I remember this bday very well….I was in my teens and I wanted to celebrate my bday like how my few other friends were doing. But there was quite a hungama at home, when they heard this. They can’t believe that I wanted to celebrate it with my friends by giving them all chocolates. That was the smallest thing I asked – probably the Fanta orange hard toffee or something like that. And what an argument happened after that. The elders at home were shocked at my request. Then finally mom convinced everybody and she made coconut burfi for giving to my friends. Even at that point of time, buying from outside shops was a big no-no for us. But, I was very thrilled to take sweets for my friends and its the only bday I can remember as a teen.
I’ll get a new dress for my bday and another one for diwali. If I am lucky, I might get one for Sankranti. But that dress is something that I await the whole year. I yearn for it. I plan for it. I think of the colors, design, material all year-long. Finally I may get something that I’ve not imagined. It was totally fun and I enjoyed them all. The underlying thread of love was so profound.
Later, when I started working, my colleagues used to gift me with Crackle – the Cadbury chocolate, of which I had a great fetish. And I’ll get all kinds of cards – both hand-made and bought, and all of them made my day. I still have the card which a colleague gave me – written in C Language, since I love that language and still consider myself a pro in it. The love from people around me made me ecstatic.
Slowly and steadily, the art of celebrating bday parties at home became a ritual, with the darling girls coming into my life. The smile, the joy and all the fun we had, made the party justified. My parents actually enjoyed these parties and I was happy for them. The love was weaving a beautiful quilt around the family and I went with the flow.
And now, I’ve come a long way in the art of celebrating bdays from coconut burfies to cakes and poems.
The most important thing is the love that shadows every bday celebrated with family.
And here is today’s expression of love, made with love and for my love of life. Happy Bday to my love, my partner for life.
1st!
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this is such an awwww post Ums…loved the heart shaped cookies 🙂 Happy B’day to Mr. 🙂
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Thank u….he was totally awed by this – both post and cookies !!! 🙂 🙂
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Indeed u r…my dear !!! 🙂
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Awww. Happy birthday to Uma’s love 🙂
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Thanks Agnes…will sure pass on the wishes to him. 🙂
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Many happy returns of the day to the one you love.. many manyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy more birthdays to come.. and hey share those cookies tooo
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Thanks Bikram…. 🙂 Of course….its shared on fb. 🙂
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Awwwwwwwwww…super lovely post!
Awesome cookies!
Wishing your love a wonderful birthday! 🙂
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Thanks Priya…. 🙂 I know the cookies will be the star. 🙂
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When I was small too, it was always some sort of paayasam for birthdays, at home. Later on I was making some sweet for the family and then prepare the cake and cut in the evening for my sons….mostly with our family friends. It was fun. Now, they don’t like celebrations, so we just go out and eat…of course a new dress for them from us!
I loved the cake. You seem to be a great cook. Happy birthday to your life partner, Uma! Many, many, many happy returns of the day to him! Be happy always!
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Life has changed so much na… 🙂 Of course, going out to eat has become the norm. 🙂
Thanks Sandhya. 🙂 🙂 And btw, those are heart shaped cookies. 🙂 And am all smiles with ur wishes. 🙂
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Awww, that is such a beautiful post, Ums! And those lovely heart-shaped cookies look perfect for the occassion! Heres wishing your hubby a very happy b’day!
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Thank u dear Deeps. 🙂 🙂 Those cookies just vanished even before I could finish making them all. 🙂
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The deity
amidst jasmines,
silver puja stuff,
and chandan paste,
smiles,
as he comes to
do namaskaram ,
early morning…..
and she stands
waving goodbye
as he leaves
to do what he must.
Amidst
milk
dimpled with nuts,
fussing with the cardamom,
and
slowly concentrating in joy
on a simmering flame,
she starts humming
a carnatic piece,
beating
sugar and butter
in rhythm,
adding in the whiteness
and baking powder,
all holding together
snugly
like her family.
The magic of heart shaped cookies
And she suddenly thinks
and applies
lots of brown chocolate tikkas,
for luck,
for beauty,
and traditional protection.
