Photos of Dad

Siblings on the beach

In this photo, we're at a picnic at the beach.  My Dad hated the beach, but if the family went, he usually went, too.  Here he is (on the left) in his usual beach clothing (button-down shirt and slacks), doing his usual beach activity:  reading the newspaper.  Isn't that what everybody does at the beach?  

The man to his immediate right is his younger brother, my uncle.  I would appreciate your prayers for him - he is having surgery next week.  In the last few years of my father's life, my uncle came to visit him frequently, even though it was a long way to travel.  A great example of a faithful brother.

In honor of my Dad's birthday today, here are a few more photos of Dad, doing things he loved.

Trying an interesting mode of transportation

We are riding on top of the car, through the desert in Pakistan.  That's me in the middle, my Dad on the right.  We got in big trouble for traveling this way - not a safety issue, but a cultural issue.  You'd think the safety issue would have been enough incentive for us not to do this.

Singing, in costume

"Oh, a pirate's life is a wonderful life!"  That's my son on the right, playing a diminutive Captain Hook.  He's a bit taller now.

He was a chess and scrabble fiend.

Cooking: squatting like a Pakistani while shelling cardamom pods

When my Mom went back to work, my Dad took up cooking. He learned how to make the cuisine of his childhood - Punjabi cooking.  He made chapattis (flat whole-wheat bread) from scratch, cooking them right on the burner's open flame, flipping them with his bare fingers.  They puffed right up like pillows!  He made the best dal (lentil stew).  Shah Jehani Biryani, Murgh Methi, Aloo Mattar, and more.  

Such a fascinating life he lived.  He always looked for chances to show us, his children, interesting things and places.  He was always learning.  I'm thankful to God for his life.