A Saturday afternoon stretching into evening - alone at home, tired of watching/reading repeats on Terrorism, Economy, Politics; melancholy taking over and asked myself the meaning of Life today. A long read expression maybe incomplete but…..still significant.

Once Life meant:
A winter evening, Four friends, Mild Rain, Four pegs of Rum…

Once Life meant:
100 bucks for petrol, Two rusty old bikes, An open road..

Once Life meant:
Maggi noodles, A hostel room, 3.25 a.m..

Once Life meant:
1 Prep leave, 1 night, 1 book, 8 duffers..

Once Life meant:
1 girl, 1 number, 4 friends, and a fight..

Now Life means:
old friends, separate cities, separate lives and endless efforts to earn..

Deepavali as I remember two decades/decade & a half back……

The preparations used to start right in earnest the next day of Dushera. Cleaning of the house to be done - all the cupboards to be emptied, with shouts of joy finding the same things over again (never mind that they would be kept back in the same place for another year) sheets, curtains to be washed in the olden days, then came dry cleaning, the entire house to be washed; lots of savories chakli, mathia, gathia, puri (3-4 varieties) amongst others & different variety & array of sweets to be prepared. This entailed kids to be shooed out since they would insist on tasting everything. No matter the women in the house would taste everything & then also invite criticism…Woe betide anybody who dare say something bad…. Read the rest of this entry »

May this festival of lights protect you & your loved ones; fulfill your wishes, dreams & ambitions; bring peace, happiness, prosperity that helps you make a bigger difference in the coming year.

Wishing you Happy Diwali & a Prosperous New Year

A couple of weeks back, received a unique invitation from a dear friend Ian Pereira www.ianpereira.com an extremely talented & well known photographer heralding his turning the magic number, just when I was recovering from my long list of body damages over the past 6 months & wondering to myself if the year was going to be devoted to Doctors!

Though against doctor’s advice, decided to attend the Do; more from the perspective of wishing & participating in some enjoyment for the evening.

With the doctor’s & wife’s remonstrations ringing in my ears set out to the party, braving the Saturday traffic, reached the venue in Bandra!

And surprise……whilst there were the usual suspects, met up with a completely different set of people, some who had not met for the past couple of years. Whilst Ian had his friends, his son, a young strapping lad also had taken the liberty to invite his friends, making it a lovely mix of age. http://www.flickr.com/photos/91638357@N00/sets/72157606291686564/

Nursing a small drink, touched base with friends old & new on what was new in life for the past couple of months. Whilst the music went up & down, it was the lovely 70’s & 80’s that created a sense of nostalgia. Along with the conversation, since most of us were 40+ (not the jeetendra kind).

Finally staggering out (not me) we were pretty pleased with ourselves & promised to celebrate such events more often…..Since LIFE BEGINS AFTER 40!!!

Dance like there’s nobody watching.. Love like you’ll never get hurt.. Sing like there’s nobody listening.. Live like it’s heaven on earth.. And speak from the heart to be heard. Wish you a beautiful, bountiful NEW YEAR…..Anaggh, Nippa, Kannagi!

My first trip to Chicago, a city I fell in love with for the pizzas, blues, wide open spaces, lovely restaurants et all

Alas, have never managed to go there again, but shall soon!

The past 15 weeks have been one of great turmoil.

AND

The past 3 weeks a period, of the greatest personal turmoil in the last decade. Read the rest of this entry »