Above: Sher di bacchi. Below: Sher di bacchi di bacchi, busy painting.
Daily Fix
My Cup Runneth Over
T. SHER SINGH
Every year, as Mother’s Day arrives, a bundle of mixed emotions take over.
All pleasurable ones, I might add. Some more than others because they have the added sweetness of guilty pleasure to them.
First, the obvious, pristine and unadulterated celebration of our mother who, at 83, is the perfect matriarch … couched in an endless supply of love, comfort, wisdom, strength, patience and forgiveness. Not to mention her ever sumptuous cooking.
The other source of endless delight on this day is that I too get to play Mom, having been a single parent to my lovely and loving daughter ever since she was three.
In this role, I get to receive added hugs and kisses on this day -- a privilege otherwise only reserved for mothers and not ordinary mortals.
I feel like an interloper, because I got to enjoy the gifts of motherhood for more than three decades, without having either the skills or the regimen required of the job.
I am proud of my daughter, the way she has turned out -- cognizant though I am that it’s despite of me, not because of me, that it is so.
But the secret of my failings and shortcomings she hides well. Hence, my pleasure is laced with guilt. But, like stolen kisses, it makes this day all the more sweeter.
This year, my daughter’s 35th, has brought a whole new bundle of blessings.
It began with her wedding to a wonderful man she met and fell in love with. Their joy comes to me with geometric progression.
That is not all.
Continuing the pattern of my life in which I have been, and remain, the recipient of undeserved gifts, there is more to it.
My dear son-in-law himself comes in a package … he has brought with him to our family a ready-made three-year-old daughter, a bundle of joy in her own right.
So, I am now a grandpa!
And my cup runneth over.
I thought I had seen it all … “been there, done that“ was my mantra.
Not any more.
Each time little Ella comes over or I visit them, there are newly minted snow-flakes of laughter.
There is so-o much we have to be grateful for.
God must be blind, or at the very least, blind-folded. Because He seems to think that we deserve his largesse.
But, I’m not complaining. Only feel infinitely humbled. And thankful.
I do have one more favour to ask, though.
‘Mr Mom’ I’m fine with.
I wear the badge with honour.
But p-l-e-a-s-e don’t ever call me grandmother!
May 10, 2014
Conversation about this article
1: Gurpal Singh (United Kingdom), May 10, 2014, 4:55 PM.
Wonderful! Only this morning I was saying to Lord Indarjit Singh that there were four marvelous Sikhs from outside Punjab (but hailing from other parts of India) who had done much to enrich the Sikh community through their writings or leadership: Lord Indarjit (originally from Asansol), one T. Sher of Canada (originally from Patna), late Patwant and Khushwant (both from Delhi). We agreed they were all fearless and spoke their mind on the issues facing the Sikhs! I commented we just needed one more to make it the 'Punj Pyare'. Any recommendations?
2: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), May 10, 2014, 7:57 PM.
What a compelling, gripping and addictive recital of your metamorphosis from single parent playing both mother and father and to being a father-in-law, and then a ready-made grandfather to boot. It has the makings of a most readable autobiography. At least it would save us from biting nails awaiting the next Fix. What would be sikhchic.com without the Sher?
3: Nav Kaur (Australia), May 10, 2014, 9:09 PM.
On that note, Happy Mother's Day, T Sher Singh ji! As a newly appointed mother myself, your 'motherhood' is inspirational!
4: Dya Singh (Melbourne, Australia), May 11, 2014, 1:34 AM.
Touching, Sher Singh ji. All mothers deserve a special day for recognition. Mine is 98 years old and with Waheguru's grace - going strong! The day is lost on her, I am afraid. Just another day - but she appreciates the acknowledgement. BUT, cautiously, I do ask: How did this day come by? Is it just a retail industry marketing coup? Honestly, I truly wish to know. And is it some other day, like Father's Day, in other countries? I am not saying it is a bad thing. It is great! I have never seen so many vehicles streaming out of the main Necropolis in Melbourne that I passed by this morning. Never so many flower sellers and buyers and never that many cars in Old Folks Homes and also in the church near our home. Gurdwaras are celebrating it with special services for mothers. Other places of worship that I passed this morning - the two Buddhist temples side by side on Springvale Road here and the Hindu Mandir in Keysborough - all packed, no doubt celebrating Mother's Day. Is it celebrated in Malaysia too? Sangat Singh ji might comment. My oldest daughter (two children) and my wife are certainly lapping it up. I had to make the bacon'n'eggs with beans and chaa this morning. I did not mind. I think the lady folk deserve it, but, I genuinely ask: How did this day come about?
5: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), May 11, 2014, 8:44 AM.
On Mother's day, two little sons announced: "Mum, you don't have to get up and prepare the breakfast. You stay in bed." The proud mother anticipated a breakfast tray any moment while she lolled in bed. She smelt the cooking and waited for the tray to arrive. When nothing happened she walked down and saw her two sons happily eating their breakfast. They announced: "Mum, we told you we would make our own breakfast." Dya ji, Happy Mother's Day. And now we await Father's Day.
6: Gurmeet Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia, USA), May 12, 2014, 9:02 AM.
Gehna is blessed to have a MaaPaa ji like you and Ella is the luckiest granddaughter ever to have such a wonderful GraMpaa. :-) Can't wait for Ella and Liv Kaur to get together.
7: Manjeet Shergill (Singapore), May 12, 2014, 11:01 AM.
Congratulations - lovely to hear the blessed news. Happy for both you and Gehna.