The Ironman in Augusta my grandmums name!

 

"Come for my Ironman Mum!" -- said Andy. I know you love our races and you have a few good years left -- just travel and  enjoy your time.

Andy finished well

So David my older boy said, " Ill book your tickets on Virgin and not BA who always loses your luggage. And you have to stopover both ways in London. Better to break journey with us rather than do the long long trip to the US at one go."

 I'm glad I listened as it made the trip really easy to handle and I got to spend a few days in London.

So whats an Ironman for the uninitiated reading this. An IRONMAN is a long-distance triathlon consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile marathon run, totaling 140.6 miles. The distance, originating from a 1978 Hawaii race to determine the fittest athlete, is considered one of the most demanding one-day sporting events in the world and is a branded race series by the IRONMAN Group.

Andrews Ironman was in Augusta, Georgia and I was excited to go and witness it and scream for him. Augusta too was my grandmothers name and his great grand mother and --great great grandmother of the kids! A really beautiful woman from a Goan family from Mombasa.

 

So I flew into London, spent time with my eldest David and family for a few days and then took the Delta flight to Atlanta and then another Delta flight into Greenville -- Spartanburg. All American flights are always delayed and I came in an hour late. Lucky the airport in both London and Greenville are not crazily far away for the boys to drop and pick me.

That boy of mine is a fighter from the time he was a child. And he has inherited Dads and my genes in athletics. What a joy to watch him compete and it reminded me of how he won the Asians and bought his motorbike with the prize money. For Andrew there's no such word as can't -- Dad was tough and brought us up like that and I have passed it down to the boys. So needed in their new countries where they live now.

 Its such a joy to visit the boys. They love us coming and so as long as I can, I will visit both homes. Lucky for me they love India too so they visit once a year as well. And thankfully our girls are Bangalorean too so that pull is forever there!

Alaina was born a premie

                             Alaina was born a premie
 

I cant find the photo but it terrified me to see how tiny Alaina was when she was born and MOST of all the fear on my son Andrews face. Andrews a cardiologist and does procedures and saves lives everyday. Can you imagine what I felt when I saw him in his scrubs with a fragile Alaina on his bare cheat. Its called Kangaroo care and helps the baby who's born prematurely.

Alaina had to learn to grasp toys

Mum we need help. Yes I knew they needed help as they wee in the midst of their certification course in Omaha. I just dumped all I was doing and left staying there for 6 months and helping to look after Alaina while they handled their exams. Thats what a parent is there for. I realised only then that a parents role never stops. They ask and we have to be there.

As a mini mouse at 2 months.

She grew steadily as I visited every year and the bond between us is unbreakable. She may not remember anything but I love my visits, watching her grow into a fine, confident young woman -- topping in her studies and  sports. Both my sons want only the best education for their kids as we gave them the best that we could afford. I have made it very clear that without education a person can never succeed. Its so good to see that the boys reiterate  my words with their kids. Words which my parents said to me.

She was born with no hair and no eyelashes and eyebrows. Today shes lovely with waist length hair and a smile to match. If I dont visit I get calls which are accusing -- you promised to come! You are wasting your 10 year visa.

Ok Alaina -- my times up this year and I have to book my ticket to come. Come and cheer for your races and cheer for your Dads as well!

A parents job is NEVER done -- and anyway why should it be done?

Your great grandfather Wg Cdr Anthony Michael Furtado would be so proud that you have inherited his genes from me and your Dad. We have done the family proud. Dad represented Mysore State, I New Delhi, Andy Karnataka and you Greenville, S Carolina.

What a girl and what joy you bring to us all.