Julie Andrews, Tukaram and everything in between…

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

 Sings Andy, my 6 year old precocious niece as she sits on my lap on our way to Lonavala, my mom, sister and me spread out in the backseat of the Innova, filled with gossip and giggles. Post Sion, Andy is getting angsty and to keep her entertained we prod her to sing Raindrops and roses, her favorite song at the moment. My mom and sister sing along in full crescendo, my mom absolutely at home in her convent educated nun voice and my sister in her always wear two plaids, super strict girls school background know the words of this Sound of music classic at the tip of their tongues. I, on the other hand, went to a co-ed school in Parle and they played tukaram’s abhang during school, and so Sound of music was never taught in my school and I never ended up watching it at home. So though I know the songs of this classic, I definitely don’t know the words by heart.

When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

Andy finishes with a bright smile on her face, her slightly upturned nose looking delighted at her performance and we clap heartily with pride and amusement. Which launches me in to thinking what are a few of our favorite things?

What can launch you into singing sonnets  and (hypothetically) to the Swiss Alps..

These are a few of my favorite things-

1)      …

 ( it hass between 20 minutes and I am trying to figure out my favorite things, I am also trying to alliterate at the same time, it’s not as easy as it sounds, so now I’m just going to list out my favorite things in  good old un-rhyming and fairly scientific form)

1)      A book sale or a used book store or a  successful trip to a bookstore and an empty Friday evening.

2)      A vast ocean, an empty beach and feeling of lazy waves on the wet sand as we walk along the water

3)      The unbridled hiccupping laughter of the Dalvi women

4)      The unabashed madness of Atharv …you would know what I mean of you see him do “ Atta majhee satakli !! “ and The innocent gleeful smile with the dimpled cheeks and upturned nose of Anandita Shenoy

5)      The organization and chaos of packing and moving and the chaos and organization of moving and unpacking. However house hunting would be listed as one of my most unfavorite things.

6)      An over run re run of Jab We met: specifically Kareena Kapoor saying “ Aap convince ho gaye ya mein aur baat karoon?”

7)      The joyful anticipation of Konkan kanya pulling into Dadar station

8)       A fun time with friends and the solitude and quietness of coming home..at last.. one always incomplete without the other.

9)      A comfy couch and my best friend

10)   And finally finally finally.. one piece of data or one successful experiment  that makes a year’s worth of totally un-understandable data make total sense. ( This has never happen to me , but I hope with the same anticipation as the train pulling into the station)

Now you make a song about this...