Yet another great Holi...

Happy Holi to everyone reading this blog. :) Due to inclement weather all of last week, this year's Holi plans were suspect at best. We had a volunteer to host the block party but it was predicted to rain on that day. So, the backup plan was a dry (gulal) Holi somehow. But when the day came (yesterday), it was bright and sunny.

I was still recovering from my hectic week and equally hectic Saturday at LA, when Ruchi woke me up and informed me that the plans had changed and we would be playing a wet Holi after all. Slowly but surely the news registered in my still groggy state of mind. Then in trooped Nalin and Shruti, announcing that they were ready to play and wanted their clothes changed right that instant.

First things first - I calmed the kids down. We took a stock of our super soaker, super blaster water guns from last year. Only mine had survived. I took pity on Ruchi and kids by quickly heading to Target (still in my nightsuit) to buy them water guns. Nalin tagged along since he wanted a "blue" one. Even the cashier at Target could sense our impatience to get out of the store. :) As we headed back, I recalled having informed our new neighbors Dhanraj/YTamini about the plans for wet holi (I could sense some hesitation in his tone --- heck he said "OMG"). I relished the fact that I had new prey to completely drench in color water. :)

Once home, we quickly changed, got some water balloons ready, picked up the food and promptly marched over to the party venue (neighbors backyard). The hosts had neatly laid out all the food, snacks, deserts etc on the tables but as soon as we reached there, gulal fight broke out. :) The hosts were seen scrambling to cover the food. What followed was 2-3 hours of good clean fun - water fights, gulal , food, music, thandai. People kept pouring in ... :) we all had a blast.

In the end, extremely tired, we walked home (our new Chinese neighbors looked at us in amazement), took a bath and went off to sleep. The tradition was continued this year as well - having a great time. Our Holi and Diwali block parties are always a huge success, each one better than the previous.

Note: After vigorous scrubbing and 2-3 baths later, today I am at work and people look at my face and a smile comes on their face. While I can hardly see the color on my face, they see it right away. :) I guess the residual effects of our party are still spreading smiles all around (indirectly). :)

Note2; This morning DM remarked that they had a lot of fun...he said they didn't play this much even when growing up in India. :)

Note3: Already there are three families volunteering to host the next Holi party at their house. :)