Quick Bite!

Okay, here's a quick Indian sandwich (bread roll) to make - it's simply delicious, and I HAD to share with you :

Ingredients:

2 slices of bread
1/2 cup milk
1 boiled potato
1 tsp chopped onion
1 tsp grated carrot
1 tsp grated cheese
1 tsp green chutney or cilantro + green peppers chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

1.Grate the boiled potato and mix all the ingredients except the milk and bread
2.quickly dip the slices of bread in the milk and fill all ingredients and press hard together to make a roll ( a dumpling) with the filling in the center
3.brush with olive oil on the top
4.In a pre-heated (400 degrees) oven, bake for about 10 -15 minutes, or until done to touch and sight.

Enjoy ! It's d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s !!!

The Neighbor

As I looked out of the window with my morning cup of coffee, a van that seemed to belong to the movers came and stopped in the neighbor's driveway. A bunch of boys quickly got down and one of them who seemed to be their supervisor began to shout orders at them to move it!

Furniture that seemed to be very expensive was carefully carried inside piece after piece. And finally after about six to seven hours, the hustle died down and the voices slowly started to drift away.

I was bursting with curiousity to see who had moved into the house next to mine. I could hardly wait till the next crack of dawn and finally when I couldn't wai any longer, I decided to carry a quick bite of dinner for my new neighbors, late that very evening. As I was walking up their driveway, I felt a familiar sense of excitement - it always excited me no end when I had to meet new people. I perceived this an opportunity to know people, their attitudes, the million different personalities and the hundred other ways each person's mind ticked away! The human canvas always intrigued me.

I reached the doorstep, and rang the door bell. After what seemed to be a brief 30 seconds, I heard a flurry of footsteps inside, right behind the door. I patiently kept waiting for the door to open. Me, ready with a bright smile and a welcome-to-the neighbourhood speech ready on my lips. But nothing happened. I kept patiently waiting shifting my weight from foot to foot. After a good 15 minute wait at the door and repeated ringing of the doorbell, when nothing seemed to happen, I decided to give up and turn around. I just left the food at the doorstep and left with a puzzled expression on my face.

The next morning, during my coffee routine of looking out of the window I saw the woman! So, she is my neighbor I thought to myself. She was indeed a very beautiful woman, with hair that glittered like gold in the sun - tall and poised.
I quickly approached my end of the fence to pipe in a hello, and to accept her thank you for the food last evening. I barely reached the fence, and she quickly turned on her toes and dissappered into the house. But before she went in, she signalled and waved at me from the doorway, and threw me a smile- that meant nothing to me!. I had caught a glimse of her eyes - they were filled with the softest look, filled with a million expressions in that brief moment!

I felt blood rush to my face - I was angry. She certainly did not have the courtesy and manners to match her ethereal beauty, I thought. Like all humans I think I wanted to quickly satisy myself that she lacked something too. She had a fault, and I had found it! I quickly came back in.

In the week that followed, on one of the days I was busy shopping for groceries at the local store. I thought I saw a familiar figure paying at the cashier's - I quickened my pace and as I stepped past the people, carts, kids, I saw that she was already at the door. She again smiled a fleeting smile in my direction and dissappeared. So, she did recognize me! Now what hurt most was that inspite of knowing it was me, she had ignored me! Amazing. I had never met someone so arrogant. And what was she proud of afterall ? Didn't she know that looks and wealth were never permanent? Here I was trying to extend my hand of friendship to her, who was new to the neighborhood and she kept thwarting me ? It hurt.

The next Sunday, one of the neighbors had a pool party that was the highlight of the summer in the neighbourhood. As I was busy munching on the goodies and explaining the flaws in a latest movie to a friend, I saw her walk in. Elegant and beautiful. All heads turned and there was a brief moment of silence. Before I knew, my exuberent hostess ran to receive her, and gave her a big welcome hug. I never got one from this very host, inspite of being the best neighbor ever - I walked her dogs, I watched her kids on a Saturday night, I cooked for her and even took care of her lawn at times. So, why not me? What had this angel done to walk into my territory, walk over me and take over my friends?

