I have barely been able to keep my head above water this past month, which explains the lack of updates on this platform. So what have I been up to this past month? When you have a short summer like ours, you have to make the most out of every day. That's precisely what we have been doing. Going  on vacations, and frolicking with friends. We went to the Cape, visited the Vineyard, and had some beach fun. We also did a lot of local stuff - museums, the neighborhood bike path, the reservoir and the center playground were taken advantage of these past couple of months. Atul was exposed to swimming and soccer over the summer. We had our close friends visit us with their one year old son. The house was brimming with life for that one week and it was a welcome change of routine for us. In other news, I completed my fourth year of service at my company. I remember the apprehensions in the first year, beyond that everything seems to be a blur. It has been an adventurous journey as I witnessed my company transition from being a small start up to that of being a growth driver for a relatively huge publicly company. I have learnt a lot and there is more learning to come as I move forward. On the home front, I managed to do some micro cleaning of the house, which has left me with very little time to tend to the garden. May be that will be my Fall project.

Hope all of you had a happening summer and have slipped into a routine now that the school year is upon us. I can already see shades of yellow in our garden. Time to pull out the sweaters and the jackets out of the closet I say, albeit with some reluctance.

Today marks eight years since Arvind and I joined hands to venture into the journey of togetherness. Every up, every down, every twist and turn has been a thrilling adventure in his company thus far. To me having Arvind by my side equates to peace of mind. The peace of mind that comes from knowing that there may be hurdles along the way, but together we will overcome. That there is someone by my side who will keep the wheels moving should I slack. That we complement each other, in strengths and in weaknesses. That although it may seem like we take each other for granted, deep down we cherish each other's company. That there are no "your" and "my" parents, brother, or sister, just ours. That there is space in togetherness. So Arvind, for all these and more, I feel blessed to be your other half in life. Love in lots and Happy Anniversary to us.

It's hard to believe that eight years have gone by so quickly. Really, it doesn't feel that long ago that I went through the ponnu parkardhu, the nichaydhartham, the wedding, the move to Boston, the student life, Atul's arrival, and the move to our new home. Wanting to refresh some of my wedding day memories, I pulled my wedding album out this evening. As much as I cribbed about the huge crowd, the extravaganza, and the wedding politics eight years ago, today as I flipped through the pages of the album the pictures only brought back delight and fond memories - pictures of thathas and pattis still in the pink of their health, of my parents-in-law together as a couple, of my parents masking their concern with smile and cheer, of A and A scurrying around doing their brotherly and sisterly duties, of my little cousins wearing pattu pavadai chattai, of school, college and office friends gumbals, and of S akka who came all the way from Malaysia to participate in the wedding arrangements. An army of people gathered to celebrate our togetherness, and for that I am eternally thankful.

Days roll into weeks, weeks into months and months into years, all too fast. Here's wishing that you get to relish every second of it in the coming year and always. A very happy and prosperous 2009 to one and all.


A child-like excitement envelopes me at this time of the year. Last year, I had two to three pages of resolutions made, a minuscule of which I accomplished this year. I am fairly sure I will improvise on those resolutions and have a whole new list pasted on my wardrobe as a daily reminder for 2009. Think of this exercise as an annual clean up of my mental clutter.

The highlight of the year was appa's 60^th b'day. It was such blessing to see three to four generations of families gathered under the same roof. I may not have caught up with all the second and third cousins, grand uncles, and grand aunts, or the distant nieces and nephews. Nevertheless, the event was sprinkled with those brief moments that I savored. Like the time my grand uncle talked to me in a tone that a grown up would talk to a child, or when the little niece followed Atul wherever he went, and that cousin who teased me for being such a show off.

Thatha's passing away was my brush with death of a loved one. Life did not come to a standstill, even on the day that he passed away. But there are random times that I think of him, and the realization that he is not there any more feels like a fresh wound. I managed to find a letter he wrote to me that began in his classic opening style, “Invoking the blessings of Sri Rama..”. That was so him. It put a smile on my face, and I know I will reach out for that letter in the years to come. My way of coping up with his physical absence.

Professionally, I made decent progress this year, and there are miles to cross in the years to come. It's an exciting time to be working for a company that predicts bankruptcies. I do hope for all our good that the automotive manufacturers, the retailers, and other market participants come out of the gloom and doom sooner than later.

Parenting got a tad challenging with the kiddie bombarding questions on topics, all and sundry. Why is my skin brown and M's white? Why do only old people die? What is voice message? What do you mean by fascination? Atul teaches me to be silly, to giggle and to live in the moment. As I explain things to him, I get in touch with some of life's fundamental truths. He challenges me to be honest, reasonable and fair. 

2008 has been a mixed year for me with its share of ups and downs. More than ever, this year taught me to count my blessings, and cherish my treasures. That there is a big difference between letting go and giving up. That the human mind is more powerful than the human body. That life is seldom black and white, and sometimes the only things in your control are your efforts, attitude and faith. Sometimes all that is left is to persevere.

P.S.: 2007 and 2006 round up here and here respectively.