A Beautiful Day, A Meaningful Vote ❤️

 Last week, I decided to take Anand to Town Hall to vote early.

In the last election, he had voted on Election Day. Mr Husband and Ajey had decided to vote by mail, but I wanted Anand to experience the in-person voting option.

We weren't sure how Election Day would turn out. His anxiety was high. He was reading the news, and sometimes making up things in his own mind. What is happening with ICE in the country was a major concern on his mind.

One day, he said he just wanted to vote early. And finally, we decided to go to Town Hall last week.

So, on a beautiful sunny day, before I dropped him off at work, it was a mom-and-son trip to Town Hall.

It was a fabulous experience!

His dad had sat with him earlier and explained some of the questions. He had also given him a little cheat sheet to look into. And then we went to Town Hall. Anand voted!

Today, both mom and son are happy in a very meaningful way.

I cannot explain to everybody how important voting is. People should be aware of it, but for me, this experience was about so much more than casting a vote.

The last few years have been very tough for immigrant families and families with children with disabilities. There are so many different things on people's minds. Immigrant families have their own concerns. Families with special needs children have different needs. People from different races and colors have their own experiences and worries.

For me, seeing my son voting, deciding, and choosing was a BIG deal.

He may not understand everything, and that's okay. I wanted to give him the choice to select what he wants, to have a say in how he wants to lead his life, and to understand that his voice matters.

It is about giving him the opportunity to make his own choices.

Today, I woke up feeling very happy and hopeful. Hopeful for Anand, hopeful for families who are not your typical families, and hopeful for a society where everybody gets to have a voice.

Sometimes, a simple trip to Town Hall can mean so much more than people realize.

For this mom, it was a beautiful sunny day, a mother-and-son outing, and a very meaningful vote.

And today, my heart is full. ❤️ 

With Various thoughts in my mind, I went to visit a mom from Desi Moms Network. The love, care and appreciation was so apparent. I will always remember this gesture. 

Khushiyan – Happiness, A Storyteller's Perspective

Last night, I went to see Laksh Maheshwari at the Boston Lyric Theater. He is a prominent storyteller from India, an investment banker turned storyteller who decided to follow his passion and do what he truly wanted to do in life.

He brought his show, Khushiyan.

It was amazing to sit back, listen, and absorb.

He didn't necessarily tell us anything new. We all know, in some way, what happiness means and what makes us happy. But what he did was beautifully bring together centuries of research, wisdom, and philosophy from the Vedas, Upanishads, Quran, Bible, Judaism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

Different faiths, different philosophies, thousands of years of wisdom, and yet, so many common messages about what it means to live a happy and meaningful life.

It was fascinating to sit among a crowd of younger people and listen to him talk about something so universal. His way of presenting familiar ideas made me look at happiness from a different perspective. It was fun, engaging, and thought-provoking.

I was particularly fascinated by his earlier storytelling around Main Tainu Phir Milangi - Story of Amrita Pritam- Sahir and Imroz. That story had its own magic.

But Khushiyan was different. It was more philosophical, more connected to everyday life. Rather than narrating someone else's story, he was making us think about our own stories.

And somewhere along the way, I realized that this was not just about listening to a storyteller. It was about reflecting on my own life, my choices, my relationships, and my understanding of happiness.

After the show, I got an opportunity to meet him.

Perhaps we all have stories to tell. Some are about other people, some are about the world around us, and some are simply about the lives we have lived.

We don't always need to hear a new story. Sometimes we need to hear an old truth in a way that helps us understand our own story a little better.

A storyteller meeting another storyteller.

https://www.instagram.com/single.handedly

A Fall Morning, a 5K, and a Community Coming Together

On a beautiful, sunny fall Sunday morning, people gathered in a high school parking lot to support the Hopkinton Center for the Arts.

Anand has been part of their adaptive program for almost two years now. When we got the email about the 5K fundraiser, he was really excited and wanted to walk the 5K to support the program.