I didn't want to stay any longer - I told my hostess that I had to go to the airport to receive a friend and left the party.

For the next month or so, I saw all my friends in the neighborhood go in and out of the pompous diva's house ( I had named my new neighbor that). I felt left out. What had I done to deserve this? Anyway, who cared ?

Time flew by, and a season changed. Fall was here. I had stopped looking over my neigbor's yard with the coffee long ago. The curtains remained drawn.

After a long dull spell, I had gotten a call this morning!! It was from my sister and that she would be visitng me! At last there would be some activity in my now lonely life - even if for a few days. I had already made my plans of where to take her and what I would do with her! I was so excited - we would giggle and laugh just like we did growing up!.

I was late already and as I parked my car in the airport parking lot, I heard the annoucement that my sister's plane had landed. Gosh! I'am always late - I never learn. Thinking about what I could do to better myself, I rushed into an elevator. The doors almost closed on me! I finally got in. The person inside had held it open for me as I had run towards it.

I turned to thank the kind person, but the words froze on my lips. I couldn't hear my voice. I hated this situation - it was the pompous diva! She stood there with the happiest smile on her face, so elegant and untouchable. I hated the sight of her. There was nobody in the elevator other than the two of us.
The moment stood still - I thought to myself that I should not be the one to forget my etiquette and all the virtues that my good schooling and my parents had taught me. So, I said "Thank you". She smiled and nodded her head ! what would she lose if she just said something as simple as "you are very welcome" or even "that's alright"?

Who did she think she was and why did she treat me as if I were the lowest of the low? This got to me - I had to make her speak to me- so, unabashedly I continued the monologue - I said "we haven't met. I'am your neighbor by the way, and have been trying to just say hello to you. I had even left you some food on the evening of your arrival. Did you find it ? I was surprised you hadn't even mentioned it". I couldn't stop spitting out the venom.

Then she smiled a slow smile and raised her hands - and was using the sign language to say something. Oh my God ! She couldn't speak - She was dumb ! And all this time I was busy hating her. When she had signalled the first day to me, she was actually thanking me ! But, I was so blinded with my contempt for her that I could not see beyond.

We had reached the terminal I had to get off on - without saying a further word, I just squeezed her hand and said - "I'am sorry" and got off.

I saw the puzzled expression on her face as I turned around, and the doors of the elevators closed - I'am sure she was wondering - sorry for what ? I knew better - sorry for every negative thought I had about her, sorry for speaking ill about her to the others and sorry for being inhuman. I was sorry for myself...ashamed at my own thoughts....

I couldn't wait to get back home and make up to her ...

My Hundred Years!

I have been standing here, right at this corner of the huge bit of green land, for countless years. I hear them say it is a century now!

Standing here this morning, soaking in the rays of the rising sun, with the chirping of the birds, memories of my life come flooding to me. Wonder what it is about today, but something felt special.

Like my other friends and siblings, I had a very humble beginning too. A little boy brought me home from a forest nearby, and chose a spot for me and there I have stood for the past century ! Unwavering and unabated - a silent spectator to the change of times.

There have been storms, floods, droughts and many a scorching summers. But, I have seen that life goes on. Nothing ever seems to stop for anyone.

It had been a while since I was rooted here, and I remember that day when the little boy who put me here, came along with a rope, and a tire. His father I think was with him and he helped him tie a swing to my now sturdy left arm. The little boy squealed with delight and jumped off and on the swing. I felt as happy as him :)

A few seasons later I saw the little boy come all by himself, followed by an older lady in the distance and come and sit on a bench at my feet for a long time, silently playing with a tiny car and the older lady who seemed to be his mom, sobbed away and was silent after what seemed for hours. She was mute, cold, and seemed to be lost in some untold grief when she kept staring into the fading sunset. At last, she stood up and picked up the little boy who was fast asleep in her arms and walked into the fading sunset that had almost turned into darkness - there was something symbolic about the whole scene. There was a twinge in my heart too - I was sad for them.

