rubber surface which makes it difficult to slide. Hmm.. Not satisfied by the answer, but since I don’t personally have the muscle for it, I will have to fit in my guests in the little space available.

I sent out the evite a few minutes ago and to my amazement, I have 44 people visiting. Coool.. not bad for an american golu in a dark cold basement.