Such a delightful read yet again! I missed the last two and I must go back to read them. Our children and my husband and I constantly talk about privilege. I talked a lot about it in my book about my father. The lack of privilege makes you hungry and it always makes you wonder what "else" you could have been. My father's tight financial situation (same true of my husband) frustrated me sometimes and I know it informed everything I wanted to do for my children. Violin lessons, dance lessons, all sorts of extracurriculars that were simply not available to me in India in the 70s because dad simply could not afford them. But then the same lack of privilege made him look for opportunities around him. His resourcefulness made my life full. It took me to a life in Africa. So there. I look forward to your memoir. I loved my year in Paris and I'm curious about your experiences. Thanks, Peter!
And I meant to say that I so admire your father’s creativity in looking for those opportunities. Isn’t that the most important life skill? To use and enjoy what you have, rather than wasting energy wishing for more/different/what that other person has?
Just where do I begin? He did that a lot and I see that attitude in my son. If you were born in a poor family in pre-independence India, it took guts and spirit to get out of your comfort zone and seek a fortune elsewhere. In the late 60s/early 70s, people in traditional families like mine didn't leave India's shores to seek a fortune. Here's a bit about the kind of man he was. https://www.thehindu.com/society/goodbye-daddykins/article24894620.ece
You know what I heard? I heard The New Yorker was hunting for you to do illustrations for them!
I have to stop being so damn elusive.
Such a delightful read yet again! I missed the last two and I must go back to read them. Our children and my husband and I constantly talk about privilege. I talked a lot about it in my book about my father. The lack of privilege makes you hungry and it always makes you wonder what "else" you could have been. My father's tight financial situation (same true of my husband) frustrated me sometimes and I know it informed everything I wanted to do for my children. Violin lessons, dance lessons, all sorts of extracurriculars that were simply not available to me in India in the 70s because dad simply could not afford them. But then the same lack of privilege made him look for opportunities around him. His resourcefulness made my life full. It took me to a life in Africa. So there. I look forward to your memoir. I loved my year in Paris and I'm curious about your experiences. Thanks, Peter!
What a lovely commentary, and dim sum of your life experience. Thank you. Honestly I was worried about writing about my privilege. At least I own it!
And I meant to say that I so admire your father’s creativity in looking for those opportunities. Isn’t that the most important life skill? To use and enjoy what you have, rather than wasting energy wishing for more/different/what that other person has?
Just where do I begin? He did that a lot and I see that attitude in my son. If you were born in a poor family in pre-independence India, it took guts and spirit to get out of your comfort zone and seek a fortune elsewhere. In the late 60s/early 70s, people in traditional families like mine didn't leave India's shores to seek a fortune. Here's a bit about the kind of man he was. https://www.thehindu.com/society/goodbye-daddykins/article24894620.ece