A long time later, I found out that the little boy had lost his father.

I kept seeing the little boy time and again - he would come once in a way, run around me, hug me, hide behind me and run back in the direction he came from. It always made me happy to see him. And he seemed to be growing, just like me :)

I was busy living my life too - seasons came and seasons went. Everything that took place around me left it's mark on me in some way - I was growing wiser and older. I saw families of birds come and go, my friends around me turn colors, leaves fall. I simply stood there - tall, strong and firm on the ground.

After I had waited many many seasons, the little boy finally came!! He was not alone :) he had a girl with him !. They seemed to be so happy together! They sat on the same bench at my foot for a few hours, talked and laughed and at the end were suddenly silent. I was worried. They seemed to have had a fight.And, after a little while, the little boy said he was sorry to have hurt her, and they were fine again! I was so very happy to see them go in the direction they came from, hand-in-hand!

Seasons went by, rains came and went and one summer morning I saw the little boy, now turned into a grownup man come towards me with a tiny little fellow in tow! He addressed him as son! They had a rope and a tire and he made the swing for his little one too, who squealed and jumped just like his dad had - many many years ago.

Suddenly I heard a crackle from right side, and before I could react the rope of the swing broke and came lose. But, the little boy quickly rushed with his arms open to catch his little one from falling and actually did it! I was so relieved that his son was caught mid-air and not hurt falling on the ground. My heart warmed up just seeing this.

I had to wait for many many seasons to go past me before I saw my little boy again - when he did come, he had another little replica of himself in tow - and I was overjoyed to hear him address the little one as grandson :) The act of the swing was replayed! I swayed with glee !

This morning, as I stood I felt as if all time was coming to a stand still. What was it that I felt ? I didn't know. Amidst all my thoughts, I heard a roar. Then I saw - a few men with saws were approaching me. I felt a strange anxiety within me. And before I realized, they had begun to tear me apart from right to left!.

I felt a searing pain shoot through my body, I could hardly gather my wits about me. I felt a mixed feeling of both pain and my body float away to something unknown - it was bitter sweet.

As I began to fall, I lifted my head for one last time and there I saw my little boy looking at me - his face as withered as my own, with a look in his eyes as if all were lost in the world, helpless - with tears streaming down his eyes !

I began to fall, me a hundred year old tree - happy to see it all come to an end. I had seen enough for a lifetime!

Goodbye little boy...take care of yourself, and maybe I will see you soon.....

Mumma- look at me ! (A children's story)

The sunrise on the blue lake was the most beautiful one could imagine. But the forest adjoining the lake was the most dense and dark one could imagine.

Baby jumbo the little elephant ran as fast as he could to the river to take a bath. He had to please his mumma and show her that he could do a lot of things on his own now. Mumma elephant was fast asleep and so were baby Jumbo's 2 brothers.

Once baby Jumbo reached the river, he looked at his own reflection in the clear water, and hated what he saw ! He wasn't the same color as his brothers, or his parents, his friends or any of the other elephants he knew in the whole jungle. He was blue ! well, almost ...how did it matter, in the end he didn't look like one of them.

He was almost certain that his mommy did not love him as much - well, you couldn't blame her. He just didn't look like one of them. So, in his little mind, to gain her attention, he was always trying to impress her!. He tried to run the fatest, eat a lot more than his siblings, not trouble her at all even when all he wanted was a good cry and a tight big hug, specially when all his playmates and the lazy elephants lying along the river teased him about how different he looked ! All he ever wanted was his mom to love him !

Now, what baby Jumbo did not know was how much Mumma elephant really loved him. She thought he was so very special and was so proud of him. All that she did when met the other mommy elephants at the river was talk endlessly about her son's special looks - and how blue he looked, and how handsome !. Her special baby was the envy of all eyes !

