Pramila Jayapal

Pramila Jayapal Instagram – One week ago, my sister and I immersed my father’s ashes in the Cauvery River in India. He was 93 and passed away peacefully. Clearing out his stuff, I am reminded of who he was. He and my mother loved parties, dancing & entertaining. He loved singing & would often call us and sing Stevie Wonder’s “I just called to say I love you.” He was super competitive, played endless games of Phase 10 and hated to lose—even to the kids! He was a perfectionist, demanding order in everything, even folding laundry before he put it in the wash. He couldn’t throw anything away, so his closets were full of empty little boxes, airline freebies, even broken suitcases. He got sustenance from daily 60-90 minute walks, rain or shine, at a pace that had us running to keep up. He was loyal & would help anyone in need. He possessed a genius math/engineering mind, scoring at the top of the all-India exams, setting ambitious goals and meeting them. When he and my mom moved to Indonesia in 1969, they charted new territory in an unknown place. He travelled for work & then more with mom following her passions. He supported my mother’s many careers as teacher, author and counselor. He believed completely in education, and that his daughters could achieve anything with it. Unlike many of his era who wanted to have sons, he always wanted daughters. He sent us away to college in America at 16 when he had nothing in the bank, because he wanted us to have all the opportunities available. I don’t think there was much thought to how we would never live on the same continent as them again. As we all came to realize, children being far away as their parents age is but one of the prices of migration. It wasn’t all perfect—like everyone, he had flaws & we had our rough patches. But as I sift through all the memories, I see how much of him is also in me and I am grateful. As we put his ashes in the beautiful rushing river, sky above as blue and clear as could be, trees swaying, it was the perfect place & moment to send him on his final journey. While the hole in my heart is there, it is now growing the flowers of memory & gratitude for all he was. Om Shanti, dearest Papa. May your soul attain moksha. ❤️ | Posted on 01/Feb/2025 23:02:11