Geet sleeps with Grandparents

     Just like her older siblings, Geet was simply determined to sleep with Grandparents bed yesterday night of Saturday.

I clearly remember till last year, Gobind with his signature soft toy 'Pooh' tightly nabbed under his arm, was found hanging around often at sleep time. However he would never make a mention of his intention to sleep with us. As I would give him a hint to come and sleep on my bed, he would simply jump on the bed and occupy the middle area making sure that me and Harvinder have enough space on his either side to sleep comfortably. But lately Gobind growing bigger and bigger, and after he was comfortable in his sleep, Harvinder had no choice but to get out of the bed and spread her cotton mattress on the floor. He has continued to do so at least once a week.

Jania was doing the same thing till she got herself adjusted with her own parents. But once a while she will not give way her rights to sleep with grand parents.

 

Today was the night when Geet was claiming her birth right. She was very clear to grab the middle spot and was inviting me and Harvinder to occupy our respective spots on either side.

Harvinder was always scared to bring Geet on the bed as She might be crushed  under our weights. On couple of occasions, Geet came to sleep but would be transferred to her parents when she had gone to sleep. Tonight She kept awake late listening to million of 'Stolies' (stories) from grandma.

So She won tonight and carried on her sleep journey with us. Both of us were careful to make side turns to avoid this little creature being crushed.

During the mid of night, as I turned left, I felt some hard and lengthy article under my back of waiste. It gave me a big scare and I was sure now that her arm was under the load of my body. But there was some how no cry or whatsoever response from this little one.

In a flash my left hand reached the trouble spot. To our good luck it was not her arm but the milk bottle which she was drinking from at the time of going to sleep. 

Thanks milk bottle!

Aasis Kapoor draws a sketch of Geet in 2016

Geet Kapoor: a sketch by cousin Asis Kapoor

Gobind Messy School Bag with A Pleasant Surprise

Everyday I see Gobind carrying a very heavy bag to his school. When questioned, he will always say that he is carrying note books and curriculum books of his Seventh grade all the time. He emphasizes, Who knows when he may need his books. This way he puts me off again and again. But I continue to suffer by seeing him carrying such a heavy bag day in and day out which may effect his usual straight gate. I fear this may tilt his spinal card for good as he has been walking to the School with this heavy 20 pounder on his back since start of 6th grade in the Windemere Ranch Middle School a good distance of hilly terrain of over one mile each way.

I was furious again today and asked him to open up the bag in my presence. He was very reluctant but I was no way to listen to him today. So Gobind had to abonden his laptop and come to open his bag for inspection of its contents in my presence. Firstly I weighed the same on our weighing machine and to my expectations, the bag was clearly 20 lbs heavy.

As I unzipped the bag and began to open the Pandora box. As expected, every thing in the bag was was extremely disorganized and messy. Tons of loose papers were loosely tucked into note books, while the books and note books were sitting with each other in a very haphazard way. It was simply a fish market.

I took each and everything paper and book out of the bag. Besides his curriculum books and entire full year's homework, he had also stuffed in 2-3 Liabrary books. I was unhappy to see all this, and wanted to know why he was unnecessarily holding on to this heavy stuff.

During this inspection, I also came across  another red boxed book and asked him why he was carrying this book in to the bag. To which he replied that sometimes I go to School Liabrary and like to read this book. This made me really speechless. The name of this book being 'Sacred Nitnem'.  Nitnem means recitation of certain Hymns everyday without fail by the Sikhs and even by non-Sikhs as ordained by Gurus. This book contains the Divine Hymns of the Daily Prayers by the Sikhs in Gurmakhi and Roman Scripts with their English Translation and summaries of the Teachings and some fundamentals of the Sikh Religion based thereon. This book is written by Harbans Sigh Doabia Ex-Additional General, Punjab, Chandigarh and published by Singh brothers, Amritsar.

This made me feel so small.

Let's Waheguru

Geet says, "Lets Waheguru" after I had shower and dressed my beared. This is an indication to proceed to Baba Ji room. She will hurriedly go to collect a head scarf calling it 'Paatta' and gets all set.

The Annual District Wide String Festival May 16 2016

San Ramon Valley Unified School District presented the Annual District Wide String Festival Monday May 16, 2016 at Daugherty Valley High School.

This was the third time that Gobind was performing at this very Gymnesium. While in 2015, he gave a performance as part of Windemere Ranch Middle School on the Cello. And in 2014 Gobind participated on behalf of Live Oak Elemantary School

Gobind waiting with his Cello out side the Gymnesium.

Why Music?

Music helps educate the whole student. Music education shapes the way students understand themselves and the world around them. It not only allows for deep engagement with learning but also nurtures assets and skills that are critical to future success which includes creativity, curiosity, determination, and motivation.

Music study promotes fluency in knowledge systems beyond the linguistic and mathematical fields. It enables a deeper and broader understanding of our world and the human experience.

Geet is shell shocked to see Gobind Veer Ji among the performing students.

Gobind with his siblings and Mom Dad

Rishika Vaid our extended family in the neighborhood is getting ready to perform on Violin on 'Fan Dance' and 'Tango of the Bulldogs'.

A Panaramic view of the Audience and performers

Cello playing High Schoolers performing on the combined Orchestra

Gobind along with 7th and 8th graders Orchestra performing on Cello for 'Spartacus by Brian Balmages' followed by 'Star Wars, The Force Awakens composed by William are. R. Longfield. Both these performances were aptly conducted by Patricia Drury.

Splendid Party by Ghai Family