How to do say goodbye to the people who have become not only good friends but family? How do you say goodbye to people who you have watched grow and change, that you have laughed with and cried with and watch grow up? For me leaving Rising Star was like leaving 180 of my own children behind. I love those kids so much and I miss them more than words can say. I miss seeing Vanamalar get so excited to dance, I miss seeing Praveen in his little white shoes, that get him in trouble everyday because they aren’t part of the dress code, and I miss seeing Joseph dance to Singum Singum. I miss Vijaylakshmi’s hugs and kisses, Malavika’s quiet and smart way of answering a question, and Kanmani Devins mischievous ways. I will miss Ragikumari and Kala, Maran, Manjula and Swathy. I miss my friends in the colonies especially Damardon and Krishnamoorthy and as I am now back in the states millions and millions of miles away all I can do is send them my love, pray for them and send them love. I love the people I was working with this summer, I don’t have great eloquent words to share about how I feel except for the fact that I love them and miss them all tremendously.
Saying goodbye to Damradon
Before I left Manjula and the Peery Matriculation school surprised me with honoring me at the morning assembly. After morning announcements Manjula announced my departure. She came forward with a beautiful silver shawl and a small shell with my name engraved on the top and presented it to me. The students all in unison thanked me and as we all started singing the national anthem I got tears in my eyes. I was totally taken back by their gratitude. I love the people of India. They will be in my heart forever.
After the assembly
Manjula and I
Being honored at the assembly
There were a lot of moments this summer that I was filled with tremendous joy and other moments where all I could do was cry. This was a summer full of hard work, intense emotion, lots of love and Thousands and Thousands of tiny miracles!
Joy
