Author Archives: rkpaulus

About rkpaulus

Writer. Mom. Wife. Basketball coach. Lover or all things chocolate. Winner of bubble gum jar! Grace is my oxygen.

Don’t Do This When You Give up Chocolate…Just Don’t

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As I thought of the challenges that I’ve faced in this last month, the hardest one has definitely been saying goodbye to my Grandma, who was affectionately referred to by all as “Biji” or “Mother.” I still have my moments. Especially when my ears crave just one more listen of her sarcastic commentary on life and all around her. Days before she passed, she made fun of my mispronunciation of a word in Punjabi. We laughed for several minutes as she gave me yet another grammar lesson over the phone. And then after she told about all fifteen body parts that ached, she said, “Other than that, I’m good.” And we laughed some more. Sigh. Will miss her. A lot. 

My sincerest thanks to everyone who has reached out to my family and me during this sad time. The physical and virtual hugs have all been received and help. More than I can express in words.

So as I sat alone in my house for the last couple of days after returning from the funeral, I’ve spent a lot of time reading since writing takes energy. 

But today, I feel ready to write. Something. Hope it makes you smile and reminds you that you’re not the only one out there who does silly things after you make a hard decision. Continue reading →

You’re Never Ready…

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When I think about the times in my life when I just wasn’t ready. I can think as far back as my first day of high school. My first basketball game when the coach called me off the bench to run the court. My first day of college was the worst. I cried for possibly six hours straight after my parents drove off.

And then there was my first day at a real job. So nervous, standing in front of all the sixth grade students who stared at me for direction. I still felt like a kid.

And then the day hubby and I arrived at the hospital to give birth to our firstborn. My water broke and I thought I had just wet my pants. “You’re staying,” the examining doctor told us. “You’re having your baby today.”

“Today? As in now? As in today?” I was in shock. She wasn’t due for two more weeks. I wasn’t ready. Continue reading →

Where the Island Ends…

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Went to the city to meet up with my college roomie! Hadn’t seen each other in ten years. With husbands and kids in the mix, it only made sense to head to Central Park for a gorgeous New York afternoon of play and catch-up. What I love about Central Park is how in the midst of one of the busiest cities in the world, there’s this carve out of grass, park benches, bike paths, gardens, miniature lakes, and playgrounds that make for a perfect pit stop before diving into the next week of hustle and bustle. The West Side sandbox park was perfect for the age ranges of all our kids, and while Sarah was climbing up a stairwell, and then the railing, I heard her squeal, “I’m on top of the world!”

Got me thinking. What is it about reaching the peak or finding the end or touching the bottom that appeals to us as humans? Why do we often journey till we reach a limit? 
Continue reading →

Why Do You Run?

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When I was little, I played tag with my neighbors, friends and my baby sister. It’s what you do when you’re a kid and it takes the least amount of debating when there’s a lot of kids who want to play.
I could run pretty fast back in the day. So as I entered my elementary years, I joined the track team. I ran in the 100 meter dash and I was usually leg three of the four member relay race. I still remember the jitters like it was yesterday over the fear of dropping the baton during a transfer. I never did. But not one race went by that I didn’t worry. 

The Worth of A Seed

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I own four indoor plants. Two are the ever hardy, never-say-die, heart-leaf philodendron plants. I grew up calling this a money plant. The other two are a plant my daughter brought home on a field trip and a tiny little thing my daughter’s teacher gave me for Christmas in 2010. The bad news is I’m a negligent parent when it comes to my green babies. The good news is, these babes are the ultimate low maintenance kids, and I strategically have three of them near my kitchen sink. When I wash dishes, if I see a frown on one of my green girls, I swoop a cup of sink rain over her drooping branches and pray for a miracle. That it wasn’t too late. And between the sunshine that beams through my kitchen window and the just in the nick of time thirst quenchers, my plants are still alive! 

I know it might sound cliche, but it never ceases to amaze me what can spring up and grow from the humble beginnings of a teeny-tiny seed. Continue reading →

My Sexy Spring Cleaning Spouse

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I am not too fond of cleaning, and organizing is not one of my top loves. Outside finding good uses for dark chocolate and writing that is. And don’t worry, I’m almost ten days into Lent, and I’ve been good. I’ve developed a minor lip twitch, wake up grouchy, and my right leg shakes uncontrollably. Other than that, I’m good.
When I married Sun, I should have known that one day, we’d be proud owners of lots of organizers. Baskets, bins, crates, and hooks. My baby loves them all. If you were looking for hubs this week, sightings of his smiling face were reported in the aisles of Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Crate and Barrel, and my favorite and yours, good ol’ Target. The first two are stores that make my head spin and leave me wanting. Cuz my super-saver self just cringes at the prices, and I prefer deciding between candy bars over shoe racks any day. Continue reading →

If I Won an Oscar…

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Sorry this is a few days late, but I have a confession to make. I didn’t want to tell you. That I was giving up something for Lent. In case I failed. And then I’d be a half-hearted Lenter, in which case, why Lent at all?
I didn’t grow up Catholic. But I’ve always had plenty of friends each year, back to when I was in college, who planned, thought through, and followed through on forty days without a certain item, activity, or most often a particular food or drink. 
When I was a college senior, I decided to give it a whirl. Continue reading →

Cheaper by the Super-Dealio

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Photo Credit: Diane Manjula Benjamin
Let’s define the word “cheap,” shall we? I mean, can’t a person just be financially responsible and not be considered cheap? Can’t a person just make good use of all his/her resources, be happy to live with a little less than the “best name brand” and just live a simpler life without being labeled cheap? Why is it that if you like to find a good deal, and when you’ve found a great deal, people automatically label you as “cheap.” I think they’re just jealous they didn’t get their hands on that great deal first.

For those of you who like to save, you’ll be able to relate to this. For those of you who like to spend, you’ll have some standards to go by before you call someone “cheap.”

Top TEN ways you know you’re a “Cheapie” like me! Continue reading →