Packing and Unpacking...

It's Friday. I just had an amazing week fun of fun and excitement. I am leaving in about two weeks and still have a large amount of packing and unpacking to do.

This week has been wonderful. I have been connecting with new/old friends, entertaining at the house, cooking/eating, celebrating with others, dancing, and receiving blessings before I leave. I really wanted to throw a party, and was fully planning to do that, but life right now is too hectic.

I am not sure how this happens, but life seems to bunch up and get busy all at once. This is a common occurrence for many people...these life shifts keeps me occupied, but right now I feel TOO occupied.

On top of all this excitement I am tying up loose ends with my employer and getting ready to leave what has been seven years of a daily commitment. I thought this exit would be more ceremonious, but in fact it feels just like any other day, not intimating that I expected or expect any special treatment, but I thought the process would just feel more significant. It doesn't - that's also OK.

As I am packing I am realizing how much stuff I have acquired and require to travel for 3 months. While I am a moderate packer, I have a spare bedroom that I have designated as the "packing zone" and have laid out items that will need to be organized and packed. I am very fortunate that I get to visit India annually so I already have a significant wardrobe and cache of my much-coveted American items of comfort already at the house in Thrissur. Appachan (Father) says my room is always ready and waiting for me. I am a very lucky person. I have a room in India always waiting for me and a lovely family, both here and there, to help me navigate life.

More to come on packing...but right now I have a big weekend ahead...
 

Tonight:
Vijaya Dasami - My wonderful friend and dance teacher, Narayanee, is blessing her students with a private puja (blessing ceremony) at her house. This puja marks the final days of the Durga puja and is a very auspicious time and tonight we will request the blessings of Shri Shiva and Shri Ma Saraswati. A wonderful, spiritual blessing for me before I depart.

Tomorrow:
Navratri Garba - I am taking my nieces and meeting up with friends to celebrate the last night of Navratri. We will eat drink and dance with sticks. This will also be a great celebration before I leave.

For those who don't know Navratri is a nine night festival dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity Durga. This celebration is celebrated many ways throughout India and one special way is in the Garba - a large group dance. I am going to the Guajarati association's local Garba. This will be a great event for my nieces and I look forward to the bright colored dresses, dances, and of course, the food.

Sunday:
Good ol' family dinner at my parent's house. My Mom's baked ham, playing cards, lots and lots of laughter. This will be the last time I can hang out with my family before I leave.

This will also be the first time in my entire life I am away during the entire Holiday season. That is, away from the familiar. Away from the Western traditions that I have become tied to.  That is bittersweet for me, that is also exciting for me.  I will miss them, but I am curious to see how Christmas feels in a Yoga shala, or how Thanksgiving feels during a giant Punjabi wedding. I often think of my husband, Ajith, or my many friends who live here in the USA with me, and how they must aquire these feelings, or rather adjust/adapt them. How does Onam feel in America for Ajith?  I've traveled over holidays or have been away, but always was able to celebrate my holidays with others. This time I will not. What is unique about this trip for me is the way I am also traveling from the smallest of things, adapting new ideas, new ways to breathe, new ways to see, new eyes to see with. This time Christmas is just another day where I will chant, and meditate, and practice Yoga on a beach. Wonderful...What a gift. I will tell you how all these things feel to me when those moments come. One thing I promise is..I will be thinking, (even if just intermittently) of home, turkey, the tree, and my family.

Ha...we all have festivals, celebrations, blessings....luggage issues. We all have people we love and ways to show that love. Much of it universally involves eating...I approve of this.

Namaste,

Christy