Who is Simone? …..A bundle of pure Joy.
Simone came for a 3-week holiday in Dec 2008 to spend time with Nana in Hyderabad, India. Simone was such a joy to play with that Nana had to change his work style. When Simone was here, there was no office work at home for Nana. He would also go to office leisurely in the morning and be home early in the evening. Now that Simone has gone back to the USA, Nana is finding it difficult to go back to his old routine.
Of all the things Simone knew or learnt to speak here, three stand out most: (i). If she tripped or dropped something, she will get up/pick up things saying ‘it’s okay’. If she was hurt sometime, even while crying she would say ‘its okay its okay’ to console herself. (ii). If some body coughed or sneezed, Simone, if in vicinity, would always say ‘bless you’ followed by whatever name. (iii). She learnt ‘try try’ here. If she wanted to climb up the bed or sofa and failed, she will keep on trying saying ‘try try’ until succeeded.
Earlier, we were thinking of blocking our stair cases for Simone’s safety but we did not. Once told to hold on to railing while climbing up or down, she did not need any body’s assistance in going up and down and visiting all rooms at her will.
Simone came for a 3-week holiday in Dec 2008 to spend time with Nana in Hyderabad, India. Simone was such a joy to play with that Nana had to change his work style. When Simone was here, there was no office work at home for Nana. He would also go to office leisurely in the morning and be home early in the evening. Now that Simone has gone back to the USA, Nana is finding it difficult to go back to his old routine.
Of all the things Simone knew or learnt to speak here, three stand out most: (i). If she tripped or dropped something, she will get up/pick up things saying ‘it’s okay’. If she was hurt sometime, even while crying she would say ‘its okay its okay’ to console herself. (ii). If some body coughed or sneezed, Simone, if in vicinity, would always say ‘bless you’ followed by whatever name. (iii). She learnt ‘try try’ here. If she wanted to climb up the bed or sofa and failed, she will keep on trying saying ‘try try’ until succeeded.
Earlier, we were thinking of blocking our stair cases for Simone’s safety but we did not. Once told to hold on to railing while climbing up or down, she did not need any body’s assistance in going up and down and visiting all rooms at her will.
We had to buy a booster seat for Simone so that she could join us on the dining table for breakfast and dinner. Not withstanding all persuasion, she would decide herself what to eat. When she was through, she would say ‘finish’ and would like to get down the chair. If we were still busy with our food, she would patiently wait with an occasional reminder of ‘finish’ to us.
Simone’s visit to Ahmedabad with mummy and Ruchi mausi (who had come down from Bangalore to spend some time with Simone), I am told, was highly successful and enjoyable. She was able to meet most of her grandmas, uncles, aunts and cousins from Vikram’s side.
Every morning she would climb up to Nana’s bedroom with Rashmi and waking up Nana with a smiling ‘good morning, Nana’. She would climb up the bed after a couple of ‘try try’ and head towards self in headrest to pick up boroline tube. She will make me open it (‘open open’) and squeeze out some cream which she would apply on to herself and on Nana also. After that she would pull out Nana to go out side. Outside in the compound, it would be ‘good morning’ to Masti with a clear command to him ‘no jumping Masti’. Three-four visits to Masti and neighbor’s puppy Denise were essential for Simone to complete her daily chores of activities. Even in sleep, some time she would call out ‘out side out side’ Denise or Masti. As Masti is little rough (His training was a waste. He did not learn anything. He jumps all over you to show his affection.), she would keep a distance from him while holding a small stick in the hand.
Even before the car could be started, Simone’s demand for ‘music music’ would be there. If she was in the lap in front seat (This is common in India as car seat is generally not used.) she would start fiddling with music system to have her say. Of course, it would not be just listening to music alone, there would be body movements to respond to music with dance.
Since Rahul mama came from LA in the morning of 31 Dec 2008, Simone spent most of time with him making frequent demands to go ‘out side outside’.
On the 2 Jan 2009 party, Simone was highly liked by all as she was cheerful althrough, wished everybody ‘namaste’ and gave kisses on request. Rajat mama came down from Bangalore to attend Simone’s party and she did not take even a minute to go him.
Although Simone could count up to six or seven, she could tell what comes after one but for all other numbers it was two only. She was very good in identifying animals and making their sound. Whenever she wanted to draw, she would bring her crayon box and ask us ‘open open’ and then demand for a paper, which Nana had in plenty. Simone is very fond of reading. On her own she would pick up one of her books and start turning pages one by one carefully and start identifying pictures.
Whenever we went out for shopping, eating out or visiting friends, Simone would make herself immensely popular through her smiles and waving hands to anybody in vicinity. On many occasions, strangers would request to shoot her picture.
Nana has taken your ‘petang’ (peanut) photograph to his office. Every body likes your photograph- see, you are getting worldwide publicity.
Nana is missing Simone a lot.
Simone’ vocabulary: Bless you Nana, Good morning, Good night, Bath Bath, Sit, Pick up, Outside, Open Open, No jumping, Music, Its Okay, Thank you, Mama/Nana/ Mausi, Bhow Bhow, Masti, Denise, Try Try, Sleep sleep, Bahadu (Bahadur, the watchman), Hamebe (Haleema bee, the house keeper), Paper, Sad (Samad, the gardner), Simone Light, Number book, Nature book, Petang and many more.
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