I can’t say life has been perfect lately but after spending hours at a friend’s family gathering eating delicious Indian food and chatting, I feel a little brighter. How strange it is to take part in another family’s celebration. I come from a big family and so it’s interesting sitting back and watching how other families fight, love and interact with one another.

How are these people like my family? Do they talk loud enough to shatter one’s hearing, too? Do polite conversations eventually shift to touchy subjects that are guaranteed to result in heated debates? These are the kind of thoughts that enter my head.

My friend’s Grandmother will be returning to India in a few days and so the celebration was in her honor. The Grandmother is in her 80s, doesn’t speak a word of English and will be taking the flight to India alone. I wish her well on her journey.