So many people gathered there! About 90% of them were walking or running, while a very few of us were standing on the sidelines! Most parents walked with their children. The cutest part was watching the younger children participate in the 100-meter run.

What a wonderful way to encourage children to give back to the community, get people involved in fundraising, and promote a healthy lifestyle!

There were younger parents running with kids in strollers, and so many parent-child duos walking, jogging, and running together. People wore costumes, there was a costumed dog contest, and there were food, games, and prizes. It was a fun morning for everyone.

I am sure I cannot jog with Anand, but I would definitely love to walk with him next year!

What stayed with me the most was the number of Indian families I saw. I noticed so many Indian middle school and high school students, along with Indian moms and dads walking with their children.

It was very heartwarming to see the Indian community participating in these kinds of events. This is the festival season, and I was so glad to see families spending their Sunday morning walking and running together instead of being busy with festival lunches, breakfasts, or cleaning the house.

It reminded me that giving back to the community and spending time together as a family can be simple and fun.

And that is one more good reason for me to nurture my knee, get better, and be ready to walk the 5K next year — with my rockstar son! ❤️

All proceeds support the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, a nonprofit organization that fosters local arts education and community programs. 

Before the race - dad checking in 

All lined up to start

 The crowd

 The BIG runners :)

The costumes 

 and the winners

A silk saree for a pooja- Durga in us

Jaane Pahchane Anjane: A Play About Loneliness in a World Full of Connections

 Last Sunday, on a rainy evening, Boston welcomed veteran actors Anupam Kher and Swaroop Sampat in the theatre production Jaane Pahchane Anjane.

The play explored loneliness across different age groups. In a world where we have so many ways to communicate, why are so many people still lonely?

Anupam Kher is a seasoned actor, and so is Swaroop Sampat. They both rocked the stage as two neighbors who unexpectedly meet later in life. He is a widower, and she is a widow. Their children live far away, and they are left to manage life on their own. Both are lonely.

As they get to know each other, the play shows how companionship can sometimes become more important than a relationship label.

The story also brings in other relationships and different generations. A wife shares the sad story of how her husband never really took care of her, leaving her lonely even within her marriage. A middle-aged woman walks out of her marriage in search of happiness, but doesn't find what she hoped for. And then there is a young girl in a relationship that isn't fulfilling for her.

Through these stories, the director brings together different generations and relationships, showing how loneliness can become a part of life, regardless of age or relationship status.

Before heading to the theatre, I stopped to visit a mother who lived just a mile from the venue. 

The visit turned out to be a beautiful and comforting experience. She welcomed me with so much love and treated me like Durga in her life as It was the beginning of Navratri.. I left her home feeling warm and appreciated. And then I went to watch this emotionally heavy play.

On the drive back home, another hour through the rainy night, I found myself thinking about the stories I had just watched. The characters felt so relatable. I hear so many stories from people about loneliness, about feeling disconnected even in this busy world, and about relationships that don't necessarily offer companionship.

The play made me think. And honestly, I found myself asking: Knowing what I know now, would I watch it again?

I'm not sure.

It was a powerful play, and the performances were wonderful. But it was also heavy, because the loneliness portrayed on stage wasn't unfamiliar. These are stories we hear around us, sometimes from people we know and sometimes from people who never speak about their loneliness at all.

Perhaps that is what stayed with me the most. We live in a world full of communication, yet genuine companionship can be hard to find.

I began the evening with a visit that left me feeling loved and connected. I ended it with a play that made me think about how many people are still searching for that very feeling.

Maybe what we all need isn't more ways to communicate, but more moments of genuine human connection. 

A banarasi celebrating Durgpooja at a friends home, My very Jaane Pahchane friend.

Full Auditorium

From Compulsion to Contribution: My Cooking Journey

Life Has Come Full Circle: From a 13-Year-Old Cook to Giving Back

Who would have thought I would be here?

