Moving out, in and on!

Much as try to not sound dramatic, now that most of the contents in this little abode have been compressed into a myriad cardboard boxes, the clothes dumped into suitcases, some ingredients in the pantry disposed due to sheer unuse, sorting, cleaning, packing.....I feel the entire process and the stacks of boxes define who I am, or who I have become in the past years that I have vegetated here.

What I am proud of are the boxes filled with books. I have always loved to collect books, but only those that belong in the perennials section(as in long term reading over and over and over the years)- there is this dream of having a wood panelled study room filled with books, a wallpaper of books, a sofa-bed, a fridge and small pantry of snacks. I could live in just that room, my entire life.

What I am not so proud of are the boxes of shoes!!(shoe-aholics like Orchid, please note)- I am sure at the beginning of time, I had 2 pairs of shoes. Now it has tarantulized into TWO large sized boxes. I dont know if this still qualifies to being called a fetish. Hm, wonder what happened to the likes of Imelda Marcos(more with reference to her shoe fetish than her political histrionics).

Next in line- clothes! My mom used to tell us that Kali Yuga's curse was clothes and the way girls/women spend on them. Initially I used to label her as senile and dismiss the charges. Now I am appalled at the number of suitcases that are piled with clothes, clothes and more clothes. To top the agony, I hate folding clothes(thats what moms are for, imo). Hence most times, clothes are piled in a disastrous fashion inside closets and chests to give an impression to guests that my house is very clean and well kept. I could've sworn I landed in this country with ONLY two suitcases that filled all the three things that I have in excess now, and still not have to pay for excess baggage. So that should've been 2 pairs of shoes, about 2-3 books to keep me company on the maiden voyage abroad and enough clothes to survive one work week and a weekend. The suitcases also included the usual FOB must-have accessories such as one pressure cooker, a couple of vessels, amma-made aroma-filled sambar/rasam powders- yes enough to be able to make rice/daal and yogurt-rice- or so one argues while packing.

That brings me to the boxes that have resulted from the "stuff" in the kitchen. Good Lord- these new recipe ventures makes one invest in things(quoted in no particular order) such as a big jar of molasses, packets of bajra flour, cornflour, cornmeal, corn starch, 16 bean mix, brown rice, cracked wheat, bulgur, condensed milk, evaporated milk....need I go on some more? You get the picture- most ingredients I have used exactly ONCE in a BLUE MOON. And then multiple unopened packets of amma-made aroma-filled sambar-rasam powders since I have discontinued the rasam/sambar series for quite a few years now. But I dont refrain from picking up more every time I go home. Its a nostalgia thing, I have concluded.

The last major item are boxes filled with decorative pieces, showpieces- these are predominantly gifts that I have received over many years that I can never discard.....I have accumulated plenty of those as well(yes one can safely conclude that I have very thoughtful friends and family who dont fail to give birthday gifts ;). Just the stuff from the utility room generated enough boxes to scar(e) me for eternity.

Yes, my packing now defines the person I have become. Some times as I sit looking at the boxes I almost pity the movers cos them books boxes are heavy!! Which is why I gave away quite a few books, to make it easy on them :(. Still....there are so many I never want to part with.

A pack rat, I dont believe I am or have become- but nonetheless from 2 suitcases to this boxes galore situation is cause for contemplation - what happens in 10 yrs or 20 yrs? Would I need a cargo ship?

So muses the mint....

Footnote : Watched Last King of Scotland. Amazing performace by Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin, very strong storyline and superb acting by the entire cast.

Hm maybe I should use some of the syrup and have waffles for breakfast today!!