Nature
Nature is so amazing - no amount of Disney, no amount of Sci-Fi can match the wonders of nature - well, no comparison actually. When I was still a student I had seen a full solar eclipse in India - I remember every detail till date, it moved me so much. Today there is a partial(70%) solar eclipse and it is amazing how the sunshine becomes really dim and gives a very surreal feeling....the birds start chirping around - maybe confused at the change, the air is significantly cooler - it is sooo amazing, even when u know every reason why it is happening, still the wonder remains.
I forgot to get proper viewing glasses for the kids, but we are managing with reflection in water coupled with sunglasses and very short viewing time - hopefully they will be fine. At least they are as excited :)
A trip
There's something about good trips that intoxicate a person. As popularly known, a good part of a trip is its anticipation, but I feel it is also the reminiscences. Right now all that I am doing is reading more details about Da Vinci(thanks to Le Clos Luce museum in Amboise: http://www.a-castle-for-rent.com/vinci-clos-luce/), some of Van Gogh, and Theodore Gericault. The last is a recent addition to my list of fascination(if you are an art fan, pls dont laugh) - I was captivated by his painting 'The raft of Medusa' ......
So you go through the hangover of the trip and it is such a sweet feeling!
The best vacation
We had by far the best vacation in France for the last 2 weeks. It is a truly beautiful country and we went to 15 places in as many days, so it WAS hectic but not tiring - if you know what I mean.
We came back with so many fond memories. Only painful part was my accidentally deleting 80% of our photos - I have never better realized the meaning of the word 'sinking feeling' - that's what I felt after I pressed the wrong button. A moment's mistake and it took the camera a fraction of a second to show "no more images".....
Le Mont St. Michael was I think the most beautiful place I have visited.....and the place we stayed in is a hotel I would like to go back again and again. I owe it to them to refer this - though the site is very basic : http://www.hotel-gue-de-beauvoir.fr/index2.htm
Natural education
Arunav has suddenly become more conscious of the difference between a girl's and boy's physical structure. The other day he pointed to his chest and told very matter-of-factly, 'You know mamma, I also have these and Aarushi also have these - but mine will not grow big - just a little maybe. But Aarushi's will grow big because she is a girl - just like you.'
I have never talked to him about natural development etc - but I guess with age they automatically notice and learn? I guess it should be a healthy development.....
Hide n Seek
Arunav, myself and Aarushi were playing H&S. It was Arunav's turn to hide and mine to seek. After I finished counting Aarushi very happily and excitedly told me, "Dada is under the table mamma." causing havoc as Arunav screamed "That's not fair!" So I explained to puzzled Aarushi,"You shouldnt tell where Dada is hiding, mamma has to find him."
She - still super excited and eager to please - said, "OK I will not tell. Mamma, Dada is not hiding under the table!"
Can anything replace the sweetness of childhood innocence?
