Love has attributes!

My Dear Kutti-Thambi!



Is this my first letter to you? Feels like it. I am writing to tell you of a precious treasure you now have for your collection of memories. Not that it means anything to you right now, blissed out as you are sitting on a dirty doormat, munching on chocolate from our Target trip, in your light blue dolphin tee shirt, and gray track pants. But it will be special when you get bigger and can understand just the specialness of what this gift is. Because it is the gift of thoughtfulness and that sweet thoughtful love, that Anna is so capable of, and surprises us with, from time to time.


Last week, he came home with this computer printout. They had had some time in the lab that day, and were playing around with font transparencies. How if you type the same word 12 times, it gets brighter and brighter, than if you were to do it just 5 times and so on. Most of his friends chose words for their parents and friends, he told us, but he chose you. And I can tell you, it made us happier than anything else he could have done. We love it when he chooses you, and thinks of you. When he till date, remembers, every Thursday, during library time, to bring home one book, exclusively for you. Last time, it was another story of Curious George, and you were really thrilled by it.


What was even more special was reading his choice of words as attributes for you. He acknowledges that you are naughty, and that you are, most especially with him. You creep on an unsuspecting Winkie, and just give him a push from behind, why even from front and scamper away, to a safe distance, waiting to see the effect of that deliberate teasing. And he always obliges you with all the drama you seek, while obliging us with a very unwarranted increase in the level of noise. You tickle him when he eats his breakfast, purposely slowing him down. You try to scribble hurriedly on pieces of his paper, the ones he so carefully tries to guard. You want to sit on the exact chair that he so temporarily vacated. You love sleeping on his pillow when he is still brushing his teeth. So he is very very justified in calling you naughty.


Cute. Oh yes. He couldn't have been more on the dot than when he called you this. The way you so adamantly correct us these days on every little thing we do or say, even though we haven't been wrong, yet, you have to have the satisfaction of having the last word on it, now t.h.a.t is cute. Like last night in bed, when I called you Jingu Johnson. And you corrected me, even in sleep and said your name was Sathya. Which of course, is true, and we stand corrected, but you can't blame us for calling you JJ either. It suits you really well! :D

Adorable. Oh yes!! Its adorable the way you sit and sing bhajans. Clapping hands to perfect beat. Matching tone and pitch and lyric and song to that perfect hearing that made you assimilate that music in the first place. Its adorable the way you always call out a greeting to a stranger passing by, even if they aren't looking your way, making even the grumpiest person sport a smile just for you. Its adorable the way you do a 100 meter dash when you first spot me getting out of the car, when I come pick you up from school, those little legs on high gear, right until the minute you reach my arms, shouting....my mommy, my mommy, announcing me to all your friends.


Little. Yes. You still are a little munchkin, which it makes it even more adorable on you. Your littleness is the sweetest thing, when you hold your teacher's hand and walk to the park, while all the other kids are holding each other's. You get that special privilege of her grip since you are the littlest there, and  enjoy watching you and feeling your littleness. 'Little' is the beauty of your little hands as they engage in some task, be it building blocks, or pointing to something outside the car window, or simply holding a glass of water in your hands, and sipping from it. I secretly admire your littleness everyday, and its one of the reasons I named you Jingu Johnson. :)


Playful. Well, he couldn't have found a more precise yet profound word for you. Playfulness has been your trademark all along. You have made a game of every thing, and what's more, inspired us to play it with you, teaching us, so subtly, to enjoy life and take it on a less than serious keel. All we have to do is look at you, as if we are just about to pounce on you, and you will make a dash for it, laughing wildly, at the possible thrill of the chase. You also play with my emotions, making it range from sheer frustration to the blissful height of a lost love in just a matter of seconds. You are the ultimate gameboy, my little love.


Fun. Does this even need an elaboration? When has it not been fun being with you?  Okay, let me not get carried away, for it certainly is not fun during mealtimes, when you have decided eating is not to be your way of life, even from a basic survival point of view. And okay, its not fun, when you both are fighting and constantly clashing, and whining and crying. Not one bit of fun! But put together all the rest of the moments as above, subtracting from them, these minor annoyances of unness, and you might just be able to take up a patent on 'fun'. And if that doesn't fall through, you always have this little brotherly award to fall back on.


Because that is exactly what it is. He has, during the course of his busy school day, stopped to think of you, and what words describe you best, and put it together in a way that is artsy, and aww-inspiring. And besides, writing you this letter, and using it as my next ode to happiness, I also want to have it signed by him, and framed for you, to keep and cherish and remember the bonds that has made you the naughty, fun, adorable, little, playful, cute, Sathya for him!

Pleased to the last punch,
Amma.