Snow Tubing and other first times!

Snow tubing is for me, an extreme winter sport! Only cause you need to brave the frigid weather to experience the exhilaration of zooming down from the top of the hillock!

All in all, it was unique and not too bad as the sun had finally forgiven us and showed up to keep us company. We trotted to the line holding on to our tires on their leashes as they threatened to escape us! An automated zip line carried us to the top as we rested on our tires, just like you would when in a pool, with both legs and hands over it. To give the system some credit, as long as you kept your bottom off the chilled slopes, you were not too cold!

As we lined up the snowy lanes akin to those of water slides, we tried our best to hide from the killer wind chills. Finally as it was our turn, all the excitement returned and we looked to the snowy slopes with a mixture of anticipation and thrill. And finally with the big push, we found ourselves slipping down!! Only the knowledge that ice hurts so much more than water surface tension ever can, brought in a bit of fear... it was however over ruled swiftly by the child within us, who giggled loudly after ofcourse screaming her heart out at the initial plunge!!

Miraculously unhurt, we found ourselves with more enthusiasm and no fear for a repeat run!

My theory that as we grow older our first time experiences go on reducing, is indeed very true!!
Reminiscing I figure that until 10 years ago, in addition to snow tubing, I had never -
1. Traveled alone and enjoyed it or Lived alone and treasured it
2. Moved to a foreign country and made it - twice :P
3. Scuba dived
4. Painted on the beach
5. Tried tequila
6. Skied
7. Soaked in a hot tub on a snowy night with flakes melting in my curls
8. Driven thousands of miles in less than 2 weeks
9. Visited the happiest place in the world - disney land
10. Run the half marathon!
11. Dropped 25 pounds and gained it all back! :(
12. Gotten to know the real me and fallen in love with me
13. Donated time and money
14. Taught 5 year olds... learnt so much more in from them!
15. Tried different cuisines and chose to be vegetarian
16. Knitted
17. Organized events!
18. Bonded so closely with my family
19. Secretly fallen in love with snow (ssssh... don't tell anyone!)
15. and ofcourse gotten Married! :)

I do hope, I keep finding such interesting things to do until I am atleast 80 years old!!!

Keep inventing yourself folks!

2014, wherever did you go!!!

I was just looking at my archives when I realized that I hadn't put up a single post in 2014!!!!!

So to make up for that, I shall write here, about the single most - best happening of 2014!!

The magic of the green bangles

What is it about the colour green that makes it difficult for me to like it, I shall perhaps never know. It is ironical considering the fact that as an Environmental Professional, the word green is synonymous with the name of my profession!

So when shopping for my wedding day, I bought the classic Marathi chuda of green bangles rather unwillingly. However, on the day of the wedding, I was surprised to see, how well the entire ensemble came to together! Or perhaps it had seeped into my psyche that it would look good! Why else would I continue to wear it for 6 consecutive weeks!!  J

Now that I have the punch line, out of the way, let me rewind a few months, to the beginning of 2014. 

Please allow me introduce you to the other important 'P' in my life!! I call us “P & P” and think it has a nice ring to it; ‘Ring’ being the key word here! 

We met in the most conventional way of all sorts. My P always wanted it this way apparently, typically my slightly whimsical self disagrees! I wished there was more randomness to the way we followed that brought us together. I prefer to think that fate played its part perfectly this time and had us hooked to each other!

What instantly drew me towards my P (since day 1), the most was his decisiveness, his quiet confidence and a steady mind at all times. The fact that he genuinely seemed to be fond of me, didn't hurt either!! J

However, we were, still are and probably will always be as different as fire and ice, dawn and dusk! So what exactly is it that binds us together? A mere thread woven with black beads inter spaced with gold beads? A promise made before God, our loved ones or perhaps the most important wow, made to each other! Perhaps time shall reveal this X-factor! So almost 6 months after we tied the knot, I find myself reminiscing about our wedding day. Here are some highlights from my memory!

The wedding venue was resplendent in shades of yellow, white and blue. The circular mandap was adorned with roses and carnations and flowing drapes. As the sehanai announced the beginning of the ceremony, Prashant and I walked in to a room full of smiles.

There is something very endearing about the entire wedding ceremony, the sacred fire spreading the warmth and the cheer and the feeling of love all around! Our ceremony started off with a short puja, a form of an invitation to the Gods.