I was 13 years old when my mother, who was a teacher, started teaching at a middle school. Her new school schedule meant she had to leave for work in the morning, and I ended up taking care of the kitchen with my dad.

In our Brahmin household, cooking was traditionally done by family members, and we didn't have anyone else cooking for us. So, I started cooking out of compulsion. It wasn't fun. It was a responsibility.

But my dad was very encouraging. He watched my rotis (Indian bread) grow from various shapes to beautiful, round circles. He would praise everything I cooked and eat it with so much love and care.

I realized later in life that all that extra pickle and yogurt my dad ate were probably helping him get through my not-so-perfect cooking! Fast-forward to 2026. At 55, my cooking lessons have helped raise a few thousand dollars for the Family and Community Connection Support Network (FCSN).

Last night, at the gala, my cooking lesson was auctioned live, and multiple people bid on it! the winning bid was $2000. I ended up offering two additional lessons to bidder no 2 and 3 so FCSN could raise even more money.

Who would have thought that the 13-year-old girl who started cooking out of compulsion would one day have someone pay $2,000 for one of her cooking lessons? Life truly has come full circle!

But more than that, I'm happy and honored to share my cultural heritage and cuisine with families who may not know what a real, home-cooked Indian meal tastes like.

I love changing people's perceptions of Indian food. After my cooking lessons, people realize that Indian food is not just curry, and it doesn't have to be hot and spicy all the time. Indian food is flavorful, diverse, and full of wonderful aromas and tastes. I love introducing people to the variety of dishes Indian cuisine has to offer and showing them that there is so much more to it than they might have imagined.

I serve on the board of FCSN, and I couldn't be prouder that something I learned out of necessity as a 13-year-old girl could, all these years later, help me give back to an organization I care about.

A silk Saree to for the Gala. Some fun pictures with the board members.

The Incredible Team of FCSN

some of us -Board Members 

and we had some fun

Amir Dixon - the vision behind the Gala

Diary of A Mom - Jess and Matt Wilson

More Than Volunteering: The Connections We Make

 I know this post is delayed, but it’s always better to write something late than never, right? They say, “Better late than never!”

Last Wednesday, 25 of my colleagues came together to support a volunteer project I organized for National Braille Press. We spent the morning sticking Braille labels onto printed books for children.

When I hosted this project last year, I was new to the whole process. This time, things were much easier and smoother because I knew what I was doing.

But what I didn't anticipate was the overwhelming response!

I reached out to all the volunteers from last year, and they signed up. Then another colleague told me his entire team wanted to volunteer, so we accommodated them, too. We ended up with many more volunteers than last year!

We also changed how we worked. Last year, we used an assembly line to work on one book at a time. If a book had 15 pages, each person would stick one Braille label and pass the book along. This time, we managed to work on two books at a time!

We did run short of four people toward the end of our second round. Looking back, I wish I had accommodated the four people on the waiting list, too. A lesson learned for next year!

But the most important part of the day wasn't just the volunteer project. 

It was lunch!

Because we had more volunteers, we finished earlier than expected. Last year, we barely had 10–15 minutes for lunch before everyone rushed out of the room. This time, we had a good 45 minutes!

People took their time, switched seats, sat with different colleagues, shared stories, and enjoyed each other's company.

The volunteer opportunity came with a networking opportunity as a package deal!

The books looked phenomenal, but my favorite part of the day was seeing colleagues come together, share their experiences, and get to know one another.

Sometimes, the impact of volunteering goes beyond the work we do. It's also about the connections we build along the way.

A big thank you to everyone who volunteered and made the day so special! ❤️

#Volunteering #EmployeeEngagement #Community #NationalBraillePress

A Nayayan Pethi Silk saree for a pooja at a friend's house.

Two Concerts, Two Nights, and One Very Busy Anand

Last week, Anand attended two concerts back-to-back—and, of course, he had a story to tell about each one. I decided to wait a week before sharing this because sometimes you need a little time to sit back and appreciate the adventure.

