Yearly Update to Stork

Yearly Update to Stork - 2026

Dear Stork -

I am sorry that I couldn’t mail you on the 10th. We are vacationing in New Zealand for Skanda’s annual retreat and it is night-day difference.

1 and 1 makes not 2 but 11. Skanda is “this close” to being an adult in terms of full price for travel - tickets and lodges! Not only that, he’s close to 5ft. I am behind him all the time asking him to take up sports that capitalize his height. After persisting for some time, he has taken up volleyball at his school - learning - every Thursday afternoon foregoing his recess break.

As every year goes, a lot has happened between my last mail to you and now. Duh! That’s why this missive. The President south of the border began two wars - deposed off a leader in Venezuela and took over their oil. He began a war with Iran along with another rabid country, Israel. They killed Iran’s supreme leader - while many from that country rejoiced - moral high grounds doesn’t really prevail. The US is a country I do not wish to travel to.

Well, please don’t get me started - as I will go on and on. I am not sure why none of us can stop borrowing from the life of the next generation! They have it very bleak.

Anyway, getting back to the topic. Skanda’s piano teacher, Marc - since 2022 moved out and now he has a new teacher. This was a big change for Skanda as Marc was someone who would encourage his students to take their own path to learning. His teaching methods were interesting and sometimes frustrating for parents. But Skanda loved it and never wanted to be parted from Marc. We’ll wait and see how well he gets accommodated to his new teacher’s methods.

Skanda continued to play in Stouffville’s Softball but wasn’t that interested to continue as he faced some bullying from some opponent team. We had G-Thatha visiting us over in August for about 10 days. He came over for one of the games. We took G-Thatha to several different places - Niagara Power museum, Toronto downtown - CN Tower, Go train, Toronto Zoo, and Mini Golf in Stouffville.

We then dropped G-Thatha back in Apex, NC at Shruthi’s place - visited Shruthi and paid our last tributes to Inji - we lost him later - cancer. We couldn’t stay for Adhiyan’s birthday. We visited his daycare in Cary.

Skanda had the opportunity to spend time with his Ammamma and Gopu Thatha. They stayed over with us during winter for their PR landing. It was great fun to have them with us - taking them around to show places, playing baarakatta, plowing massive amounts of snow, and cooking stuff. It saw us cooking Panneer Biryani for the Nth time. He dropped them at his cousin Ishaan’s place and spent two days with them.

Last year also saw us camping during extreme fire zone (East in June) and very cold (West in September). We found new restaurants to dine-in (Maharaja Bhog and The Junction). We also participated in Brampton Cycling - some 15kms ride.

He had two piano recitals and drama recitals - Roshombo and Grinch. He went with his friends - for the first time - for Halloween Trick or Treat. We had several Dosa parties using our Blackstone Grill. He had visitors from London - Santhan mama and Brinda aththa. Made a trip to Bruce Peninsula. We split open whole jackfruits on two different occasions. He had as many different fruits as possible.

This year saw him taking up Tamil lessons from his paatti instead of YRDSB Tamil School. He preferred this learning from his paatti - online - than that because he despised the teachers back in Tamil School. He was also in the top 25% at his school in Beaver Computing Challenge.

All in all it was an eventful year - where he had so many books to read, spend time helping with my weekly newsletter for kids, sketching attempted murder for the newsletter.

Outside this, how is life for you? Are you impacted by AI? I mean, are robots replacing you for delivery of babies? Would I be emailing you the next time or a part-AI-part-Stork?

That is all I have for this year. We still have a few more days to go here in New Zealand. I will catch you next year!

Comments

Post - 50!

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Mexican Sambar

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