It was exactly 13 years ago today that my empty nest began filling up with the arrival of Wow Dinga.

I can't believe this young-man-in-the-making is slowly beginning to look down at me, as he shoots up every day(he who once fitted into comfortably in the crook of my arm).
and cried mysteriously from 9-11 every night, till one day it suddenly stopped.
who made us leap out of deep sleep and scramble under the bed to look for the pacifier he had accidentally flung out in his sleep; 
the tiger cub who padded around the house
and played for hours with my pressure cookers and mixer grinder, displayed proudly in the living room for all to see; 
who loved going for drives and identifying every passing vehicle - cement mixer, dumper truck, and tow van, accompanied to "Wheels on the Bus" on repeat
who enjoyed made-up stories as I ‘read’ out the books I couldn't read without  my glasses; 
who organised races with his great-grandparents.
who sang "Jingle Bells" with the aplomb of Andrea Bocelli
who spent mornings playing "Hey Taxiwala" in his grandpa's old Fiat.
Who was the only boy who didn't cry on the first day of kindergarten
who knew all the nursery rhymes and sang them better than his tuneless teacher
who kept taal on two tablas like a maestro and wept huge ploppy tears when he heard raag Puriya.
the little boy who advised me to "re-boot" my computer in his baby-talk
and certified me as the only woman qualified to drive when he was not yet five.
Who played football like a champ and walloped mangoes in the summer and splashed in muddy puddles.
Who conquered his fear of water and now swims like a fish
who made my living room an obstacle course, cushions on the floor, a sofa into a trampoline, while armchairs sailed as pirate ships, and fleets of cars went cross-country over furniture that turned into tall mountains and deep valleys.

I miss those days of school pick-up from Upper Plep
Driving home from football in the dark, eating soggy chips with siblings who you adored.........

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your family grew, and you moved away

I hardly see you once a month, busy as you are with growing up. 

There's school, and games and music too and so much more that fills your days

But every time I see you, I know behind that shy smile and curly hair is still my little Wow Dinga.

Happy Birthday, my little teen.

Ciao,