The most memorable Thanksgiving

THE MOST MEMORABLE THANKSGING LUNCH AND DINNER Nov 24, 2011.
Written by Jamuna Advani
I am alone for the last few days as my daughter Shobha, and her husband, Lall are vacationing in India. My grandkids have arrived from Southern California one day before Thanksgiving. The oldest of the three Dev came with Leon, one of the twins who studies in UC San Diego. Lucas, the other twin arrives late from UCLA as he has to give a ride to one of his friends. I have made chicken curry and rice for them and they enjoy having home food for a change. Next day isThanksgiving day and since the parents are not around we plan to celebrate with Thanksgiving lunch.
My friend, Pangila and her son ,Rupinder also join us for lunch. Lucas ,after getting all the stuff needed for the lunch such as roasted chicken and turkey , mashed potato, ready made gravy from Safeway takes over the kitchen preparing for the occasion.. I took out chicken curry and rice which I had kept for use later on. I cut some green salad mixed with orange and cut apple pieces. Afterward I decorate the table laying table mats with matching napkins along with plates and spoons. I am quite satisfied as everything is ready for the special meal.
My friendl Pangila says her prayer of thanks for all the bounty and prays for safe return of Shobha and Lall .who are away from home. Armanda, Lucas’s friend from Tracy also joins us. I feel so grateful for all the things going on. It is a perfect Thanksgiving lunch. After lunch all my grand kids disappear with their friends. I am happy that my friend is staying with me till tomorrow.
In the evening is the thanksgiving dinner at Senior and Community Center in Alcosta Blvd. My friend and I feel that it will be fun to be with all the seniors. We arrive at 4.45 pm but the front door of Senior Center is still closed and a note on the door say directing us to go to the North side door where there is a kitchen entrance. Then I see Nick Vitalis inside coming toward the door and inserts his key to to open the door, at the same time signaling us to wait. The door opens and we are welcome with snacks and drink near a warm burning fire place. But before that we have to check in with the lady with the lists. We sit near the fire and the warmth of it is so soothing after coming from the chilling wind outside. Neither my friend Pangila nor I take any snack or drink as we want to do justice to the dinner.
After about 15 minutes we are ushered inside the dining hall and I am so overwhelmed to see the beautifully decorated tables. At the corner is one table specially decorated with Turkey feathers.
We pick our table and join the line for dinner. As our turn comes we are served individually by the volunteers. The Buffet Menu:
Beautiful garden salad
Cranberry/Orange Spiced Jello Mold
Oven Roast Turkey
Glazed Holiday Ham
Candied Yam Bake
Classic Green Bean Casserole
Mashed Potato with Gravy
Country Style Dressing
Cranberry Sauce
Apple Sauce Rolls and Butter, Beverages
Holiday Pie Selections
The dinner is over. Nick Vitalis along with his wife Colleen Vitalis and his colleague Terry entertain us with classic music taking us down the memory lane Only one couple has the courage to get up and dance till the end. Everyone enjoys and claps. It is now 7 pm and we return home humming the nostalgic tune of the songs we just have been entertained with.

The Heart of a soldier

The dress rehearsal of the heart of a soldier was shown to the invitees of the veteran's family and relatives. The reception and the rehearsal was at the War Memorial Opera House. We had a chance to go as my friend MaryLou works as volunteer at the Veterans. the last scene of the attack of Twin Towers was very heart touching.The story of Rick who led a number of people to safety and he continued to save others while the building collapses and thousands more including Rick were buried under the debris. It is a must see opera.

The Candle

The Candle

This 5'2" tall candle was created by Jamuna Advani during seventies while living in Shillong, India.

The Waterfall.

The Waterfall.
The sound !
Smacking on the rocks
Brilliant glow of the waterfall
rushing down
Like a bride’s gown
Adorned in laces of bubbles
Searching for its soul mate
The rocks hide under
the tangled laces of the veil.
Is it to lure the bride?
The bubbles spring forth in countless number
And burst into air in silence
The intriguing Yosemite Fall
Always engulfs my thoughts in its fold. .
An undisguised ripples of joy burst
through me like those lacy bubbles.

Written by Jamuna Advani on August 10, 2011.

Moment at Golden Gate Bridge

GOLDEN GATE


The proud monument of the Bay
Crowds gather every minute of the day

The view of the blushing golden hue
Under the sky’s shade of blue

The untiring sun’s gaze
Captured in daze

A magnificent symbol
Standing beautiful and bold

Like the statue of Liberty of East Coast
The pride of West Coast

Irresistible charm and beauty
Viewed rapturously in bounty


Always adorned in serenity
Lays the path to eternity.


(Written by Jamuna Advani)

Golden Gate watercolor

My trip to Toronto

I arrived at Toronto on 4rth May and for few days the weather was fine and no rain. Luckily my visit to Ottawa to see Kanak a newly found friend from College of Nursing New Delhi went smooth. She showed the city around and I am grateful to Kanak to spare her precious time to take me around the beautiful city. The most impressive site was the Rideout Canal where people do boating at this time of year and during winter people do ice skating. well the tulip festival was worth seeing. Every year the queen of Denmark sends tulip bulbs to Ottawa, Canada as gift to this country. During WW11 the queen was sheltered here until the was over. By next day it started raining and continues to rain at Toronto. Now it looks like I am vacationing at Seattle. I miss my California weather. But I had a good time with my children and grand kids in-spite of the dull weather. I am glad my daughter Lata is doing fine after her surgery.

Bouquets of Memories

Memorabilia.

The sweet fragrance of love
And friendship left at each
Corner of life’s turning point,
As bunches of love filled reminiscence,
At the lanes passed by
Each is as precious as the other.

Those childhood friends
At the other side of the shore
And adulthood on the other,
Bridged by the adolescence and
teenage of uncertain wilderness,
Captured as unsung sweet memories
Assembled in the basket of nostalgia,
Now tied with the ribbon of days gone by
My eyes cannot withdraw but hold
Those bouquets of tender memories.

TheThree Miracles

The Three Miracles
Trinity of the Universe,
The three Forms of God in Hinduism,
Bramha, Vishnu, Maheshwara
Bramha, the creator
Vishnu, the preserver
Shiva, the Principle of Destruction of all names
And forms, of all entities, merging in the formless,
Then the creator and preserver
Take their turn to take over again
And the cycle goes on.

The Other Three
Which has the third eye
For entry to the deeper insight
Reaching for the soul .
Accompanying it
The two eyes remain for
Physical view around us.

The trilogy theory
Of God, Man and Nature-
Life ‘s embedded
molecules of the Threes,
Swirl
Forever and ever.

Inner Speech

Inner speech:
The mind with its restless wings
Flaps like a butterfly
In search of its own nectar
And the brink of satisfaction,
Never settles at one spot.
Wistful thoughts
Threaded into a string of hope
Lands at the pole like a flag
Sometimes fluttering gently in the breeze
Then flapping vigorously in the whirlwind
And it will never be still.

My book "Land of the Dancing Deer"

I am so glad that that I have finally been able to publish my book of poetry. The title is dedicated to a particular deer known as Sangai which is found in the North Eastern state of Manipur in India. Since it has been facing extinction,the local people and government have been trying to protect it. Its habitat is at "Keibul Lamjau National Park," the only floating national park in the world located in the Southern part of " The Loktak lake," the second largest lake in India.
The book is now available at www.lulu.com.

Starting over