Going to Dallas

Tommorro night at 1.55i.e Wed mng, I am leaving to Us by Lufthansa, for 4 months stay, will be back on 22Aug. Yesterday I returned from Madikeri. I had been to our home there, which is to let out as we cant shift now. One more yesr I hv to wait to live in my dear Madikeri.

Brought up in a joint family

I was brought up in a joint family, wherein 2 familieswere living together,with other 2 brothers children staying, to pursue education. All inwe were 15 chidren, the eldest 20 years, youngest few months old. I used to be very quite going, not talking much, I had interest in crafts like needlework, knitting. Besides I used to do little bit of gardening with my elder cousin, whom the whole lot of us called Akka. Her elser sister, Rukku was very serious one, we were afraid of her & used to avoid as far as possible. But she, being the eldest daughter had special place & affection was showered on her not only her parents but also my father & uncle. Younger sister of Akka-Radha,the 4th chid of my Doddappa was very talkative. My dad, whom we called Tammanayya,called her chellu-malli.Her younger brother was 6 months older to me.

We r 6 children,the 1st 3 daughters,next 2sons, the last one a daughter. My elder sister & Radha used to be always together. My younger sister Shobha & I used to play together.She was very naughty & used to harras me a lot. Many a time I used to keep her away by locking the room. She did not like knittinh or craft, so she used to go out when I was with my craft. After the school I used to confine myself with my craft & never bothered who is around or what the others doing. My sister used to come back to me after a fight with one of the cousins who did not oblige her. Then she used to keep talking, for which I never responded. After a while she used to go out as she was not succeeded in making me to come out.

I got changed after going to Hostel for graduation. I started talking with hostelmates, which my quite nature. After my Post-gaduation I took to teching in a college. My Professor was on the panel to interview. I was the lat person he expected for the post, as I was very shy in the class. I never used to participate in the seminars. When Prof. questioned me I used to blush like tomato & never answered. So he thought I would end up a housewife.When he saw me his mouth was wide open, like lord Krishnas mouth to show Brahmanda to his mother. However I got selected because of my marks. Slowly I developped the skill to teach& got recognised as a good teacher. After retirement I have come back to my recluse. As was in my child hood I dont talk much. Instead of craft it is gardening now. The whole day I spend my time with plants.

Missing my garden when I am away.

I am going to Dallaas on 25th, early mng by Lufthansa will be back on 21st Aug07. I have to entrust my husband to look after my garden, which is very dear to me.I am worried how far he can manage as I hv more than 2000 pots on the terrace to be watered daily. He cant do the other chores, like weeding manuring, spraying, hoeing. This will give a set back to my dearest plants, which I hv collected over a period of 30 years. As I am going to lookafter my daughter, who is expecting a baby.

Some times I think that I should not have collected so many plants. But when I come accross a new plant either at nursery or at friends place I cant ressist. Over the years this has increased my collection. Gardening has become an obsession rather than a hobby. If a plant gets damaged it makes me sleepless. If a new bloom appear it brings so much of joy which I cant express. I worek for 5 to 6 hrs with my plant, which does not tire me.Most of the plants r in buds, which will bloom in my absence. So I will miss them all.