This morning, gazing at his reflection, Baby Jumbo had a bright idea! One of the elephants who was known to be very wise in the herd of the lazy elephants by the river had mentioned that there was a bush at the western end of the jungle, that was black in color, and if one rolled and rubbed against it for some time, it could turn anything to a dark black color- be it an elephant's skin or even a rock.

Baby Jumbo was so charged at the thought, that he ran as fast as his tiny legs could carry him , and searched frantically for the black bush. It was nowhere in sight. After a persistent look high and low for a full half hour, he found it! Without wasting an extra minute he began to roll over the bush and rubbed himself as hard as he could against it. Once he was conviced the job was done, he ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction to the river. He looked into the water, and he couldn't find himeself - instead there was a black little elphant. He was completely confused! Then it dawned on him that it could be himself - he moved his trunk sideways, and the reflection did the same! He had done it! He had changed himself to look like all of them! YIPPEEEE !!! His joy knew no bounds !!!

He found mumma elephant and his brothers on the way to the river. Baby Jumbo stood along the path, patiently smiling and waiting for them to scream in joy, it could happen any minute now - the moment was here! But to his dismay, they just walked past him - without a second glance. What in the world was wrong ??? His own mumma didn't look at him ?

Baby Jumbo was puzzled. Then it struck him that they hadn't recognized him afterall. You don't smile at strangers do you ? ofcourse not. So they hadn't too inspite of seeing him. Ouch ! what now ? He ran to his mumma then and stopped her and told her the whole story. Mumma elephant just stared him in the eye, and then told him what he never knew. The fact that she loved him so much and also that she was soooo very proud of him, and of his special looks, and his color ! It was exactly the opposite of what he had thought !

Before mumma elephant could say the next sentence, baby Jumbo was running away in the direction of the river faster than his little legs could carry him....maybe to wash away the color ? let's wait and see...

The moral of this story is :

Parents, don't wait for too long to tell your kids that you love them, and to tell them that they are very special to you no matter what they can do and can't do !

Kiddos, don't try to pretend to be someone else without knowing your own worth. You maybe special for the very same reason you are different from the others ! Be proud of yourself !! always,in whatever you do !!

The Gift

Ameesha was jolted to reality when the bus schreeched to a halt at her bus stop - the rubber ground on the asphalt. She quickly got off and started walking towards the unlight street where her home was the second one on the right ! Her walk was not a walk, but more of a run. A shiver went up her spine !

On reaching the porch, she fished for her keys and came out with everything from fruit candy, to crayons, to tissues, to a small car :) She entered the house with her heart pounding, waiting to hear a disgruntled hello, and ready to defend herself for being late from work - but instead there was silence and she heard the pressure cooker go off!

This certainly was a miracle ! Her husband Neel had taken the effort to put on the rice, and dinner was really on the way - she could hardly believe her good fortune :)

Neel wasn't a bad person at all, fulfilled all his responsibilities as a husband and a father, but hated taking on domestic chores in her absence and lent a hand once in a way. He wanted a perfect wife when at home, and a career woman to the core when she stepped out of the house. Well, she could have all the 'avatars' possible, if he only appreciated what she did - specially for him and the family.

She walked into the bedroom and Sarthak her cute little bubbly 3 year old son came dashing at her, and wanted to climb on her, and have her play with him rightaway. Neel on the other hand muttered a gruntled welcome - and Ameesha quickly said "I had to tally the accounts today being the last day of the month- I have been wanting to catch the 5:00 o'clock bus, but I just couldn't leave work in a mess". Neel just nodded and left the room. He didn't really care - for him, she had failed in her role today. Period. He didn't believe in arguing.

Now, how could she explain to him that she was dying to come home early too, play with her son, eat good food and relax for some time. At work she still had left early compared to the other guys in her accounts department where she worked, and the guys who hung on till 10 PM complete with their smoking rounds and gossip and the pizza that the boss had ordered for the team. She just felt so spread thin - where was she driving herself to? Nobody seemed happy with her.

