‘Slice of Life’ has reaffirmed my belief that everyday moments are precious moments. They make us what we are. I have been posting my letters to my father’s elder brother’s wife, I call her Doddamma. It literally means elder mother. I mailed my letters to my cousin’s wife. She used to read it to her. The other day she told me that doddamma enjoyed hand-written letters. She reads and re-reads them. So, I have once again started writing letters on paper and posting them to her. I edit and share what I have written to her in ‘Slice of life’. I like reading the different slices of life. We live in different places of the world but there is a sameness in our everyday lives. It is fascinating and that sameness connects us.
9-10-18
Dear Doddamma,
Whole of last week we have been getting rains every afternoon. There was thunder and lightning too. I had kept the umbrellas inside believing that the rains had stopped for this year! On the 1st we went to Manipal lake after dropping Aravinda at his college. The water level has gone down. It was cloudy and there was greyness everywhere. But there was good breeze. We enjoyed the walk and met some friends too.
2nd October was Gandhi Jayanti and a national holiday. I made idli, sambhar and chutney for breakfast. After breakfast I was busy with ‘after the monsoon’ cleaning . I changed the curtains of the ‘mukha mantapa’ (enclosed verandah in the front). Every year I change before the rains and then after the rains.
My friend, a teacher in Asare, (Home for the mentally challenged) where I go three times a week sent me photos of Gandhi Jayanti celebrations there.
On the 2nd evening we went to Endpoint for a walk. When amma was here, amma and I would walk only till the football ground on the way to Endpoint. I made chutney powder using ‘gaandhari menasu’ ( bird’s eye chilli), fenugreek leaves, coriander leaves and three types of dals. It has become very spicy.
On the 3rd morning Kuvara (my husband) went to Maikuri (where my father-in-law and brother-in-law live) to be with his father and brother. We will go again on 7th. He returned on 4th evening. Mava is fine. His sister’s children had come to see him. He was happy to see them. They too were happy because he could connect with them. He is 93, many a times he is not able to recognize people who visit.
In our garden we have ten coconut trees. They had been planted in 1975 by the previous owner of the land. Twice a year we hire workers to loosen the mud around the roots of the trees. We put manure, salt and neem leaves fertilizers. The mud and leaves are put over them. Coconut trees have very small roots too. Loosening the mud makes it possible for them to breathe better.
The rains have not completely stopped, so they get water too now. Many of the labourers come from the northern part of our state. They say there are more employment opportunities here. Earlier we had got the coconuts plucked. We have got the husk removed and this week we will sell it.
On Sunday morning we went to Maikuri to see mava. He very rarely goes away from home. It is too tiring for him, but he wants to go out. Last time we had gone to his cousin’s house. This time went to Shri Udaneshwara temple (Lord Shiva) not far from home. It is set in serene surroundings and mava has been going there since his childhood. Every village has its main temple, ‘grama devasthana’ (village temple)
He was happy to go there. We left after lunch and were back home by 5.30.
I hope you have received my letter doddamma.
We are fine here.
With lots of love,
Lakshmi
Bird’s eye chili – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird’s_eye_chili
Sri Udaneshwara Temple, Perdala | Official Website of Sri …
perdalatemple.com
Gandhi Jayanti – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhi_Jayanti
Mukhamani 
Comments are welcome :)