Doodles: Doodles: On Dad

Doodles: Doodles: On Dad: Doodles: On Dad : My first words in public!It has taken five years to take this step, and who else but Dad to be the first to write on/about...

On Dad

My first words in public! It has taken five years to take this step, and who else but Dad to be the first I would write on/about! He would have been so proud ! This may make it a little bit easier to accept and for me to start getting used to living life without his physical presence....

 He was always encouraging to try out the new, learn, go on the adventure of seeking and discovering, taking the initiative-the first step, to be the first of the kind if needed-and not just for the sake of being noticed...not to fear mistakes, not to take a  risk foolishly, but to be bold,.. and yet not step away from the straight and narrow of the right, do one's duty above all, yet not expect results for it. .. I could go on about his inspirational and supportive role in our lives, but the list only grows.

Old picture albums with the b/w 3 inch square pictures stuck diligently into corner holders, show a series of pictures of him holding me as a eleven-month old. That is nothing unique-..all dads would have such pictures with their first-born. This pic shows me gleefully looking at him from above, grinning, toothless,... balanced, both feet held in the palm of his right hand. He is a bit hunched over, gripping my chubby feet with the right hand, the left held out to break the fall in case I couldn't balance, looking up at my face, thrilled with my trustful glee, wonder and happiness and a mix of many more emotions on his face which I can't decipher!

Though I've thought to ask, there is not a similar photo of him and my brother or my sister. I presume it's because my brother was a real chubby and healthy infant at that age, and my father had to go abroad when my sister was only five months old. And after nearly two years , much to my mother's mortification, she called him 'maama' (uncle) on his return though in photos she used say 'dad'! That day, when he returned to Chennai ,India, is unforgettable!...and another story.