She felt lonely inspite of being surrounded by friends, relatives, siblings, a husband, and a son. Everyone expected something out of her - there was not a single soul around her who did something as simple as a smile for her just because of her being her.There were always unsaid strings attached, loaded with silent expectations to every favor done.
Her neighbour Neeta who promised to help her stich the curtains for the house wasn't doing it for free - she was eyeing being voted for an office bearer's position in the housing association. Her in-laws called her up every other day, again to find out about what she planned to give her sister-in-law for her wedding happening shortly, what she could do to help with her brother-in-law's studies or how she could help her mother-in-laws sister's son get a job in her own department at her office. Her parents wanted to know when she would be able to go to the village to dispose off the ancestral farm land - but,where was the time to do anything at all? And, where were all these people when she was struggling between her job, her son, and they, as a family were going through a financial crisis in the beginning years of their marriage?

Now,even her two good college buddies Aman and Rakesh were now not the best of friends- just because Aman had started a small company recently and did not want to talk about it to anyone for his own reasons and wanted to settle down before he proclaimed it to the world, including Rakesh.
Rakesh on the other hand, had learnt of this venture through Aman's own mother who believed in being a broad cast station when it came to any bit of sensational news she could lay her hands on. As a result Rakesh was angry with Ameesha too . Now who could she explain that either way she wasn't at a fault ? Was it her fault that Aman trusted her with this information ? Wouldn't she betray him if she leaked it to Rakesh ? Well, she had it tough either way !
Aman and Rakesh were entirely different kinds of people - one was very outgoing, and wanted everything life had to offer - the other was content with life and belived in a slower pace. Well, she liked to both of them for what they were, and was happy to have them around her - she wanted to just share a piece of her happy world with them with no strings attached, no commitments, and no expectatations. But was she lucky enough ? didn't seem like at this moment!
She simply, sincerely wished they would all be together again, and have a good time hanging out at coffee shops and share a joke and laugh till their sides hurt - where was the time for such silly squabbles - life was too precious. But, who could drive sense into these ego-centric buddies of her's who were wasting precious time together ?

She brushed all her thoughts aside and quickly set about getting dinner to the table and when she looked out of the window, saw that it had begun to drizzle. After a full two hour's battle with chores and Sarthak's tantrums, feeding him and putting him to bed, she was ready to call it a day.

She made herself comfortable on the sofa in the drawing room, cuddled herself up in a cozy blanket and right then, something on the mahogany side table caught her eye! It was a picture of a little girl with a painting in the back ground - the smile she had was one of the brightest ever - there were stars in the little eyes and she could almost feel her excited breath - the happiness was palpable ! This was the very painting she had made and sent to the little girl she had adopted at the orphange, on her birthday last month - who's expenses she paid for month after month.

The little one had taken the time to pose with her painting, her little gift, to show her appreciation ! That's when Ameesha felt a warmth in her heart.She had afterall made a difference somewhere, in someone's life - it was not all a waste....she smiled a contented smile !!

She dozed off to sleep thinking ...it's such a short life to be wasted on useless things like egos, quarrels, and gossip ! There is so much to do and so little time..

The rain outside had now turned to a downpour....




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Jan 06 is Cuddle up day - So, get up now, go ahead and give everyone in your family a big tight hug and cuddle up with your little ones or your favourite teddy bear :) !!!

Dreams

How many of us really remember what we dream about every morning? C'mmon tell me what did you dream about last night :) cars, stacks of money, food, project deadlines, parents, children or simply....don't remember ? :)

What color do you dream in ? I honestly don't know mine :)

Dreams are formally described as an experience of envisioned images, sounds, or other sensations during sleep. The events of dreams are often impossible or unlikely to occur in physical reality, and are usually outside the control of the dreamer.

