Happy Diwali!

Hi everyone,

I wanted to wish you all a Happy Diwali! The kids and I have spent the past week going to temple here and there for all the Diwali activities. Today unfortunately, Ravi and Lakshmi are with their dad, and that means they don't get to partipate in all the final Diwali activities.

The temple had several programs all day today, and the all day long they have a moon bounce for the children. Also, aarati and lunch near noon, and the same tonight, with dinner. There will be fireworks in the parking lot of the temple as well tonight. Everyone is dressed well, and it's fun to see the faces of those who don't come out that often.
There were even Christians and Muslims today, and I was glad to see that.

One white woman (apparently a Hindu) was there, and a couple of white men who were husbands to Indian women where there. I'm always excited to see this at temple. I'm such a rarity these days, as the only white woman at the temple on a regular basis.

I read the Diwali story to the kids on Tuesday, which always ends with Rama getting Sita back with the help of Hunuman, and a happy and cheerful welcome back home to the palace they originally came from. We spent the week making decorations to put around our house to celebrate, and the kids got fancy with sequins.

I was lucky to have three new salwar kameezes to wear this past week, and a new purple sari. Purple is my favorite color. Sadly, I got sick on Wednesday evening, and I have been sick all the way through. I slept like a baby at night, and headaches all day for two days, and this morning when I woke up, I felt better. So I am on the mend today, with a great relief.

Now that Diwali will be behind us after today, it is only a few weeks until US holidays start. The kids had Halloween on Friday night, Ravi as a Zombie (can't get up before 1pm in the afternoon brought that one), Lakshmi was a witch, and Priya was a ninja. They have three buckets of candy.

The sad news is that my sister has breast cancer, and she is having a double mastectemy on Wednesday (Nov. 5th). If you pray or meditate, please keep Sara in your thoughts and prayers for a rapid recovery, and improved immune system.

My mother will be going there to stay with my sister, but since I have a cold, I won't be going. I orginally planned to stay with her, while the kids stayed with a friend. She will need me later, and so the kids and I will go later. Even though she is in great overall health before this diagnosis, I am still a bit worried for her. I know she will be fine, and I am planning on spending many, many, many more years with my sister, just as always expected. She does have the "best cancer" for having breast cancer, and therefore has the best prognoses.

And to everyone who wrote or called to talk to me about my wrist fracture, thank you. I'm going to be fine. I've done all I can do legally right now, and will do all I can do as the opportunity permits.

Thanks for being there!

And happy Diwali to all of you!

Jyotsna