The Journey from an Idea to a Community - A celebration of belonging

What happens when you are all alone in your journey? You pick up the pieces and start walking. You make a path and move forward.

Somewhere in the journey, you stop, breathe, and look back. You always remember how you felt in the beginning—scared, all alone, without any direction. You use this feeling to guide you and make your own path, but you never forget how it felt.

Sometimes that feeling becomes an idea, and soon the idea turns into a dream, and then you work to make it a reality. Every time I meet a mother who is doing something extraordinary, there is always that drive behind her actions—not to let anybody else feel the way she once did.

Oanh, a dear friend, started the Vietnamese support group years ago. As a single mother and an immigrant woman who came from Vietnam to give her daughter a better life in America, she knew how difficult life could be. She was determined to make it easier for other families. I am so proud to call her my friend.

She built this group from scratch, and now it supports hundreds of families. I was invited to the New Year’s celebration again this year. It was such a joy to see so many families together, enjoying and celebrating the New Year in a judgment-free place.

The MCs did a wonderful job—one in Vietnamese and the other in English. There were beautiful cultural programs and amazing Vietnamese food. Oanh has created an army of volunteers who made this a perfect event.

Meeting some friends from this world is always a bonus at these events. All these moms have made the world better in their own way. I am so proud to have them in my life.

My favorite part was the kids’ fashion show. They all walked in a line wearing beautiful outfits—the stars of the day in their own unique way. Watching those children walk with such confidence, I couldn’t help but think how far one idea can travel. What started with one mother’s determination has now become a community where so many families feel seen, supported, and celebrated. 

My rock star friend Oanh 

An Ikat for the celebration and yes there was so much snow on the ground but nothing can stop me from wearing a saree for a special day.

Someone was having so much fun

Woven Stories, Unspoken Bonds - a saree meet to remember.

When I chose to host a Saree meet, I knew exactly what I didn’t want it to be. I wanted it to be meaningful. On a beautiful, cold Sunday afternoon, 15 women came together to talk about their lives.

To me, a Saree group is not just a social circle; it’s an extension of my "village," and I wanted everyone to feel that same connection. But unless you know the person behind the face, how can you truly know who they are or build a relationship? So, as I always do for my gatherings, I provided some prompts.

I asked everyone to bring their "true self" to the meet first. I had prepared seven questions, thinking they were simple and that we would breeze right through them. How naïve I was. I gave them a tool, not expecting them to use it so fully or take their time with it. We didnt even get passed question no 1.

The first question on the list was to talk about parents and siblings. Most of us couldn’t even get past the "parents" part.

We are often told that "girls favor their fathers," but interestingly enough, so many women chose to talk about their mothers.

I wish I could have recorded the stories narrated in my living room. To hear these women talk so passionately about their mothers was incredible. It wasn't just praise; it was their whole life history and life style choices, disagreements, arguments and more. Many daughters admitted they are finally coming to terms with their mothers' personalities and choices —choices they weren't the biggest fans of during their teenage years.

I feel like I could write multiple posts about that one afternoon. If you are curious, these were the prompts:

The Invite: 

Saree Meet at Jaya’s: A time to connect, care, and rejuvenate. Bring a dish and your empathy. Wear a saree with a memory.

Plan to leave your phone away for the afternoon.

The Conversation:

• Talk about your parents and siblings.
• Share a fun thing from your childhood.
• A not-so-fun thing from your teens.
• A crush from your youth.
• A crisis from your midlife.
• A wish for your 70s.
• A dream for your 80s.
• A dish that reminds you of home.

 Our phone came out only in the beginning and ending for pictures. Without our phones we didnt go in withdrawal. Phones were banned but our hearts were open, souls were happy.

Would you like to join me for another story telling saree meet?

A Kalamkari on a mangalgiri  for the day, A gift of love.

The Weekend of the Reset and questions in my mind

A two-week improv India trip was an experience in itself; I am yet to process many things. I came back with terrible knee pain. Between X-rays, bloodwork, and doctor appointments—on top of the fatigue from the trip—it was a lot.

