More Than Just Tall Ships SailBoston 2026

 Sometimes it's good to go somewhere with no plan and no knowledge. Just show up and let the day take you wherever it leads. That's how I walked into Sail Boston 2026.

I was there by 8:45 AM, hoping the parade would start at 9 as mentioned. It did—but far from where I was. :)

MBTA had done an awesome job. I wanted to go to Castle Island, but I didn't want to drive, so I planned on going to the Seaport instead. I am so glad I did. MBTA had buses running to Castle Island from the JFK train station. I took the Silver Line to the Seaport.

After spending a couple of hours at the Mayor's Pavilion—watching the ships from the stadium seating, hanging out with volunteers and police officers, and watching families enjoy the beautiful sunny day—I realized people enjoyed the parade for a while, but after a couple of hours many started leaving. I already wrote about my time with Barbara.

I also met another Indian woman who did her master's in Urban City Planning and now works in the Mayor's Office. It was so wonderful to see another brown woman. :) We both left disappointed after learning that INS Sudarshini, the Indian ship, was almost at the end of the parade. That meant another couple of hours of waiting.

I knew I couldn't stay that long, so I decided to walk around the Seaport and witness the fun and the craziness.

The Seaport was buzzing with excitement. People were everywhere. I don't think I had ever seen this many people in one place in Boston. Maybe it was competing with the July 4th crowds.

There were so many immigrant communities waiting for a glimpse of the ship from their own country.

There were young children running around, long lines outside restaurants, and people simply enjoying the day. For a few moments, Boston felt like the whole world had gathered along the waterfront.

After a few hours, I was tired. Still, the Indian ship was nowhere in sight, so I came back home.

I went to visit the ship the next day. Most of the crew had gone to the hotel to rest. They work in shifts, so while some stayed with the ship, others finally had a chance to explore Boston—or simply enjoy sleeping in a real bed.

I spent some time talking with a few of them. They told me about life on board, the meals they cook together, the two washing machines and dryers they all share, and the friendships that make months at sea a little easier.

I found out they have been on the ship since January. They started their journey from Kochi, Kerala, have visited nine countries, and will reach home around the end of October or early November.

Thousands of us came to admire the ship. For them, it was simply home.

Sail Boston didn't just bring tall ships to Boston. It brought stories from around the world—stories of adventure, culture, friendship, curiosity, and the men and women who call these ships home. 

Someone got engaged :) They had a special photographer 

Rest after a long day 

and now pics of Sudarshini 

A Reserved Seat and an Unexpected Friendship #SailBoston2026

The Sail Boston event had been on my calendar for quite some time. I knew it was going to be a busy day, but that didn’t bother me. I was going to see magnificent ships.

Unlike me, I did not plan anything days in advance. I thought I would figure out what to do the day before.

Showing the YouTube video put my willing husband off, and he decided it was not exciting enough to go into a busy city.

So, I ended up going on my own because I just wanted to go.

I took the train, and on the train I met someone. I helped her navigate to the location, and we walked together to the Seaport.

When we said goodbye, she was heading to the Mayor’s Pavilion, where she had a reserved seat, and I was heading toward the busy Seaport area.

Then she told me she had one extra pass. Her daughter, her plus one, couldn’t come, and she would be happy if I joined her.

I was not going to say no to an invitation to sit in a less crowded area in a reserved pavilion.

Grateful, I went with her.

She and her husband had worked with the UN and lived in several African countries for most of their lives before finally settling in Senegal, her husband's home. They had met here in the U.S. while in graduate school—a very white New York woman marrying an African man. They have two children.

Life has a beautiful way of bringing people together when we least expect it. Here I was, simply going on my way. Had I chosen to put my headphones on and not talk to someone, none of this would have happened.

A simple hello led me to learn so many things about the world—geography, history, politics, and struggle. Her husband practices a different religion. She grew up in one country, spent time in several others, and experienced political and religious diversity, different beliefs, and different faiths.

We sat on higher ground and watched the ships go by. Every now and then I would stop listening and simply admire the ships. Their size, the sails, the crews waving from the decks—it was breathtaking. 

The temperature was perfect. It was a breezy morning, and we had a wonderful time talking while watching the ships.

She knew a lot more than I did about many countries and about the ships, so I learned a great deal from her. After three and a half hours, we both left halfway through the parade. She went home, and I walked around the Seaport, soaking in the completely different vibe, the energy, and the crowd.

Meeting Barbara was pure chance. I was grateful for that extra pass, but even more than that, I was grateful for her wisdom and her willingness to share her stories.