As always, this is Anand’s story, Anand’s words—but from his favorite point of view: pretending to be Mom. 😄

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"Next Stop: Big Night Live. Metal band Butcher Babies performing live in Boston at North Station. The venue, Big Night Live, not North Station." — some commuter rail, subway, ferry, or bus announcer

And just like that, it's another concert outing for Anand. One concert a week? Sure. Two concerts in a row? That would be a bit too much! Well, I mean, from any parent's POV. From Anand's POV? It probably depends on the band that's performing. This 9th Stop in Anand's "Open World Expansion Tour" happens a few hours after our family concert outing in Mansfield at the Xfinity Center. Anand's first back-to-back concert outing! Or maybe his only back-to-back concert outing? As I said in my past blogs, when it comes to Anand, this man has been adventurous, whether it's conventions, community activities with his skill trainer, or in this case, another concert outing. As with the South Arcade concert last year, the Summer School Tour, and the BABYMETAL concerts this year, Anand attended another concert to see another metal band. This time, Butcher Babies at the Big Night Live venue in Boston near North Station. But this concert outing might be—how Anand would explain it—unlike anything he's ever attended.

Anand purchased a VIP ticket on August 1st, which included a pre-party containing a meet-and-greet with the band, a photo opportunity with them, a signed Butcher Babies poster, and a friendly cornhole competition followed by prize giveaways…something that Anand was less interested in. The VIP spots were limited, which was probably why Anand wanted to get the ticket in advance. He never tells me anything about this, because Mom would ask too many questions (and probably say no).

As with the Summer School Tour, Anand brought his see-through totem bag, packing his charging cables for his phone, Apple watch, and backup battery. I think reminding him earlier for a totem bag for the Summer School Tour worked. Telling him to walk from South Station to North Station? Not so much, since he planned to take an early train to Boston. Who knows what Anand would do in Boston for 7 hours? Especially after coming home very late.

Unlike Anand's past concert adventures, this concert happened on a Friday. Taking the train to Boston and back home was no problem at all! After getting some sleep, Anand boarded the Franklin train, got off at Back Bay, then took the Orange Line to North Station. Usually, he'd get off at South Station, then take the subway to wherever he'd go, but the inbound Franklin train stops at Back Bay on weekdays before arriving at South Station. I suggested the Orange Line goes to North Station, but Anand always tells me to let him do it his own way to shut me up. After all, he tells me countless times he can navigate the train system by himself…or get annoyed and yell, "Stop telling me how to explore Boston!" Now it made sense to me why Anand would not walk from South Station to North Station. Thankfully, we always talk about backup plans if a concert runs late.

After Anand arrived at North Station, he hung around that area, listened to music, grabbed a bite to eat, and charged his Apple watch and phone. The concert was at 6pm, but Anand's VIP ticket includes getting to the venue an hour early before the show started…until he got an email regarding the pre-party being cancelled. That didn't change his mind to go home, though. Few minutes after he settled in, aside from the anxiety he had of where to go, Anand was able to have a great night, which was enough to lower his anxiety…as well as getting a picture with the lead singer of Butcher Babies, and a free poster from a QR code he scanned. Maybe it was better than not getting a signed poster, but that's just Anand. Especially since he will not tell me everything.

When the concert ended, Anand FaceTimed me and Mr. Husband, saying he had such a great night, despite a "rollercoaster of a night." He went back to North Station, boarded the Orange Line to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line to South Station, then safely boarded the Franklin train home. Picking him up from the station on a late Friday night was no problem, unlike his past concert outings. While Dad and I were in Cape Cod, Anand was lucky to have his brother pick him up at Franklin.

I have to say, the massive development and growth coming from this man is a major change this year! Taking the train was my idea, but attending conventions and concert outings? All of it came from Anand himself! Even my family friends couldn't believe it! As expected, more posters on his walls…and more stories from Anand…pretending to be his mom. Seriously, Anand, when are you gonna take a break from concert outings?