What Kind Of Indian Are You?

“Do you like (insert hard to understand Indian food dish)?” She hurriedly shot at me as she started to strain the boiling water out of a black pot she had just taken of the stove. She asked me expecting I would know, since I’m Indian. I couldn’t make out the name of the dish she […]

Adoption Blogger Interview Project 2012: Robyn

Dear Blogosphere, Today, as a participant in the Adoption Blogger Interview Project 2012, I am submitting my interview with blogger and professional Robyn from AfrikAdvantage. Robyn and I met through this project a few weeks ago and since then have exchanged many emails and have had a few lengthy phone conversations. Through our conversations and […]

Letter To My Father

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I feel it is so unfair to have lost my father. If he were still around He would, very predictably, tell me that life isn’t fair. I know he is right, but I still feel that way. This is my first attempt at a letter to my […]

Certainty In Death, No Certainty In Why

When someone dies there are a lot of things to wonder about. Where did they go? Were they happy when they died? Did I adequately show them how much I loved them? Will we ever meet again?…etc….etc. But the most nagging of those wonders is the wonderful Why? It’s probably true that there aren’t answers […]

How To Adequately Remember?

I enjoy writing letters. I try to write them to friends when they are abroad or if we don’t have the type of relationship where we are going to talk on the phone much. Still it’s always hard to know where to start, especially if its been a while since I’ve communicated with someone. Writing […]

I’d Like To Meet My Father

Sometimes I wonder what it’d be like to still have my dad around. I wonder how different life would be if he were around. As may already be obvious I love to fantasize. At the time he died I was transitioning into young adulthood as a 16-year-old. I witnessed other friends’ relationships with their parents […]

Difference Doesn’t Always Mean Separate

There are a lot of negative adoption stories and experiences “out there”. I have been privileged in many many ways and that privilege carries over into my experiences with adoption. Although it hasn’t all been good, I can confidently say that I am glad I was adopted. I can’t really say I would prefer it […]

My File Part IV: In Lieu of Birth Certificate

“Affidavit of Abandonment In Lieu of Birth Certificate”. It’s not everyday that I read the above title. A few days ago I was cleaning my room and reorganizing my files and I came across a manila mailing envelope that read “Kumar legal documents” in my mother’s handwriting. “How’d this get into my file?” I thought. […]

My File Part III: Mouse Free

[This is a continuation of My File Part II: Bites Away] A few days after graduating from college and returning to my childhood home I found myself in our dirty cobwebbed basement rummaging through Tupperware boxes. These boxes were filled with contents from my childhood. Most of the contents of the hulking green metal desk […]

“33 Variations” – One Trigger

Katherine began to choke. Hearing her choke, that sound, sent a wave of shock through my body. It was like I totally blacked out for a split second and was immediately transported back into my kitchen as my 13 year-old self. Sitting at the kitchen table reading Sports Illustrated searching for the “Faces in The […]