Saturday, April 28, 2012

Old and New memories, facebook and AAQI

I know, it has been too long!  

 
Not a whole lot of sewing going on in my sewing room. It almost feels like I am loosing connection with my blogger friends. And it is true, not a whole lot of blog reading going on either.
Let's see...What have I been up to?

In past six weeks,
We visited my son in Berkeley, CA and met up with friends I hadn't seen in 20 years.

My husband and I went to San hose Museum of Textiles to see the Quilt National 2011exhibit. Those quilts were a treat to view from up close.

We spent a day in Golden Gate Park and visited few art museums including MOMA in San Fransisco. 

We also visited places we called home. There were many when we were starting out our lives in the U.S. I learned so much about this country and being an immigrant. We visited the Berkeley campus where my husband did his graduate studies. Back in the 80's I used to spend endless hours there with my sketch pad and pens. Our son took us to all of his favorite spots on and off the campus too and I realized that we had missed a few places when we lived there! 

That's where we became a family. Also the time when I taught myself sewing.
It was a very nostalgic trip! 

Back in the days!
I came back home with the plans of going on a retreat with friends but could not because I got sick.  

So I stayed home and ended up spending a lot of time on the computer.


That was the best thing I did in a long time!

While I was away, a friend from grade school back in India was busy setting up a fb page for our school. Through which, I have now managed to re-connect with lot of my childhood friends. 
People I haven't seen in at least 30 years since left India are suddenly back into my life! 

More importantly, I have been able to talk to my teachers. It has been an amazing experience to pick up the phone and speak with them as an adult. The feelings I am not able to describe in words. 

33 years to be exact! That's how long ago I spoke with any of them. To be able to express how grateful I am for their role in my life was a humbling experience. 

This past week, our school, 'Sanskar Jyot" which means, 'The Flame of Ethics'  had a reunion. Although the school is long gone, some 250 past students and most of the teachers were reunited. Unfortunately, being so far away, I wasn't able to participate. Thanks to all the friends in India, it has been great seeing pictures and read the stories and somehow feel part of the evening without physically being there.  
 I also got in touch with a friend who lived on the same street I did back in India. A friend, whose brother was my brother's best friend in school. We spoke for a long time about our childhood and present lives. While talking to him about his parents, I found out about his father's ongoing illness. 

Of Course, I couldn't help but make this little AAQI quilt in honor of my friend, Nipul's father.

AAQI Quilt
My blogger friends, I have missed you all by not staying connected in past few weeks.
I have missed sewing and creating for even longer. But, life is good making new friends, trying new things and welcoming old friends back in to my life. 

Hope it is true for you too!












15 comments:

  1. How special for you to have reconnected with old friends, your "roots". What a gorgeous family portrait. Welcome back to blogland, hope to hear more soon.

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  2. Sujata, it doesn't matter if you blog every day - because when you do, you really pour yourself into every word, and we can feel what you feel. So happy for you to connect with your past - in CA, and your old childhood friends too. Wonderful how connecting with the past, helps us now - feeds something in us. I, too, will be reconnecting with a college roommate, who I have not seen in over 35 years. I will see her in 1 month, cannot wait! Best, Chris

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  3. Glad to have you back from so many places, people, and memories. And lovely that you are still making quilts to donate to my favorite cause! They are always so special..as are you!

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  4. What lovely reconnections. The world seems so much smaller because of the internet. So glad you can be in touch with all of these old friends!

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  5. lovely quilt. it's good to disconnect every once in awhile, don't give it a second thought.

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  6. What a wonderful story. What a special time you've been through reflecting and reconnecting. Your little quilt is so beautiful, it has a calmness about it.

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  7. YOur little quilt is wonderful! Love all that handstitching!

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  8. What a lovely post... As someone who also bounces around love that technology makes the world so much smaller. Am so happy you've reconnected with the people from your past!

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  9. It seems like quite a few bloggers are feeling the need for a blog breather. Sounds like you & yours have had a wonderful time during yours. I hope you are feeling better now & I look forward to more quilt beauties like the one you just showed us.

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  10. Oh Sujata, what a lovely story! I am so glad you had such a wonderful trip to the US & have been able to reconnect with old friends. It seems that your life is full of joyful things & your quilts beatiful colors really expresses that joy! Welcome back!

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  11. What wonderful experiences you've shared with us . . . our blogs are a part of who we are. Some days we have much to say and share. Other times, life takes us in different directions. That is as it should be.

    Thanks for taking time to share your adventures and discoveries with us . . . it is good to hear from you!

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  12. sounds like you had good reasons to stay away from blogging!

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  13. Oh your little piece is wonderful !!
    Isn't it amazing how small this big world can be ehdn you find old friends. How fun.
    I lived your early family photo!

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  14. Wow! Facebook is so awesome in some ways. I've made contact with my best friend from school days who I've been trying to find for years, and some old workmates who I've also been trying to track down.

    I'm completely out of the blogging circle at the moment. Not a lot to write about as haven't touched anything for weeks.

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  15. Hi Sujata, it is very touching to read about your wonderful experiences of rekindling your relationship with old friends and teachers.. it is truly beautiful! And your California trip sounded just awesome... to re-live all those fond memories and emotions that you hold dear is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing :)

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