The Sweet Spot

Keeping our hands where they belong Our hands - a marvel of natural engineering! The human hand can grip, grasp, hold or get finer with our motor skills to pick up things and use tools with precision. We touch, feel and express ourselves with our hands. Sometimes in the quietness of words, our hands can speak more than we do. We cannot start to imagine what we would do without them and empathize with people who are unfortunate to lose them or marvel at those who find ways to live productively despite losing them. While we can do so much with our hands, the one thing we are reminded of time and again is to keep our hands where they belong! Curious little babies and kids! As they learn new ways to use their hands, they find the diceiest places to poke and prod. It is like they are a magnet to anything dangerous. Sharp objects, electrical outlets, and anywhere they can stick their hands and fingers into are very special, including but not limited to their little noses and ears ...

The Sweet Spot within the chaos of the Iowa Caucuses “Oh my God! Oh my God!! They called me back and I really want to go to Iowa”. Ever since my sweet, nonconformist daughter decided she wanted to take a Gap year before going to college - a concept alien to many desi* parents - I always sat on the edge of my seat to grasp what was coming next. So far, she had worked as a refugee resettlement intern, helping new entrants to the country find a foothold. She worked at the local cafe, learning coffee brews, chai lattes, taking breakfast and lunch orders and being patient with sometimes irate customers. And her favorite job had been walking and caring for rather rambunctious dogs. Just when I thought things were falling neatly in place, I hear Iowa.  She was very very excited to spend the coldest months campaigning in the cold, midwest state of Iowa. Again a concept alien to a desi parent. Campaigning for a “caucus”! The first time I had heard the word, I thought it was a...