Naeva Week 3 - Time to go to Costco, We’re out of milk

 Week 3: Time to go to Costco, We’re out of milk - 09/23 [5:55 PM]

It’s not crazy to say I have little to no memories of my childhood. I don’t think anyone can recall the exact moments of their lives from years ago, however, out of the events I can remember, one of the most vivid is the one of my dad sitting across from me and my silver glass filled to the brim with milk. 


“If you don’t drink this, you won’t get taller Naeva”


An irrational fear of staying 2 feet tall overcame me, and I drank the milk so fast a sort of mustache formed around my mouth.


Throughout my life, milk has always been constant in my life. The last day at Thornton Middle School involved plans for brown sugar milk tea and freedom. That summer was also the year my parents learned that they had their own personal chai maker: half a cup of water, two spoons of chai masala, nutmeg, and sugar. Lastly, a quarter cup of milk was added, which made the murky tea water turn into a wonderful pool of light brown. Every two weeks at Costco, I walk into the freezing dairy section to pick up a container of Kirkland A2 Organic Milk. In high school, it came in the form of a matcha latte with two pumps of vanilla, which carried me through my first experience with high school level finals and after school study sessions. When I fell sick, a cup of haldi (milk and turmeric) was set next to my bed.


My dad still tells me I need to get taller, and I will admit I may not have been drinking enough milk to fulfill that request. Despite my lack of calcium, this drink has managed to sneak into the fondest memories of my life, and it's good to know that in the future, when I go to college or start my first job, I will always have a drink full of memories waiting for me.




Comments

  1. Sanvi SinhaSeptember 29, 2026 at 8:51 PM

    Hi Naeva! This was such a sweet and wholesome read. The thought of you chugging milk as a kid just to avoid staying two feet tall got a chuckle out of me.

    I love how you tracked key moments of your life through something as simple as milk. It’s funny to think how the most routine, mundane things end up carrying so much nostalgia. This post hits close to home because I have been through these exact experiences myself. From learning how to make chai for the first time alongside my mom until I inevitably became the designated household chai maker, to discovering matcha for the first time and sticking with that same order since. Funnily enough, I am drinking chai as I type this right now!

    It's so comforting to me realizing that no matter where we end up in a few years, those tiny yet familiar habits will always keep us connected to a part of who we were. That picture you attached to this blog is absolutely adorable and I have to say this is my favorite blog so far!

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  2. Sanshray VakkalagaddaSeptember 30, 2026 at 5:26 PM

    Hello Naeva! Noticing something as innocuous as milk being interwoven with your identity and your life opened my eyes to the amount of things that stay constant throughout my own life that I simply disregard or do not notice. It is honestly amazing to see how the smallest things in our lives somehow sneak their way into many aspects of our identities, such as milk getting you through both the ups and downs of your own life. Spending some time simply looking for these constants and taking a moment to simply appreciate them was a humbling experience. Reflecting on my own life, something that always shows up, are books. A cozy novel always helped cheer me up after a rough day and a tragedy kept me humble during my brightest hours. Anytime I had nothing to do, I simply reached for and cracked open a novel and kept myself busy for the next few hours. Even today, I find myself grabbing my kindle on long airplane rides to visit my family in India and I can not wait to see where my own constant takes me along the journey of life. Hopefully, milk continues to be a beacon emanating positive memories for you as well, as you set out on your own expeditions.

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  3. AudreySeptember 30, 2026 at 9:38 PM

    Hi Naeva! I love how you built your identity on the influence of milk. I can relate to your experiences as when I was younger, milk also had a big impact on my upbringing. I remember in elementary school–my mom would warm a cup of milk in the steamer every morning; telling me that it was beneficial for bone strength. I used to dance, so my mom would convince me to drink 2 cups per day by saying it would build my core and strength–making my dances better. Nowadays, I still drink 2-3 cups of milk, but out of habit and choice (since I don't like most fizzy drinks or juices). I still drink Costco milk and occasionally like to have it with a cookie or in a bowl of cereal. I also find myself adding milk into pasta along with cheese sometimes for an extra smooth/creamy taste. I also love matcha lattes as well! I like to mix matcha and milk along with icecream, honey, or redbean for the perfect sweetness. Overall, I find it cool and intriguing how we both had a similar experience with milk.

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  4. Shon KhistiSeptember 30, 2026 at 9:48 PM

    Hi Naeva! I hope you are having a great day! I really enjoyed how something as simple as milk has stayed with you throughout your life. I am not sure if this is too niche of a reference. When I was little, I hated drinking my milk so my mom would mix Bournvita, an Indian cacao powder, that made the milk taste heavenly. I also always refused to follow my dad into the Costco freezer, because I hate the cold. Additionally, I have not met a single person who likes the taste of haldi, what are your thoughts? I feel like the various routines you described like making chai for your family have all come together to form crucial parts of your identity. The milk itself was never the important part, it was the fact that the development of milk throughout your life created traditions that have built your identity. It is really cool how one symbol like milk; can have both feelings of nostalgia and excitement about the future. Do not get me started on the white lies our parents told us to get us to do things. My parents used to tell me the same exact lie, that if I did not drink my milk I would be short. They also told me that if I ate the watermelon seeds, a watermelon plant would grow in my stomach. I think at some point, little me had to realize they were messing with me. I was a pretty gullible little kid. Your post showed me how almost negligible details about your daily life can turn into the most crucial parts of your identity.

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