The rose bush is the youngest of the plants in our garden and the desert rose is the oldest with history of fourteen years. Each plant survives seasons and changes to bear flowers.
This reminded me of the fourteen years since Anna and I moved to our cottage from the campus of the Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences to live in our cottage 14 years ago,
I recalled the seasons and changes in our lives during this period. Since we live in a property with different vegetations and fruit bearing trees, we were drawn to appreciate the rhythm of plant life. We got used to the different temperaments of Daphne, who being a Beagle was scent driven and explorative. So she needed a kennel with an enclosed yard for her independence. Dulcie being a Shih Tzu preferred to be indoor, following us to remain close to us through the day. She would not be comfortable during lighting and thunder or heavy rain unless she is resting in Anna's lap.
Anna planted saplings of flowering trees to remember our children and grand children, all of which now flower. The aviary and the aquarium are other interests that Anna cultivated during our time here.
Since we left the Christian Medical College in Vellore in 2010 and PIMS in 2012, we lost the close touch with the foster family of medical students. Our time in MOSC, Kolenchery for 11 years gave us another opportunity to build some relationship with students. During the COVID season, for about five years we had a weekly online Friday Forum for reflection and conversation on Life, Living and Learning. Another professional forum of weekly meeting emerged concurrently for promoting discussion on child development and rehabilitation which continues even now, after a short interruption at the time of our retirement.
The publication of five books in the last four years gave us inspiration to continue writing and we pursue that as one major exercise during this phase of our lives.
Our journey took a new direction following the home call of our daughter in her infancy, forty five years ago. That was a turning point in our journey personally and professionally! Anita Susan blessed us with her presence and left us with a message to pursue a vocation in our lives.
When a lady of forty ears whom we welcomed to Child Development Centre at Chennai when she was two years old, with a metabolic disease, celebrated her fortieth birthday recently. The family and the lady invited us to join with the recollections of their journey! She would send us greetings a few times in a year and her parents would enquire of our wellness periodically! Theirs is a gift of love and regards, which bring refreshing memories of our professional involvements.
Another family who came to meet us with their three months old son who suffered cerebral haemorrhage and hemiparesis, now ten years old, was blessed with a second child recently. The family, having been in touch with us regularly and their older son now being able to adjust well at school following progressive recovery, keep sending messages of encouragement and friendship.
Amidst these happy memories, we also carry memories of sadness. We suffered the stress and strain of broken relationships at our work place with people who were close to us for three decades. Our attempt to reconcile helped only in a limited way.
A retired professor sent me a photo yesterday of his visit to our home three years ago. He remembered Anna and me and said, ' Thank you for the friendship'. Another friend now visiting her friends in Oxford with her children sent photos yesterday of her visits.
A neighbour whom we were supporting to recover from his alcohol dependence has been dry following de-addiction treatment and therapy for eight weeks now. Another reason to be grateful for!
The recollection of joys and strains of friendships brought mixed emotions yesterday!
The flowers in our garden took me to many such memories of our journey thus far !
M.C.Mathew(text a photo)nd
