Photography
Related: About this forumA rare selfie that I think was a really good shot (but not because of me)
That's me and my jethu moni dida mashi. (How to translate that? Oy. My Bengali phrasebook has useful things like: "tea = cha" "meat = ghosht" "sugar = chini" "aunt = please see our 7-page insert on kinship terms". Roughly, it means "father's father's older brother's wife", but since I married into this family it's that "-in-law".)
Anyways, that was the day she turned 96.
I swear to God if I look that good at 60 I'll count myself fortunate.
angstlessk
(11,862 posts)And who is that very handsome man behind her?
I love me some (whatever that hair on your face is called)
JustAnotherGen
(31,980 posts)She's a treasure much like my husband's Zio Nicola (turning 97 this year). Ask her lots and lots of questions - she's seen a ton in her lifetime!
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Every time I get to see her, I park my ass and listen for as long as I can.
democrank
(11,112 posts)My best to you.
Fairgo
(1,571 posts)Our only treasure is each other...
bravenak
(34,648 posts)Lazy Daisy
(928 posts)She looks fantastic. They say the love in your heart carries you in your old age. Her heart must be at full capacity.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)She came to Kolkata with literally the shirt on her back in 1947, and spent the next 40 years working as a studio musician and music teacher.
When I married her grand-niece (or whatever it actually is) she gave me a traditional Indian drum. That had been autographed by Satyajit Ray. With whom she used to get tea, just as a thing.
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)Recursion
(56,582 posts)She said once I earn the larger one she'll give it to me, and she'll be listening to my music so I can prove myself.
(I wrote the waltz for me and my wife's first dance at our wedding, which is why jethu moni dida mashi gave me this drum in the first place. Before she heard that she was going to just give us cash, but she ran home and came back with her own favorite smaller tabla. That's a huge responsibility to take, but I absolutely couldn't say no.)
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)"shisha" in her long life.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)And, hell, she's not just still alive but still teaching. A dozen 9-year-old girls in Kolkata are learning to believe in their own music like she does in hers.
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)especially in India, where girls don't usually get a break.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Yet another way she's an amazing woman.
florida08
(4,106 posts)lol- that's what I gleaned. You sure you don't have those numbers backwards? Learn her secrets fast and pass them on.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)She said, "Turmeric, music, and sex".
Can't complain about any of those...
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)Seeing her here, I wouldn't give your "auntie" more than 80. Amazing.
Does she use a lot of ghee? It's supposed to be really, really good for the skin.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)"Turmeric, music, and sex".
She actually said that. Amazing woman.
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)I ingest at least 2 or 3 teaspoons of "Curcuma" everyday. One of the best anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory agents in the cornucopia.
And, music of course. Does she sing sankeertan and bhajan? The mysterious resonances of raga have been proven to have healing properties.
Keep singing and listening for lifelong happiness and health.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)She'll sing background (she did at our wedding, in fact) but she gets her groove on by drumming.
That's why her gift to me of a tabla drum on our wedding was so meaningful.
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)I studied a bit of Carnatic vocal music with a "Sangeetabushanam" about 20 years ago.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)It's an awesome genre
alfredo
(60,078 posts)Recursion
(56,582 posts)It does seem to prevent blistering.
alfredo
(60,078 posts)Last edited Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:32 PM - Edit history (1)
Ilsa
(61,709 posts)Thank you for sharing. She does, indeed, look much younger than 96. I bet she could end being one of the oldest people alive in 15 years.
alfredo
(60,078 posts)In Tigraina, it is pronounced shai. Similar pronounciations are all over the Arab speaking world.
Lovely lady
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Which migrated amazingly quickly to Chinese "te" and Sinhalese "chai".
alfredo
(60,078 posts)Triana
(22,666 posts)And a fabulous photo.
elleng
(131,253 posts)Happy to see both of you!
brer cat
(24,630 posts)and handsome fella behind her. She doesn't remotely look 96! She has that inner glow that comes from a life lived with joy...no surprise that she is a musician. Thank you so much for sharing...she brought a smile to my face and a song to my heart.