The discipline of dream research is know as oneirology.

We as humans are often trying to interpret our dreams (that is if we remember them !), and seeing if there is some message being conveyed to us. Does a nightmare mean that we are being forewarned of an impending mishap ? Does a happy dream mean that we will be bestowed with untold good fortune ? Some of the religions even go to the extent of believing that good dreams are from God, and bad dreams are from Satan himself :) They are many times vehicles of prophecy and history has evidence where predictions were made with these as a basis.

One of the theory of dreams states that dreams are metaphorical translations of waking expectations. There is a fulfillment of these expectations, and thus it frees the brain to respond afresh to each new waking day.

Many hold different views on the purpose of dreams. Some believe dreams serve no purpose at all, while others believe they can help us understand their subconscious thought possesses to overcome psychological difficulties. One theory suggests that dreams help us compensate for the parts in our “total personality” that are underdeveloped in our waking life. A contradiction to this is that our psyche in dreams is the same as our conscious behavior.

There is a very popular theory that dreams help us solve problems we are currently dealing with in our lives, especially psychological problems.Some dreams may reflect upon a problem you are having (and you may even come to a solution once you’ve woken and thought about it), they almost never present a plausible solution during the dream sequence.

Enough said, but I firmly believe that a calm, positive mind is the key to all good things including waking up from a restful night filled with pleasant dreams - innun date your very core with positive thoughts - sleep well, and wake up with a smile!

J Krishnamurty who's philosphy I think is unparalleled, had to say the following on the unconscious mind -

"So it is very important to understand not only the conscious, but also the unconscious mind. The unconscious mind is much more powerful, much more insistent much more directive and conservative than the conscious mind; because the conscious is merely the educated mind which adjusts itself to the environment. He is adjusting himself, as you do, to the environment, to the pressure from outside, but inwardly he is the same - that is, the unconscious is still the residue of the past"

Read the following poem - which talks about dreams as aspirations- dreams that we dream!

Dreams
by Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

Coffee !!

Ah ! My favorite ! I simply cannot imagine starting my day without a steaming kuppa - the invigorating, fragrant aroma is really a fitting welcome to every morning ! I know people who refer to this as 'fuel' :)

My first introduction to coffee as drunk in the western hemisphere, was when I first sipped the bitter dark brew immediately on my arrival to this part of the globe. After a 21 hour flight, when every nerve in my body was screaming for the frothy , milky brew, sweet and hot, a local coffee shop dished out the almost cold, bitter, sugarless, black liquid which they proudly called "coffee". I was almost driven to tears - I missed my mom most at that single moment.

Growing up, morning coffee was an almost sacred ritual - well, I make every attempt to keep it up even today :) A cup of delicious filter coffee - a blend of the right amount of chicory and coffee beans was always handed to me , and every evening was equally aromatic !. A milkman would deliver fresh milk at about 6:30 PM, and nothing could come near the bliss of sipping coffee made out of this !

Coffee they say is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. It is prepared from the roasted seeds—commonly referred to as beans—of the coffee plant, and is usually served hot but can also be served cold. A typical 7 fluid ounce (ca. 207 mL) cup of coffee contains 80-140 milligrams of caffeine, depending on the method of preparation.

There have been multiple researches that concluded that drinking coffee is the best thing you could to yourself or another one contradicted saying it was the worst. Either way, I think it hardly matters to die-hard coffee lovers (including me !) - who cares we live one life, and what's life without COFFEE !!!

There are multiple associations and coffee societies that have been formed, places where they have discussion forums, and recommendations on the varieties of beans and other barista competitions. It is really serious stuff ! And I believe that all honest conversations are had over coffee :)

Growing up, I distinctly remember the 'chai wallas' (vendors) selling "coffee, coffee' on railway platforms, and it used to be the best part of our long train journeys that would range from 1 -2 full days from place to place :). The jingles they used to come up with to sell their coffee was really hummable and catchy :)

Latte, Mocha, Espresso, Cappucino or the Indian filter coffee - whatever that works for you, get it, look out of the window specially on a rainy day, and drink deep from it ! Enjoy it to the last drop :) !