It was not the seat, but everything that came before and after it, that made the day special.

Dear Mom, This Is How You'd Tell My Story - Anand as a guest writer on Moms Blog

 Wait... did I really write this? Nope! 😄

Anand decided to tell the story of his concert adventure by pretending to be his mom.

His observations of our family are surprisingly accurate—and hilariously funny..

Every word below is Anand's, written with his wonderful sense of humor and attention to detail. I'm so proud to share his writing with all of you.

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"Next Stop: Citizens House of Blues. Five bands playing near Fenway Park, one of Boston's many sacred lands. Tickets for the Summer School Tour officially sold out" - some commuter rail, subway, ferry, or bus announcer.

"Does someone want to tell me, what is going on?" — 2005 by South Arcade

Let Anand answer that. Another concert outing in Boston. After two days of Boston Anime Con, and a Comic-Con adventure in Springfield, MA, Anand is back to attending concerts. Yes, in his point of view, concert outings are very rare in our family, especially if it's just one concert outing a year. This one took place at—I can't believe I'm saying this—the Citizens of House Blues venue…near Fenway Park and Wahlburgers. I tell you, Anand was just lucky to hear that five months ago. February 23rd, 2026 was when I got a text about another concert venue…while we were stuck in a big snowstorm. Was Anand serious about this concert? Yes, he was! So, of course he'd put it in the family calendar.

Unlike his first solo concert outing, this one was very different. This concert was the Summer School Tour, which featured four other bands who were also performing at the Citizens House of Blues, not just South Arcade: Honey Revenge, Winona Fighter, Games We Play, and Chase Petra. I know nothing about these bands. Neither does Anand, but he loves South Arcade, since he saw them on October 15th, 2025. This concert outing also happened nine days before his 26th birthday, which might have been a perfect and early birthday present before we would go to Wahlburgers on the 16th. He requested time off from work on both Tuesday and Wednesday, knowing it'll be a nightly concert and he'd come home very late.

Anand kept us up to date with his schedule. We also discussed backup plans if the concert ran late. The Citizens House of Blues closes at 10pm, and the last train from South Station to Franklin would leave at 11:55pm and Anand would arrive at 1am, but he would know nobody would be awake to drop him home. At least, until Mr. Husband told Anand that I'd be able to pick him up from the station.

Anand took the commuter rail from Franklin to South Station in Boston, the Red Line to Park Street, then the Green Line to Kenmore. The original plan was to do his 90-minute walk to Fenway Park, but that plan was scrapped, due to rain. Unlike my last trip to Boston for the Fourth of July firework show, Anand just wouldn't take a train back home. Thankfully, he did bring an umbrella with him to the concert, though Anand had probably too much anxiety.

Despite the last-minute challenges, Anand managed the rain and bad weather in Boston by himself. He ate at Wahlburgers, charged his Apple Watch and phone at Panera Bread, and finally settled into the concert venue around 4pm.

While this was Anand's first visit at the Citizens House of Blues, backpacks were not allowed, so Anand could not bring a change of clothes. Only see-through totem bags, which Anand had to buy before leaving on Tuesday. Of course, as with many concert outings, Anand knew exactly what he'd expect: large crowds, loudness, people jumping, dancing, singing, and inadvertently bumping into each other. Totally normal in concerts, like Anand always says.

After the concert venue ended, Anand safely got out of the concert, drenched in sweat, and FaceTimed me. The amount of joy on his face was just priceless, probably because he knew he'd have such a great night.

He boarded the Green Line from Kenmore to Park Street, the Red Line to South Station, then safely boarded a train home to Franklin. It was nearly midnight when Mr. Husband brought Anand home, but hey, if he says he had a great night, there's nothing really to complain about. After all, Anand knew a lot more of what to expect after his second concert outing and based on his first solo concert outing. This sixth stop of his "Open World Expansion Tour" definitely means a lot to him. He may have been tired and sleep-deprived the next day, but at least Anand has his newest video game that he finally got working after the Fourth of July weekend, fitness at home, and his skill coach to keep him busy until he goes back to work. Fingers crossed Anand doesn't attend another concert that will end at midnight during weekdays. I certainly don't want to go through that again. All parents out there would agree.

If We Don't Tell Our Stories, Who Will?

 I was invited to a governor’s meet-and-greet. My first instinct was, I don’t have time for this.

