A Letter from a Daughter to her Mother

The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk

You’ve achieved a great deal these 45 years and the last 22 have been especially fruitful. It is now time to sit back and enjoy the benefits of your weaning! 

To let go J

This past year (academic) and the one to come have been and will be monumental in all our lives, to say in the least! So many new things, so different, so strange, so many firsts and a few lasts. The lasts are forgotten in the anticipation of the new and only remembered so long after they are gone! (That last glass of milk before I left home.L) Make Shreyas remember his!

Each glass of milk force fed (like there was any other way!) stands me in good stead and will last a lifetime (because that was the kind of supply) wherever I go and will never be forgotten. In any case there are strong doses on those short visits home – vaccinations perhaps?

Filled to the brim and overflowing many a time, (rationalisation – empty vessels make more noise?) maybe because that’s just how it is... cannot be contained or restrained.

Lesson learnt away from home - 

Milk makes your bones stronger and your heart a little fuller.

Tea is too weak, coffee too strong.

Pure and unadulterated milk now that is just right!

You can’t teach this stuff at home J

It is said that the human body is 60-70% water, well we are “made of sterner stuff” – Shakespeare. You know what it is! You wonder why we have extra teeth sprouting all over the place. I’m pretty sure it’s the extra wisdom combined with the milk that’s showing itself in the form of my 7^th wisdom tooth! Be it the wisdom, be it the milk, I know who I have to thank for that. The very same person who was there for all the dentist visits as well J Alright alright I know I’ve milked this title, courtesy Sudha Murthy, for all its worth so I will stop with the suggestive metaphors, similes and digs at our deep rooted love and long association with this purest and most innocent of beverages.

White is the colour of my heart,

White is the colour of my eyes that smart,

White is the colour of my conscience,

As I type this rhyming nonsense.

White is the colour of victory and peace,

White is the colour of my smile when I say ‘cheese’,

White is the colour of the paper on which I write,

White is the colour of my inner might.

White is the colour of the milk I drink,

Filled in the glass to the brink,

The milk that fills me and keeps me grounded,

The milk that has caused this message to be founded.

I thank you for all the glasses of milk and more and I hope you know that I am filled to the brim and unskimmed and true because of you.

On this 22^nd day I hold up a glass (of milkJ) and toast you,

Good health and life long

May you stay forever young!

Cheers,

Daughter of Nandini

Your Loving Calf