Beautiful moments !

A friend of mine sent these wishes for me this New Year - thought it was nice to post them for everyone:

"Some of the Best moments in Life: Lying in bed listening to the rain outside,...Thinking about the people you love...Finding Money in your old jeans just when you needed...Giggling naughtily with your best friend....Getting a hug from people you love...The moment your eyes are filled with tears after a big laugh...Wishing you these beautiful moments today ,tomorrow and Forever...Happy New Year 2007..."

Have wonderful Year ahead !!!

New Year Resolutions

Another Year gone by, and you'll hear more than one person around you quip "wow ! this year went by so quickly " . Do you really think that time inches faster in some year and slower in some ?

Not really, I think it's all in the perception. Like they say good times fly past very quickly and bad times crawl.

Every year as New Year comes round the corner, I'am exhilerated for nothing else but for the opportunity it presents to begin my life afresh - on a clean slate !. Be it losing weight, to learning skills, to being a better human. It feels like all your sins for the past year stand forgiven :) including the big piece of the chocolate cake that was silently polished off while watching a movie !

What could be some good resolutions ? Again like they say one man's food is another man's poison, ther may never be something that could qualify as "good resolutions" - and I always think it makes very interesting observation when one man's resolution(s) could directly conflict another man's in any given situation.

Make more money ? well, who doesn't need lots and some more :)
Cut out the hidden bulges - There are some that are obvious to the external eye and some little secret fat pouches that you could be honest about and push those abs to get in shape ! Chocolate cake, where's the door ....
Learn new skills - You don't have to be the coolest kid on the block. But you could certainly use some help brush off the dust, from everything that ranges from those books you promised to read up over a year ago to the coolest dance move you always wanted to learn, the new sport you want to pick up, cook your favourite main course - add anything to this list !
Get Organized - throw stuff you haven't touched in the last 2 years. I think it's only fair to make room for newer stuff and move out something that you don't really care about. Again, not true if you are a sentimentalist (if there's really such a term !) like me . I'am a pack-rat and revel in keeping even my pencils and erasers from grade 1 and rhine stones that I collected as a child :)
Travel - get out of those four walls and see newer places - the world is full of greater things you don't know about.

The list can go on - but the bottom line is have fun ! Make this year work for you - make this year wonderful for yourself. I always believe that nothing comes to you on a platter - you get what make for yourself. So, make this one of those memorable years ! Get out, eat well, live healthy, laugh a lot , conquer everything you have ever wanted to, believe in yourself , love your friends, forgive and pity your enemies and dance to life's best beats ever !

Lastly, don't forget to smile a lot !

Have a wonderful Year ahead !!!

Thoughts of You !

I laughed when I first heard someone mention that you missed people or things even when they were right in front of you - I laughed when someone said you missed someone's voice even though you heard them speak every single day - I laughed really hard when someone said you could miss a person's touch even though you were held every single day in those very arms ! But after all these years, it's true - you could miss the very same things , the very same person right in front of you every waking moment ! It's not a person, or a thing - but your quest could be for that little something - that's inexplainable, unachievable and not ignorable - that little lump in your throat that's so hard to swallow, everytime you feel it !


Thoughts of You !

The golden rays of the morning sun,
The sounds of the chirping birds,
The dew on the grass blades,
The blossom of the flowers,
The gurgling of the stream,
The cool, moist grass on the river bank,
The setting sun in the sky,
The sound of the faraway church bells,
The cresent moon shyly coming up in the sky,
The silent language of the twinkling stars,
The powerful surging of the seas,
The mild cool breeze,
The gentle sway of the palm trees,
The sweet fragrance of the jasmine flowers,
The distant music that fills my ears,
The beauty of a child's laughter,
The purity of a mother's love,
The brilliance of moonlight,
And, all that's so pure & untainted,
so true, & untouched,
Everything makes me think of nothing else but you.