Then an activist friend sent me a note. She has a child with a disability, and she said something that stayed with me.., she said that small meetups or fighting for your rights at the local level doesn't always make enough of a difference. You really need to be politically active, make your voice heard, meet politicians, and help them understand the realities of our lives. That's the only way to create some waves and bring about real change. Her words made me pause. Maybe showing up was just as important as the work I was already doing. So I decided to go.

The co-host invited me as a community leader, and when I went there, I realized how unusual it is for Indians to be part of these kinds of events.

As I see it, only a very small percentage of the members in my group are even eligible to vote here. Some families have green cards, but most are on work visas.

People spend years—sometimes decades—with their lives revolving around visas, renewals, job changes, status changes, waiting for the next approval, waiting for stamping dates, rushing to India for visa appointments, all while managing demanding jobs and raising children with disabilities.

When I was talking to the governor, that's what I shared with her. With that endless cycle, worrying about aging parents in India, raising children with disabilities here, and simply trying to keep life together, the average Indian family barely survives. They don't have the time or energy to follow the political environment or become activists for social or political change.

That kind of involvement requires both time and inclination. But I think many immigrant families get stuck in day-to-day survival.

As I listened to the stories shared by families that day, none of them were from India. Yet every story sounded familiar. Their struggles were different in detail, but so similar to the stories I hear from our own families.

We all want a better world for our children. We ask for the support they deserve and a better quality of life. But what are we doing about it? Or perhaps a better question is: what can we do about it?

How do we make our voices heard? How do we help lawmakers understand our stories and remember this population—families who may not represent a large voting bloc today, but who deserve the same opportunity to live with dignity and support as everyone else?

I almost skipped that meet-and-greet because I thought I didn't have time. I came home wondering if, perhaps, this is exactly where our community needs to be—telling our stories before someone else decides they don't matter. 

A kosa silk for the evening. Wish I had taken more pictures.

It Takes a Village... Even at a Water Park

 Planning anything for Desi Moms Network can be tricky. With families raising children with disabilities, so many things are unpredictable. 

Neurotypical families can plan outings weeks in advance. Our families don't always have that luxury. Things can go downhill without any warning. Plans can change in an instant.

Yet I keep dreaming. I keep planning.Because our families deserve these experiences, too.

Last year, I dared to dream. For the first time, I organized a group trip to Canobie Lake Park. It was a wonderful day and a huge success. But I also learned that the park was simply too big for our group.

This year, I wanted to try something different. So I chose Water Country in Portsmouth NH as our end-of-the-school-year celebration.

Planning started almost two months ago. The Water Country team was very helpful with all the questions, logistics and a group discount, but what meant even more was knowing there was someone on their team looking out for us. 

I picked the last Sunday in June, hoping for a warm day. Had spots for 115 people. Two families had to cancel, two families from the waiting list happily took their places, and we were ready for a fun-filled Sunday.

The park opened at 10 a.m. Some families were waiting when the gates opened, while others arrived later. But timing didn't matter. Everyone came ready to enjoy the day. 

One improvement from last year made everything much smoother. Our contact, Vicky, emailed each family their admission tickets ahead of time, so we didn't have to stand at the entrance waiting for everyone to arrive.

She also reserved a large picnic area for us—more than twenty five picnic tables surrounded by trees. That space became the heart of our day.

More than 115 people dropped off their bags, unpacked lunches and snacks, and came and went throughout the day. It became our meeting place, our resting place, our "Where are you?" place, our "Let's have lunch together" place, and sometimes simply a quiet place to take a break.

For most of these families, this was their very first visit to this water park.

Watching our village come alive was the best part of my day.

There was always another family to cheer someone on. Another child encouraging a friend. Parents took rides with their own children, with someone else's child, or alongside another family. Nobody felt alone.

It was laughter, splashing, cheering, and giggles everywhere.

The happy photos and smiling faces will tell the stories of the day. The children were completely exhausted—but almost none of them wanted to leave when it was time to go home.

The weather couldn't have been more perfect—not too hot, not too cold.

Some days, despite all the uncertainty, everything simply comes together.

Today was one of those days.

It reminded me once again that we are a village. And when a village shows up for one another, beautiful things happen.

it wasn't just a day at a water park—it was a day where no family had to do it alone. 

Pandey's left home at 8.15 AM- hour and half drive and someone was ready to have fun. 

My partner in crime - we were there right on time to welcome families. 

The Team

Vicky, We are so grateful for all your help.

The dad gang, I heard the stories of dads asking one another in wave pool - are you are Desi moms group :) so many families met each other for the first time.