Magtam tumkam / My prayer for you.

Happy birthday my darling.

I would have given anything to be with you today and share in your joy.

To sweep the yard for the coming guests and bring out all the vases, in anticipation of the many bouquets to come.

To gently take the gifts from your hands, as you happily accept the wishes of those who love and admire you.

To help Pops with the hundreds of thousands of little things he will have to do today, on his own - I'm so proud of him! How rarely he says it, but how often he shows it.

To take pictures. Oh so many pictures of you - smiling, happy, candid ones.

To give you my gift, first.

To make sure you have some wine right in the beginning, before everyone else arrives. Wink, wink.

To help you blow out the candles.

To stand with Papa and sing the saud for you.

But I will be with you in spirit.

Thanking the good Lord above for who you are, for gifting you to us and for all you mean to me.

I will remember all the special things we do - the cooking, reading, crosswords, chats over coffee, laughs over the phone even when at work, the goodnight stories, the hymns we sing.

I will remember all the difficult things you help me do - getting over my stammer, writing my farewell speech, saying sorry, choosing.

I will remember all the times I don't even need to look behind me - I know you are there, always.

I will remember all the times I know you are my friend first.

I will remember how beautiful you are and always have been.

I will hear your laugh and I will laugh to myself, I will feel you pull my cheeks and frown at you.

I will remember how you cried the night before our wedding and how you love dude so whole heartedly, as only you can.

I will remember how you always teach me to see the good in others.

I will remember that you are Daddy's little girl, as I am now.

I will look at myself in the mirror and realise how much like you I am.

And I will be very, very proud.

Happy birthday Mama my darling.

I love you.

Day 4 - Pic 1

- The altar at home-

- Goa, 2009 -

Our beautiful, traditional altar at home in Siolim, Goa.

Dedicated to the angel who taught me to pray and convinced me that that God had a special book with my name on it, full of golden stars for all the good things I did.

I still believe it.

My prayer for you, today and always, is for your every moment to be filled with love, joy, happiness, good health and laughter. Yes, it is a simple one. I have learnt it from you.

Have a great birthday Ma, you deserve the best.

See you soon.