Summer vacations !

I woke up this morning with a start - and heaved a sigh of relief that it was just a dream ....

It was the peak of summer, and the school had just shut down. There were the usual good-byes and hugs and kisses between all the friends at school - some were genuine and some were oh-do-I-have-to-do-it kinds. Thinking back, it is surprising how we as humans learn people management even at that tender age. We always knew what topics please a particular friend, what toys to trade or what gossip to exchange with who. The attempt right from the start of our lives is probably to build our own empire - an empire of friends :)

Well, coming back to the story that summer - I think we were in the sixth grade. That season, the days were filled with sweltering heat, the evenings were cool and the coal tar on the roads threatened to melt any moment. If you ever visited some of the areas in India in the peak months of April / May you will exactly identify what I mean and makes you want to gulp down a glass of cool H2O rightaway :)

We were a bunch of good friends that lived in this colony, all about the same age. And a typical summer holiday routine consisted of waking up as early as one could, and start your day by sitting out in the backyard under a tree sipping your glass of milk - well, I hadn't been introduced to the sinful pleasure of sipping coffee yet :). Watch the birds and squirrels go by, then once the clock struck nine, we would get dressed and run out to play in any of the homes. We were strictly not allowed to go out of the house to avoid the dangers of getting exposed to the unforgiving Sun. One of the moms would make something delicious for lunch, and the food vanished within minutes of being put on the plates. Then came the higlight of summer - the king of all fruits - the Mangoes !. Wow ! nothing can match the sweetness or the sheer pleasure of licking at the core or the nut of this huge juicy fruit !. It is definitely an art that yields infinite pleasure when put in action, and something that can equally frighten an onlooker, who can perceive it as the most uncivilized way of devouring the fruit. Believe me, no job yields a great-job-done feel and the heightened satisfaction one derives after you lick the nut clean, and all the flesh of the fruit is safely tucked away in your belly :)

The evenings were full of games ranging from running around a huge playground, hide and seek or just sitting around telling each other ghost stories.

We constantly traded comics with each other and had our set of fights on how we didn't take care of each other's books, or how we were treated unfairly in the barter system. That summer, amidst all of this vacation excitement and hoopla around my cousins visiting us, a new friend moving into the neighbourhood , I had completely forgotten that we were all given a few summer assignments that needed to be completed and turned in at the begin of the next school year. I realized all of this when I was asked to keep my school bag and uniform ready for the next day when the new school year began ! My horror reigned supreme when this realization dawned and I was thinking of a million ways and excuses I could use to tell my teachers why I didn't do what I needed to do....

Right at this point is when I woke up this morning and realized - phew ! that was a dream - thank God !

In reality this would have never happenend to me as my mom would be constantly on my case and I would be court marshalled in case of such a slip-up :) But, who knows - ?

The intricate details of my summer vacations are so vivid in my mind even today - probably because they were such happy times! Like I said above, every evening we would play till we almost dropped asleep and we did all kinds of scary things including when there were times when a few of us who wanted to show our expertise in the playground typically climbed a flag staff present in the playground and sat precariously perched at the top 40 feet high in the air ! I can only imagine my mom's horror if she had found me that way - I'am a mom too today, and my heart races every time my little one tries to jump off the 4 feet high sofa !

How times have changed ? I always wonder if life has suddenly become more precious in some way ? or is it that we have lost the charm and independence of life as we knew it fearless and to the fullest !. I miss those days and times when we didn't have the slightest care in the world, and the fear of the unknown ! Today we live lives that are so full of trepidations and fears that are imposed on us by the society that we live in or are at times self-created.

Where have those wonderful times gone ? Wish we had some magical wand to carry us all back in time ....where laughter rang out...true, honest...unadultrated..the birds chirped...and everyone around wore a smile that rose from their hearts !