![]() This is my favorite picture of Amma. I think it is a picture that speaks volumes about her character. Everyone that knew Amma would say, "She had guts!" Which may not be a common American saying, but symbolizes the bold, fearless, outspoken nature of my Amma. This was taken right before my Amma departed Sri Lanka to participate in a research study of the cultivation of cucumbers in Germany. Leaving Sri Lanka, alone, for six months, as a female was trail blazing. Since Amma passed two years ago, I often reflect on her life compared to mine. At 34, she had migrated to the States with Appa, Shankar was a toddler and she had a dedicated job at Hardees. Yep, Hardees, home of America's favorite biscuit. No job was beneath Amma, throughout her life she took pride in her work whether it was cooking fries in fast food, waiting tables at the student union, cross breeding plants for research or working the factory floor of a frozen sandwich processing plant. If anyone was offering overtime, you better believe Amma's name would be first on the sign up list. I can't imagine the toll those labor intensive jobs did to her physical health. Then I think about myself, where the most labor intensive job I had was working retail, and that was for weekend partying money. I know I live a very comfortable, blessed life, especially during COVID. I wish I had more time with Amma, to wine and dine her, to take her to all the places she wanted to see, to pamper her and provide her with all her heart's desires. When she was in her final days of life, and we had to make some hard decisions as a family, she said, "Shivani, the hospital is a place for people to get better, and I'm not getting better, better to give my room and bed to someone who needs it." Even when faced with mortality, Amma had guts. Thank you for all the hard work, sacrifices and obstacles you faced in your lifetime so that I could be so blessed and comfortable in mine, rest in peace Amma.
1 Comment
Dana
10/3/2020 07:05:08 pm
😭 It sounds like she really LIVED. And she has passed that love for life on to you. What an amazing woman. I’m sure it brings you much healing to honor her with your work and life, but these stories bring much inspiration and happiness to your followers.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
I'm ShivaniAspiring stand up comedian and South Asian home cook: sourced from Sri Lanka, bottled in Canada and sold all throughout the South. Archives
August 2020
Categories
All
|