MOM

I happened to watch a movie last night, trying to keep myself awake while the kids were pouring over their books.

Lacking anything better to watch, tired eyes refusing to read a book, decided to rejig my memory watching this movie again. It was all about cooking and the heartaches it can bring and the healing that accompanies it. 

Food rarely interests me. I don't cook. Was never passionate about cooking. I connect to food emotionally and out of necessity.

Never aesthetically.

When my mom fell ill and was in bed, I took over the kitchen. I was old enough to be married off and a typical South Indian bride should by then be the mistress of the kitchen.

The few things I knew were how to make tea and follow recipes to bake amazing desserts! 

Instructions from bed helped me survive the two months and did bring in the flavours of my MOM inside our home. 

During my stints of staying alone, I rarely cooked, even if I did, it was the fail proof Maggi. Till I ruined my health beyond self redemption and needed intervention in the form of MOM.

Next came fast food, food that was fast to cook and good to eat- Mumbai offered me plenty of opportunities at trial and error.

And I started enjoying it. Cell-phones were a blessing and step-by-step instructions from MOM helped me cook and please my never ending flow of house guests.

Moving to US was a big life altering event.

I had to cook! My husband was looking forward to handing over the kitchen to someone else and eat something other than rice dal and chicken.

And I bought cookbooks, I surfed the web, I bought baking trays, cooking pots and pans. Pressure cookers and boilers.

I stocked my kitchen. Learnt to cook never seen before fish and meat and vegetables. 

And I experimented. 

It was all good! A phone call away.

I had MOM. 

Back home after a few years, cooking was always in a frenzy. 

My life was a recipe for disaster. 

I had help on phone, though we were now in the same city. MOM who now gave me step by step survival tips.

Till I moved back into my parents home.

Pots and pans were put away. I had MOM. 

She cooked to heal, baked to please. 

My kids and I recovered from the love showered through food.

And so it continues today. 

I cook occasionally, my daughters love the difference I bring. My parents enjoy the lavishness of the dishes.

I bake more often. Throwing in generous dose of love into it! 

All because of MOM.

She still pampers me when am menopausal and cramping, when my body is heaving and sighing from coughing and wheezing, when am tired and hungry after a long day at work. 
All through her food.

Celebrating her 70th birthday! 

Survived a pancreatic cancer, vertigo, heart attack, heart aches and more!

Happy Birthday MOM!

The movie I watched was Julie and Julia - a movie about cookery books and food blogging!! 

A good movie to watch to live your passion!