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| Remembering dad. |
-Brian Mendonca
The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on 14 September is remembered now more than ever because it is dad's birthday.
Ever since he passed 7 years back, we try to find ways to live in his memory on his special days.
Yesterday we went over to my brother Kevin's place after Saturday evening's, anticipated Mass at Holy Family church, Porvorim. Dwayne was serving as altar-boy for this Mass.
We took along dad's favourite samarachikoddi -sourced from Jose Gonsalves from his kiosk at Maple Leaf store, Porvorim. Miriam made Goa rice to go with it, along with a host of delectable dishes made from family recipes.
In case Dwayne was not keen on Goa rice, Miriam also made regular rice for him.
It was good to meet Nigel who was down from Bangalore for the long weekend, Monday being a holiday for Id-e-Milad.
On our way to Vasco, just before we got onto the Atal Setu we sniffed the excitement and fervour of the feast Mass going on at Holy Cross chapel, Porvorim. Queenie picked up a packet each of kadio-bodios for our family and theirs.
Looking to pick a shirt for Nigel, my godchild, we stepped in to Max store in Vasco. The range was good and they even played what sounded like rap in Hinglish.
I came away with a couple of cool chinos myself -if only to celebrate my promotion at work the same day.
In today's Herald newspaper a Konkani proverb is presented, 'Ami tumi ekam, xitam kelim lokam.' A rough translation would be 'We are one, rice makes us different.'
As we left Kevin drove my car down the steep slope to pick up Queenie. We sped away into the night and reached home at 1 a.m. today.
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Pic of Kevin, Miriam, Nigel, Dwayne, Queenie and myself taken by Brian Mendonca at Kevin's place in Mangor Hill, Vasco on 14 September 2024.
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