Then, during a storm on a Friday, we lost power in the morning. I twisted my knee around noon while working. That same Friday evening, Anand had his first theatre program as assistant director.

My twisted knee was a surprise and extremely painful. I was ready to go to the emergency room for the pain. With no power at home, Anand was dealing with his own anxiety for the evening show. Instead of going to the ER, I used crutches and went to his performance. I am so glad I did. He is admired and appreciated in that program; seeing him in action was such a delight.

A dear friend’s  doctor son-in-law, advised against rushing to the ER and suggested ibuprofen and an ice pack instead. Power came back around 10 PM after we returned home from the show, and things were back to normal for Anand.

I was on crutches for another two days, but that gave me time to just relax and do nothing. I binged watch three series in three days. It was just one of those weekends when things needed to reset.

But the idea isn't to vent about my days; it's about how I felt. I have never felt this helpless, and it made me think: do I really want to spend my old age here? I am much better now and getting back to my life, but that feeling still lingers. I’m carrying this new perspective with me—wondering where ‘home’ truly is when things fall apart. The knee healed, life moved on—but the question of where I belong as I grow older hasn’t.

An Ikat Silk Saree for a Gala for Advocates Inc, honored to serve on the board.

The Power of Intention - what motivates you?

 All of us follow the calendar to decide so many things in our life. The change of a year certainly makes us feel like changing many things about ourselves. We look into what did not work and promise to change those things in the coming year; somehow, all of this happens in the last few days of December and the beginning of January.

The New Year’s resolution is one of those promises made during this journey of reflection. But does it really matter? Why choose January 1st to reset everything?

I think intentions are what truly matter, and those can be set on any day. Why wait for the beginning of a new year? I am currently nurturing a knee injury and have too much time on my hands to think and inability to start anything hence the lecture ;).

So, what were you thinking on January 1st? What is your New Year’s resolution for 2026—or rather, what are your intentions for the next 12 months? I want to work on decluttering - Mind and home, Read little more, Watch some more TV with Mr Husband and take care of health - actually the health is the top propriety now.  

A silk from a mother from Desi Moms Network - Saying No to the gifts is also in the list.

Returning Home: A Thanksgiving of Reflection

 On Thanksgiving this year, here in Balaghat my home town and Raipur, I’m feeling grateful for everything I have in my life — even the imperfections.

The last two days have been a journey: an overnight trip to my hometown, over 550 km, more time on the road than cherishing the  home. Cleaning, sorting some of my parents’ possessions, going to the government offices for paperwork, court, and the bank, and an evening with my and Mr. husband’s college friends.

Watching my sister and her husband deal with bureaucracy and general inertia — and still get things done.

The time at home was tough in many ways. I was there for the first time after Amma’s passing, and it was hard.
Walking through the dusty rooms, touching familiar things, reliving the memories and glimpses of the lives once lived.
Few things remain the same, and at the same time life asks so much of us — and we carry so much within us.

Grateful for all the love and care in my life.
Especially the Pandey men, who are enjoying the quiet and peaceful time at home without me, and who I know will welcome me back in a week with the chaos, warmth, and love I always return to.

The home once - I grew up here but that house no longer exists , only shops and shops 

 a typical Balaghat breakfast, this time I sat at the restaurant to eat not the usual take out 

The Gang 

The woman who welcomed Ajey into this world — Dr. Shukla, my gynecologist. She happened to come to the same restaurant at the same time. Who would have thought?

somewhere on the road

when they realized I was taking pictures 

A khan saree for the evening — a reminder to walk toward the light from the dark.

Italy Saga – Amma and her wishes - a Colosseum day

 My mother loved to travel. She didn’t have the opportunity or means when she was young, but once she was done with her responsibilities, she traveled a lot. With four daughters in four different places, she made up for all the lost time. I know how much she enjoyed not only the travel, but all the stories that came with it.

She was enthusiastic and very curious—that’s why she was the best packing, unpacking, and planning companion. She was always present in all those details, and I miss her the most for these things.

