Curtains ! 2015

Curtains for another year !

The year end saw self and family on a quite get-away to Pondicherry !.

A charming town , primarily tamil and french 

 in culture with much influences from all over & Home to some iconic institutions like the Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville .

As i took blessings from the tusker at the legendary Manakula Vinayagar temple , or spent time in contemplating at the Aurobindo Ashram or soaked in the sunrise at the puthukuppam beach by the resort we stayed at or the visit to the matri-mandir at Auroville , prayed for a sublime 2016 !

May 2016, see me making more inches towards my dreams, self-reliant, content , and grateful!

Amen to that !

Welcome 2016 !

An Odyssey most Unique

I ponder ... a lot in solitude !
When i walk and  spend quiet moments with myself !

Fortunate to walk by a relatively large water body , i was fascinated by the scene of an egret swooping down from the sky and swimming gracefully across the breadth of the lake.

So beautifully free and and unlike no other ! She was to my mind a symbol of holding on to one's own in  a large unknown terrain ...

Just believing in herself , to fend for herself .. to soar and float , not unnerved by the vast expanse of uncharted waters..

To me, the tiny egret was an allegory to each of our unique odysseys through life !

The only tool we need to wield is a  strong belief in our-self ..Then its a happy road to unravel... this life !

Appa is 75!

Wow , a milestone ..

Appa turns 75..

My Superhero , an erudite scholar,a  phenomenal number cruncher and a true Karma Yogi , whose life is a lesson !

Keep rocking Appa..
and keep inspiring us !

Happy Birthday and many many more happy returns of the day !

A Random Rainbow

Spotted a beautiful rainbow ! Have always been fascinated by one !

It appears unannounced , a spectrum , a spectacle , a play of water and light , nature feeling mirthful ?!

A synthesis and dispersion at the same time ! A stunning paradox !

Mythology has many references to a rainbow . Perceived as a Sign for hope , for rejuvenation  to the popular myth of a leprechaun hiding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow ....

I regarded the rainbow from a window .. A random rainbow , i thought  and just then remembered some that i have read "When its' done you will discover , it was never random !"

A Dream Inch

Have always fancied myself to be a public speaker !

One of those things you are terrified of , but would be absolutely delighted to have been there , done that !

One of those " Dar ke Aage , Jeet hai " moments !

Its a dream as it were !

I took wonderful strides towards my dream with the Colour-Tree story telling workshops .A beginning of this story i document here...and else where...

Kids and Stories  i love , and there was not much of a fear factor .

What with adults ! I just had the right opportunity  when H came calling !
A finance workshop for Non Finance folks of a large corporation .

Did i bite off more than what i could chew ! who knew !
All the frantic preparation and i was here at a large Leadership Development Centre , living out a dream of being a Corporate trainer and felt like this !

I trembled and I did !

A small inch traversed in the long journey to my live my dream !

The experience was no cake walk but as H beautifully put it "Some Goals are so worthy , Its glorious even to fail !

A dream inch indeed and thank you H for nudging me to take that inch

Remembering a beautiful soul

She would have been 100 today !

Such poise, grace,fortitude , kindness and wisdom.

I know her , from the many stories she passed on .. to her son and daughter in law. And from the fond remembrances of her near and dear ones.

She is Rajalakshmi Iyer, my grand mother in law

Wish i had the chance to meet you ....
soak in your grace.. learn from your wisdom.....


Fond remembrances on your 100th birthday and
Many pranams to the beautiful soul you were, Rajam Thathi.

Bestie Fest !

P and Kids are visiting and are we a happy lot !

The much awaited trip has been made and plans drawn to make each moment count !

Day trips , local delights, picnics and beach mornings !
and loads of catching up , sharing notes , hashing the past, and plotting for the future!

A delightful excursion to the Elephant sanctuary at Punnathur Kota , watching around 60 tuskers being tended to love and patience is the highpoint of the visit !

Time made most special by a BFF , am blessed to have ......

Thank you P !
You make my journey so wonderful !

Curtain Raiser!

Its that time of the year !

When a joyous festival unfolds..
A celebration unparalleled !
A fiesta that brings out the best all around us !
When nature comes alive ... coffers fill with something precious !
The date for an event we cannot afford to miss...

The Monsoons !

As Dark clouds raise the curtains for a magical season ,  i book a seat by my window to watch the spectacle !

The Season of lush is here !

USA -Summer of 15

After a month or so of prep and finishing up the school term in March , Girls and I are all set for our sojourn to America !

We have a month to spend with 10 days in the east coast and about 20 in the west where S is scheduled to join us!

A month to soak in the beauty that America is .. and tick items off the bucket list with the Kids-Niagara Falls, NYC, Cherry-blossoms at Washington DC around the monuments, Seattle, The Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Disney Land At Anaheim LA, with a final touchdown at Southern California in the Silicon valley and the Golden Gate in San Francisco!

A whirlwind of a month travelling, catching up with family and friends and tasting diverse palates

We return with a box full of memories , richer with all that we have learnt !

Dost in Town !

N is in kerala and catch up i need to !
Girls and I drive long hours to get to the Jew town in Kochi!

There she is regal, elegant and as poised as ever.
We talk , make the best out of the one hour or so we have  , amidst grabbing a meal.

She and I go a long way!
Hold her in my mind as a role model...
for the way she articulates her thoughts,holds herself tall and stands up for what she believes in !

So long Dost,
till we meet again !

My tryst with Masters!

After some stumbling ... Spluttering ... Struggling and recovering ...

Did find myself keeping my date with the second year Masters  in English exam ...

Heart warming poetry , gripping drama , fascinating novels from American ,Indian and post colonial literature weaved into my psyche ...

More words ... More insights ... More understanding ...

Touched by them...

Enriched by my tryst with Masters ..

A gift most special

Tiny fingers of my little one at work one minute ... 

A painting sunning in the balcony a bit later ...

A curious pink box placed on the green terra in the
painting ...

What is the pink box doing in a nature painting I wonder ...

as she writes a few words on the box and gives it to me ...
Ah ... The gift after my own heart