This was followed by the custom of “kanyadan” an act of handing over one’s daughter to the future husband. As my parents, “my P” and I stood there our palms hovering over each other in a staggered fashion, quiet tears escaped my mother’s eyes. My father’s face contorted in sadness as he attempted to reign in his emotions. My uncle and aunts gathered around my parents, attempting to offer emotional support, but instead they too got entangled in the emotion packed moment and succumbed to tears. Prashant looked on guiltily, attempting to cheer up my mum. He eventually settled for staring off into the far recesses of the venue while I shamelessly giggled at the entire scene unfolding before us!

The next ceremony brightened everyone’s spirits as our families gathered around us, waiting for the bride’s brother to pull the groom’s ears, threatening him of dire consequences if he did not care for his sister!  Siddharth my baby brother, his grin stretching from one ear to another, settled down behind us, waiting in position to do the honours. He tugged so hard on Prashant’s ear that I was afraid it would fall off! As I admonished Siddharth for tugging so hard, willing him to stop; my side of the family started booing me, for taking Prashant’s side even before the wedding was complete! ;)

Next came the havan where we made our offerings to the Gods before a pool of Fire, thanking the Fire God a symbolic messenger who would carry our prayers to the Gods. This was the first puja of sorts, following which we completed our pheras and a cute little ceremony called Sapta padi, in which my groom promised to support me through all phases of life (I grinned in reciprocation). Then we had the mangalsutra ceremony after which my Maa (as I lovingly call my MIL) adorned me with ornaments from head to toe! J Yay me!

After that was the ‘naav ghena’ ceremony... not being a fan of public speaking, I hesitatingly stuttered, “Roses are Red, Violets are Blue; Men like Prashant are rarest of the few!!” (Could not have found a truer or more fitting a statement.)  After a quick sari change, we exchanged garlands and were showered with rice and flower petals by our friends and family.

As I went upstairs for my last sari change, I could not help but gawk at the idea that my life had changed dramatically! While my entire family deserted me (once again... Grrr) it was Prashant who followed me in, attempting to accompany me as I braved my way through the make-up ritual once again! Pankti and Zeni ofcourse kept my adrenaline high as I scurried all over the room attempting to pack everything in all at once!

From that day onwards, I began my wonderful journey with my P as a married couple. To tell you the truth, we are like friends, who listen and hear each other!

I have found the keeper of my heart...and have decided to keep it with him... after all he keeps it safer than me! J

I Do!

I have been groom hunting. When people ask me what your expectations are, I draw a blank. Not because I am hapless person who is cluelessly drifting her way across life, but because people never cease to surprise (or shock) me. And so a checklist of expectations seems foolhardy at this point.

I consider myself to be an easy going and a rather tolerant person who insists on believing that every person has a right to lead their own life, and a right to have their own perspective. I do not judge, not unless you intentionally plan to hurt someone... that just makes you cruel.

So when someone asks me what my expectations are, I rack my brains for a fitting reply. Normally, I would have come up with a logical sequence of things, but in this matter, I am bewildered.

1.       1. Would you be ok with a business family I was once asked. My reply was ofcourse, would they let me work? Ofcourse you can work was the retort.

2.       

2.        2. Would you mind if the guy was not as educated as you, (rack rack rack..)? I responded that I will continue to educate myself and enhance my knowledge, somebody has to earn a living, so yes ofcourse , his educational background has no bearing, provided he understands and respects me.

I don’t think there is any point in telling you all what a disastrous encounter my these two viewpoints managed to create. This particular guy asked me how come I was so confident of myself (why shouldn’t I be?) and if that “overconfidence will turn me so that I will rule him” Rest is best left unsaid.

There were a million other uncouth questions that I rather not broach on this cyber space. An arranged marriage has its merits I have heard. I am choosing to keep my faith in them and….(For my Star Trek fellow fans…… ) “To bravely go where I have not gone before!!! “

Rainwater Harvesting??!!

Hopefully this is the final onslaught of the monsoons.. cause our ceiling has started leaking!

The environmentalist in me has predictably & possibly sub-consciously decided to harvest the previous drops threatening to create a water body in our bedroom! :) ;) Despite this.. was, is and always shall be a big fan of the monsoons! Tip tip barsa pani...