The first trip without her was the hardest, but I’m getting used to it. I’ve gotten better in the last year and a half; I don’t plan much anymore, and packing is no big affair. I’m becoming my husband—pack whatever you can, and everything else is available everywhere.

This trip was one of those long-dreamt trips, but I packed the day before and was busy cleaning the house more than packing, leaving Anand at home and putting things together for him. I could rest only when I was on the flight. In the midst of all that, I felt her void. I wished she had a chance to see this—a traveler daughter she has now.

After the seven-hour flight, there was a huge line at Milan immigration. I always thought having an American passport made life easy, but I learned a European passport is even better in Europe. Early morning, half-asleep and tired, all I saw was the Singapore Airlines crew walking by, and I thought, yes, she is here. Singapore was my mom’s first air travel, and she loved everything about Singapore. I got her the Singapore Airlines uniform tote bag on my first trip home. Later, I bought my sister a dress in that design, and Amma got a tote stitched from it. Then my sister got another bag for her. Seeing those air hostesses passing by made me wonder if it was a sign—my mom traveling with me.

I carried one of my mother’s saree with me, and on the last day, I wore it for an early morning sunrise trip to the Colosseum.

 The Singapore airline crew in Milan

Anand’s story in his own words- Comic Con Saga

 Anand wanted me to write about his adventures — but I wanted him to use his own words.

(Funny as it sounds, when he was little, he would often point or gesture instead of speaking. Worried about his speech delay, I would gently remind him, “Use your words.”)

So he did use his words — only this time, he wrote them for his mom.
Below are Anand’s stories, written by him, pretending to be me.

Hey, what the hell are you doing, interfering with movie and tv show characters?"

"It's Comic-Con, man. It's like a multi-verse.

A…multi…verse? Where does Anand come up with these terms? I don't even know how to say it or what it even means!

If you think costumes are only for Halloween parties, you thought wrong. If you had any costumes you wore for Halloween this year, definitely save them. That's what Anand did after he and I went to a Halloween party hosted by my husband's colleague in Shirley, MA.

Comic-Con has also been another rare event in our family's lives. Far more rare than plays, concerts, and musicals, to name a few. And what would spark interest in Anand to attend Comic-Con? A program called OpenSky, but that's not all. Anand has been watching bits and piettuces of movie scenes at home for reasons he won't share with me. And of those "bits and pieces of movie scenes" happened to be from Ted 2, a 2015 fantasy and comedy movie starring Anand's favorite hero, Mark Wahlberg. Just like the South Arcade concert, I had no idea how serious Anand was about Comic-Con when he put it on the calendar! He also knew what he would expect: large crowds and people in costumes. Comic-Con tickets are so expensive, so I have to thank OpenSky for making a trip like this possible. Most Comic-Con events happen elsewhere in America, preferably in California, Florida, or any state that is hundreds of miles away from where we live. This Comic-Con took place at the Amica Mutual Pavilion and Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, RI, which was less than 50 miles from where we live (Anand and Dad agreed on going to malls that are less than 50 miles).

Anand agreed to take lots of pictures and he got a lot of them with those in costume. He was a little hesitant, worried some would say no, but thankfully, it went smooth for him. While there were a lot of food vendors, they were really expensive and some only take cash, but Anand was able to get some food using his debit card. He could've had something from the food vendors if Anand made some tip money (or side money) at work (when Anand helps customers at work putting groceries into their cars, sometimes they would give him tip money as a way of saying "thank you").

Getting a pic with famous celebrities at Comic-Con was also expensive, but this was all Anand's first experience at Comic-Con, so he didn't know what to expect. Anand could've stayed longer, but felt a lot of sweat from his "Noble Knight" costume, so Dad went to pick him up from Comic-Con. The next evening, I saw him making a poster of his Comic-Con adventure, since he already made a poster about the South Arcade concert he went to in October.

This has been another milestone for Anand, going to Comic-Con in costume, the second milestone after the South Arcade concert. This man is really stepping out of his comfort zone, taking the train to Boston, taking a ferry, attending a concert, and now his first ever Comic-Con experience. Next stop, Anand's first Gala!

A Banarasi for a festival meet