My birthday celebration
I have always felt delighted about having the opportunity to celebrate my birthday twice in a year, thanks to the Gregorian calendar and the solar sidereal calendar followed in Kerala (Malayalam calendar), my birthplace in India. It is especially wonderful because payasam, my favourite sweet dish is made at home for this occasion.
This year, my traditional birthday was two days before the typical birthday. I was determined to do something special for myself on this particular date. This came about in the form of a friend who planned an outing to a nearby beach. Since I had not ventured out much after landing in Los Angeles, I jumped at this idea. Our group of nine people, most of whom I was meeting for the first time on that day, set out on a trip to ‘Venice’ beach. It is a beauteous beach dotted with palms. It looked absolutely like the pictures I had found on the internet. The place was lively, with as many people as the locale could host on a Sunday evening. The setting sun and some small boats at the distance completed the breathtaking scene. We maneuvered through the rocks to get a better view of the sunset and were not disappointed. The skating park on the beach beckoned our attention before we took leave as it turned dark. We wished we could spend more time amid the hustle and bustle on the beach. There were fairly large gatherings of people around, applauding an assortment of performers.
I do not hate Mondays here, as I have classes Tuesday through Thursday of a week. That Monday was special, as it was my birthday in India already. My friends back in India made it an extended celebration, by finding time to talk to me and wish me over a video call. Throughout the two days, I faced many such gestures which made me reflect on how my ‘celebrations’ had changed forever. Before dinner time, my roommates warned me not to get out of the room and were up to something in the kitchen. A surprise? I hid my curiosity and tried to divert my attention from the hubbub, in vain. Within an hour I was ushered to a delicious dinner. I was in awe of my roommates who made sure I did not feel homesick as I turned a year older so far away from home. We took note of each others’ birthdays and discussed some amusing plans.
My mother had her own unique style to bestow her good wishes too. She invited our neighbours and friends in Bangalore over for lunch and made a video call in their presence. The short meeting with all of them, including my four year old neighbour left me misty-eyed and overjoyed. I felt I was at home, enjoying their attention.
As the clock struck 12, I cut a cake baked at home. This was part of the surprise by my roommates. I could not ask for anything more! I attended a class by the professor I mentioned earlier during the day. I gifted myself a chocolate cake. Distance does not dictate how we observe festive occasions. Every day is a celebration and it is up to us to spend each moment as an appreciation of the vivacity of life!
This year, my traditional birthday was two days before the typical birthday. I was determined to do something special for myself on this particular date. This came about in the form of a friend who planned an outing to a nearby beach. Since I had not ventured out much after landing in Los Angeles, I jumped at this idea. Our group of nine people, most of whom I was meeting for the first time on that day, set out on a trip to ‘Venice’ beach. It is a beauteous beach dotted with palms. It looked absolutely like the pictures I had found on the internet. The place was lively, with as many people as the locale could host on a Sunday evening. The setting sun and some small boats at the distance completed the breathtaking scene. We maneuvered through the rocks to get a better view of the sunset and were not disappointed. The skating park on the beach beckoned our attention before we took leave as it turned dark. We wished we could spend more time amid the hustle and bustle on the beach. There were fairly large gatherings of people around, applauding an assortment of performers.
I do not hate Mondays here, as I have classes Tuesday through Thursday of a week. That Monday was special, as it was my birthday in India already. My friends back in India made it an extended celebration, by finding time to talk to me and wish me over a video call. Throughout the two days, I faced many such gestures which made me reflect on how my ‘celebrations’ had changed forever. Before dinner time, my roommates warned me not to get out of the room and were up to something in the kitchen. A surprise? I hid my curiosity and tried to divert my attention from the hubbub, in vain. Within an hour I was ushered to a delicious dinner. I was in awe of my roommates who made sure I did not feel homesick as I turned a year older so far away from home. We took note of each others’ birthdays and discussed some amusing plans.
My mother had her own unique style to bestow her good wishes too. She invited our neighbours and friends in Bangalore over for lunch and made a video call in their presence. The short meeting with all of them, including my four year old neighbour left me misty-eyed and overjoyed. I felt I was at home, enjoying their attention.
As the clock struck 12, I cut a cake baked at home. This was part of the surprise by my roommates. I could not ask for anything more! I attended a class by the professor I mentioned earlier during the day. I gifted myself a chocolate cake. Distance does not dictate how we observe festive occasions. Every day is a celebration and it is up to us to spend each moment as an appreciation of the vivacity of life!