Child's Play??!!

On eve of Teacher's Day I found myself speculating on "What do children teach us?"

The question delivered some surprising results!

They teach us to:
•       Love like you have never been hurt!
My friend’s 2 year old comes running up to me... most times just wanting to be held, always wanting to be pampered or just wanting to be tickled. They never pause to think, what if we the super busy, accomplished adults push them away???.... Are they that comfortable in their own skin, or are they just plain secure? Who
knows!

•       Trust as if there is only goodness in everyone; 
I remember running to a ballon-wala when I was about 5 or 6 years old and handing him my pursue (when it was time to pay for my balloon) cause I didn't know how to count back then.

•       Be laughed at and grin with us at their own silly antiques! 
Again not sure if it’s the security they feel of being the constant receiver of unconditional love, or because they haven’t been introduced to the concept of an insult!

•       Feel overwhelming relief and the true meaning of joy; 
This is definitely cause they have no inkling of what sorrow is and what it can do to a person. I pray they continue to feel this for as long as possible!

•       Innocence as a strength;
Best example is when they first inquire about the bees and birds story. 
A joke I read someplace:
Little boy to a pregnant lady in the doctor’s office: “Is that a baby in your tummy?” 
Lady replies with a smile “Yes!” 
The boy with a little bit of concern “Was it a good baby?” 
Lady replies with a bigger smile “Very good baby!” 
A very scared boy asked “Then why did you eat it?!!”

•       Tomorrow never dies: 
When they forget their fights and “sorrys” seem to fix all the problems in their world!

Guess we all have a great deal to learn from the refresher course on life taught by these very enthusiastic & tiny little souls :)

Sundar Sundar Sangli

I have taken a long leave of absence from this personal cyber space here… mostly cause I haven’t really travelled or noted anything worthy to share. Laziness – a defining factor of the Leonine gene, of course didn’t exactly help things along. Finally, I took a trip (official) to Sangli a district in Western Maharashtra. As a part of my workday, we trotted through agricultural fields for 3 days and what an experience it was! Overcast skies screened us from the otherwise scorching sun that typically lights up this rain shadow region. A light drizzle accompanied the gentle breeze that cooled our weary bodies as we trekked across fields and unpaved dusty roads. The vast expanse of land interspersed with trees and a non-uniform grassy cover reminded me of Texan plains and how they would have looked following a “storm” (my Texan friends call even small rain events storms if they linger for more than couple hours)! I sorely missed my easel and canvass as the countryside lay there as though waiting to be captured on to a canvass or camera reel. It was a perfect setting for a love duet (for our beloved Bollywood flicks), a stage for the female lead seducing her lover to a haunting number! Chopra clan are you listening? J

May Justice be Served

Justice Verma,

I am an educated, independent and compassionate person. I am a citizen of India and am proud to be called so... most days. I would like to voice my opinions in response to GOI's call out for suggestions on amendments to rape laws. It is my earnest request that you take time to read of our fears and pleas for better protection from our legal system.

1.)  Regardless of age, a juvenile or adult rapist MUST serve the same sentence.

2.)  7 years imprisonment seems like an encouragement for these deranged villains who rob victims of their dignity and self respect, to say nothing of their self worth and self confidence. The key word here is self... the aim should be to make the victim feel safe and justice be served upon her, as she attempts to restart a normal life braving her way out with emotional scars.

3.) A minimum of 20 years imprisonment seems like a start for these animals. I would vote for solitary confinement to go with it. Additionally, for special cases, where the assailant has tortured the victim in addition to raping her, death penalty is a MUST. There is no room for compassion for these inhumane crimes and that should be made loud and clear. Sometimes it becomes necessary to make an example of out a few hardened and soulless criminals to deter others who wish to follow in their footsteps. I am afraid, a 7 year sentence maybe acceptable to such criminals who may even think of it as a worthwhile price to pay.

4.) Some are far too gone to be reformed and cannot be trusted to live in this society again. It is the duty of the justice department to step up and protect its citizens and it is high time they serve us well.

Trust you give due consideration to our opinions and fears of living in a society, where women like me have to think twice before stepping out after sundown.

Respectfully

P

I have emailed this to :  justice.verma@nic.in

You can send in your suggestions too.