I need to convert to Indian.

Yeah, you'd get money ALL THE TIME. Also, I'm supposed to send money and/or gifts to all my female cousins and my sister just because I got this new job. I haven't gotten around to that yet. But technically, I'm still an intern anyway.

Of course, you pay for it by being part of a culture that thinks, "Hey, if your husband dies, you might as well kill yourself too because there's no use living after that. Also, when you get married, you take not only your husband's last name but also his first name as your middle name, because the patrilineage is the only thing that matters. Also, when you're ovulating, you're unclean, so stay out of the temple. Plus, you pretty much exist to cook your husband dinner, so just do that."

I think that any of us who have a family could make a list of these rituals. It's payback for having once been the recipient of family generosity ourselves, and and the price of knowing that our own kiddos will get the same feeling of belonging.

Yeah, I know, it's just that it's all coming at the same time, and I barely have a sense of budget since I'm still in transition, and spending money freaks me out.

It's a yearly ceremony called raksha bandhan where the female cousins and sisters tie a little bracelet around their brothers' wrists as a symbol of their affection, and then we vow to protect them, and then we pay them because we love them so much.

Wow. Harsh.

Is it a very shiny bracelet?

Is it a very shiny bracelet?

Did you go to the website? There are pictures. There are all sorts of varieties. I opt for the more boring ones myself because, really, the shiny both itches and falls off in the shower after a day anyway.

It's fun to wear as many as possible, though. You have to keep them on for about a month, until Navratri.

It should be noted that I actually really like the ceremony and think it's very sweet. I'm just having a very spendy month, what with outings planned for the next two weekends and a move in three weeks that requires me to finally buy my own monitor and then a lot of furniture.

Also, I hate being told exactly how much to give because that means I have to give that amount.

Gift-giving occasions often make me grumbly. Especially since I'll (probably) never have a wedding or a baby. I think "single" non-parents should be able to have a big shindig and collect on all the swag that they've had to give over the years. What could we call it?

ETA: I don't mind wedding or baby gifts for friends or relatives. It's the fucking work ones that drive me insane. First, there are so many of them. Second, I don't usually like them well enough (or at all) to want to give a thing, but if you don't you look like an ass. Drives me craxy.

Also, when you're ovulating, you're unclean, so stay out of the temple.

Ovulating not menses? I've never heard of the ovulating thing.

{{Bev}} You and StE remain in my thoughts and prayers. I'm confident that he feels all the loving support and is working hard at coming back to you. It sounds like he is progressing well. Yay for no surgery.

Health ~ma to S and calm ~ma to Sean.

Happy Birthday Empress!!! Have a royal day.

Sorry about the ick expense Nora. Cars suck.

No, sorry, I meant menses.

It led to some awkward moments in high school when my mom was passing out some prasad for good luck before a competition, and she took the girls away for a little talk, and then one of them stood away from the others, and I was all, "Here, have some," and she shook her head, and I was confused, and then maybe I got it.

Also, when you get married, you take not only your husband's last name but also his first name as your middle name, because the patrilineage is the only thing that matters.

So, I'd become Stephanie Sunil Spectral-Bovine?

That's....even more claustrophobia-inducing (to me) than the Western tradition of taking your husband's name. Yeesh.

Though I'd have a cool monogram.

prasad

This made me laugh because I have a friend named Prasad and my first thought was, "Jeebus, Marny, and Jacob..she's trying to marry him off, too???

I'm getting girly on your asses!!

Third day in a row I have worn a dress to work.