Innerdialects

Alice Aunty is feisty and bright eyed at 94+ in purple+pink saree. (She tailored that blouse, and says my Ma taught her..)

Chennai is sizzling as we visit her airy first floor Living room, with son Selvan S. (Theologian)- cousin bro has her doe eyes, grand daughter Blessy too. My Dad had them, and his Ma; a whole batch of stars in eyes.

“What’s in your Lil bag?” I ask. It is a neat cloth pouch in her walker.

Biscuits? “See for yourself, no?!” She laughs. Her wit is razor sharp, like my dad’s used to be. Yes, it is biscuits.. ‘For when I feel a little hungry you know..” her smile is unchanged.

What is different about this visit? As if Time stopped and stood by. This is the same street and home area I’d visited years ago, (aunt & dear uncle Sudarshan were my guardians when I was studying at Bains, Chennai. Such sweet memories..🌷

now the address fills with grand, great grand kids..

grand daughter Blessy & lil great grand daughter Sara, have the same starry eyes. A younger grand daughter Getsy video calls from NZ; …all grown and like Blessy starting her own life as a young wife: (another Beauty. Why’d I not get those features?! )

generations of us. Alice aunty is delighted. My girls can’t take their eyes off her. “Such a treat.” They tell me later. I know, I know. She’s just as full of life, as my dad was, this amazing lady basking in gratitude for family, God, His grace, & for her loving daughter in law Daisy, a gifted Nurse.

✨

My Aunt’s room walls have her very own exquisitely handcrafted Scripture. Little frilled curtains, she has personally sewn with care and talent. “Hmm, your ma taught me to sew.”

A sewing machine stands quiet testament to her room filled with color. Who knew Alice aunty even liked such things: you thought she should run for Parliament: the careful discipline and coiffed hair knot, her clear voice now silver with time. We take a group pic…

🌷

this is a visit to a Yesterday I remember so well, also a glimpse into the heaven we know is ours, even here, prior to Eternity. I want to hug her real close and not let go: she’s a Gift from an Era- reminding us of Strength, Grace & a Devotion to the God who brought us this far.

We have a train to catch, there is a prayer, Aunty Alice sings a Keerthane, a psalm of praise, the pure Tamil lyrics ripe with devotion. It echoes Dad, and their Ma of whom he talked of so often, of Scripture weaving their lives, not just in the local church, but in their hearts:

each so dear, a piece my skin, a Brotherhood going down generations of cities, rooms, verses, times, seasons of the soul. Thank you Alice Aunty, for inspiring us to press on !

Then this arrives from Aunty & family, hand scripted by Aunt herself, bordered with little flower cut-outs she does so well, cherry- christmas greens & reds. Look at the Verse –

What a miracle Life is, via the Generation that made us. Wish I could re-visit every one of them.