Late evening in Chennai,
flavors
of a special sambar wafting
out of the kitchen,
the girls back
from music classes and friends,
and she comes in
with
a great cup of filter coffee,
and a plate of stuff.
And he smiles,
whips out his camera,
and clicks,
as the
chocolate slivers
look on excitedly.
They
with their sweet white hearts
And he
with his sweetheart
will celebrate
a wonderful birthday !
Happy birthday, S !
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Thank u so much – from S. 🙂 He is absolutely delighted to read this. 🙂
The only thing that happened differently is – the camera is the obsession of the elder one – she doesnt trust the camera with anyone else… 😀
Its a great poem….am all smiles. Thank u my frnd. 🙂
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poetic licence 🙂 🙂 🙂
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And I love it. 🙂
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Hey Uma, belated B’day wishes!! I’m drooling and also sulking abt not getting you teach me to make the stuff:)
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Thank u Vidya… 🙂
No need to sulk…u can come for the next workshop. I’ll let u know. 🙂
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Wow! Awesome Suranga!!
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hey! Happy Birthday to you other half 🙂
And that was one sweet loving post!
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Thank u Smita…. 🙂
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Aww! Happy birthday to your love, Uma 🙂
Our childhood birthdays were so different from the birthday celebrations today. I do remember baking cakes with my mum and decorating them though:)
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Thanks Smithu….. 🙂 Everyone and everything around has evolved during the years, including bdays… 🙂 That’ll be one happy memory to treasure forever – the times spent baking with mom. 🙂
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sniff..sniff… so much love you bestow upon your partner and that makes me feel all so wicked 😥
lovely cookies and belated wishes to your better half.
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Wicked ??? But arent you the Wicked Yakshi ???? 😉
And the wishes will be duly passed on to him. 🙂
And btw, who told u that he is the better half ????
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Happy bday to the poor fella ! 🙂
Grrrrr….unakku inime oru cake-um kidayadhu !!!! 👿
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Poda!!! 😛 Ninakku vere onnum parayan kittiyilla….. aa paavam uma jeevichu poykotte 🙄
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This guy is aadat se majboor, Ash! Ivan neraaviliya! 😈
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Poor? Poor? Uma didn’t tell us it was ur bday?
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Baaaaah! U r blind Vims 😛 It is the ‘rich with luv’ S’s bday 😉
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Ash, Indy, Swaram – thanks girls….. 🙂 🙂
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Cookiessssssssssssssssssssss 😀 😀
Spare some for me too….well, the day I land in Chennai that is!
Happy bday to ur hubby 🙂
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Oh !! Thanks Ash… 🙂 🙂
As of now, nothing is left in the cookies box. 😦 But when u r coming to Chennai, lemme know a day before, so that I can treat u well. 🙂 When is that trip going to happen, now that u r busy with married life and all ??? 😉
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First let me get settled with married life in the first place. 😛 Hubby and I are still in 2 cities!!
Then we shall plan all travel …
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Oh dear !!!
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Yes 😦
But the good news is he is coming this month 🙂 Yay! 😀
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Hope he had wonderful bday….and wud hv enjoyed the cookies for sure! You r so sweet Ums!
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Thanks Indy….yes, he did have a great day !!! 🙂 🙂
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Happy birthday to your hubby 🙂
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Thanks Shree. 🙂
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Lovely post uma,happy birthday to your Mr.
Wonderful cookies….
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Thanks Sari. 🙂 Wishes will be passed on duly. 🙂 Yup, they really were wonderfully tasty cookies. 🙂
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Happy happy bday to S, and such lovely cookies Ums 😀
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Thanks Swaru. 🙂 And they really were lovely and yummy. 🙂
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These look so yum and “Love”ly…
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Oh !!! Thats really “lovely” !!! 🙂 🙂
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Lovely cookies Uma….hope u all had a great day :-)!!!!
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Of course….had a fab day. 🙂 Thanks Nancy. 🙂
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Hope the birthday was splendid! The cookies sure are… I can almost smell one. 😀
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