The empty lunch box

I hardly gave my mother the joy of seeing an empty lunch box. Infact it feels ironical that I am happiest when I see my son's dabba returning empty. I can't help but think of Amma everytime I pack kiddo's lunch box. As much as I enjoy deciding the menu (mostly dictated by the boy himself) and preparing it, I go back to my childhood days when I used to bring back my dabba exactly the way it was packed. I can now understand why Amma would get angry/upset seeing my unfinished box. Ah, all this makes me miss her all the more. I wish I could go back in time and let her have the pleasure of seeing the empty dabba. I did try my best to find as many opportunities as possible to cook for Amma once I started cooking and got better at it. I encourage every daughter/son to do this for their mother/father/grandparents while they are around. It is the most satisfying feeling ever!

I take pleasure in preparing elaborate meals for my family during the weekend to compensate for not cooking as much during the working days (except the lunch packing duty)as I hardly get time off from meetings. I relish in the joy of seeing everyone enjoy hotel style food at home.

I grew up watching my mother relish her food with an assortment of dishes she herself prepared and wondered how it was possible to appreciate one's own cooking. Many years later, I do exactly that. I prepare my lunch and lick my fingers and tell myself I am good! Life goes the full circle, doesn't it?

This is also a reminder that I am slowly gaining my stamina and energy to do things.

Most active weekend in three months!!! Glad I put it to the best possible use with cooking, Journaling, painting and flower arrangements. And as I bid goodbye to yet another weekend, I am already looking forward to the next one.

Until then, Happy Reading.

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