Contemplations and Ruminations

(November 10th 2020) I thought I’d jot this down here, a defining fact of the year 2020 before I forget it with the vagaries of time. It’s November now and about three months back, in July, I lost my sense of smell after a mild bout of fever. I have no idea what I (and a few family members) contacted, but we were all down with mild fever that developed into severe cold and cough for the others, but for me there was no cold or cough or even a sniffle, just a complete and abrupt loss of smell. It was disconcerting initially, everybody was scared and they were talking about testing and I vehemently refused cause I wasn’t unduly sick. It’s a given (atleast for me) that hospitals can cause more harm than good if one runs to them for every small ailment or sickness that the body can easily handle. Of course, my fever had gone by then, only the sudden loss of smell was worrying. And I read that such incidents are quite common and one need not panic and run to hospitals that are already ov...

(July 22nd 2020) So this happened two years ago during the long Republic Day weekend when the choir girls had decided to meet up in Madras. We were lunching in Pumpkin Tales on Republic day and Jen and Teenu who used to sit together in class were discussing their school days and how they were always upto no good… they were reminiscing about school and all the mischief they did. So anyway, we ate our food, sang a little birthday ditty for Jen (it was her birthday week) and then we went to a mall to hang out. So while we were trying on clothes, Jen takes a stole and she’s admiring it and since we were just talking about the shenanigans they did in school, I said why don’t you girls flick it. I usually joke like this, and it usually ends in more banter and boisterous laughter. This time, a naughty spark went off in Teen’s eyes and she was like yeah, let’s do it. After that there was no backing down, everybody got into it, like a top level secret mission. We checked if there were camer...

What can I say about a man who brought new meaning to life, Life isn’t about just existing, he would often say But Being Alive to the wonders of everyday moments. This is what stands out most in his sermons: The eagerness and joy in living a simple life made extraordinary  By the power of love emanating from the Saviour within us . And the Saviour’s Presence runs deep in this man, So deep, that whenever he is near I am filled with peace. It’s unexplainable, this effect he tends to have He makes us aware of the same Divine Presence within us. I acutely realize how fortunate I am to know him and call him a friend. He has revolutionized our church, turned it into a second home  Where friends and family converge often to make it what it is today; A place buzzing with activity, goodwill and positive vibes. Truth be said it is his energy and zeal buzzing in all of us  Making us come alive to the magic of being. Part of this magic of existence is change, e...

Celebrated Holi yesterday and it was pure madness... random people coming upto you and rubbing colour on your cheeks was a little disconcerting at first, but after a few minutes you get the hang of it and it's crazy fun after that. I've always wanted to be part of the colourful Holi celebrations, like the ones we see in movies and pictures of India... that look so captivating and brimming with energy. This was exactly like that, and despite the rainbow hued aftermath that followed, I know I want to do it all over again next year with better protection, now that I know what to expect. Play mostly with kids and people who give you the good vibe, ignore the rest and go with a bigger crowd. Here's a slideshow of the pictures we took (use the link if the above video doesn't seem to play)...

Have you noticed how some things never change, how time seems to stand still when you are with some people. For instance, with the siblings and cousins there's a timeless ease... we have grown up, got married, changed over the years, yet, at the same time we haven't. It was the same recently when friends from home had come to the city. All those years spent under a clear blue sky practicing for the choir... the natural high that comes after singing, laughing, hanging out together... that simple feeling of being alive and in love with the world, that's how it was the past few weeks roaming around with homegrown friends ( a Zac Brown Band pun ). The Saturday choir practice sessions, ganging up after Sunday mass and the caroling craziness: those are some of the best memories of home. Those days are always shrouded in warm hues of sunshine, I still remember the gentle evening breeze with its warm summer scents seamlessly mingling with the notes of As the Deer , You are my Al...

So December has been really hectic so far, well the actual craziness started with my sister's birthday on November 30th, when the city (Madras) started experiencing torrential rains. We were cooped up inside enjoying the downpour (little did we know that more was in store), taking pictures and getting drenched in the terrace and making merry like kids... the rain always does that, brings out the kid in you. So anyway, the rains continued through the next couple of days and then mayhem took over, the city started fragmenting into islands. It was chaos everywhere, but the stories that kept pouring in about ordinary people pitching in to help the flood affected people shed some sort of light on the whole ordeal. We tried to help by volunteering in church and driving around searching for bread and water to deliver to relief camps. We lost power for a couple of days, and that was another experience hanging out in candlelight; talking, musing and wondering if others were safe (we had...

So June edition of the church magazine is out... And this is the article I wrote... Lessons in Life from a Helium Balloon This is a story I heard in church when I was about ten years old. A bunch of us were being prepped to receive First Holy Communion and during the retreat that is usually held just before the big day, a priest told us this story and since then it has always stuck with me. I remember sitting in church with my friends, when this priest walks in and starts telling us this poignant story. A man was selling his balloons at a fair and to attract the children running around, he would cut the string of a helium balloon from time to time. He let loose a red balloon first, and watched it as it soared across the skies. He then cut the string of a blue balloon and it too went soaring up and out of sight. Noting that the kids were riveted by this display he let loose another white balloon that danced and flitted out of sight too. This little marketing trick work...

An angel beckons... Remember the  crib from last year ,  made use of the angel charts to cover the top this time.... Look at them proclaiming the good news.  An angel spreading the light...  This is how it looks...    The Christmas tree in church that me and a cousin decorated...  It's Christmas eve and this whole month has been rather exciting, it's a truly magical season revolving round the divine child's birth. Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas season... may the love, peace, joy and hope of the divine child fill our hearts and our homes. Merry Christmas, stay blessed. 

Here's a little poem I wrote to celebrate Madras week... Madras to me is... Call her by any other name and she won't really be the same A city that sleeps quite early but wakes up to morning ragas And piping hot filter coffee and lovely women in long tresses Deftly weaving kollams, that brings smiles to passing faces. The Hindu arrives and patriarchs get lost behind it, to emerge When wafts of steaming idlis' and crisp dosas' beckon Time to hit the road or risk gettin caught in the loving embrace Of the sun, that can give rise to homicidal tendencies. In this city people have an affinity for noise Horns are always blaring and autos are a hoot They bring me closer to God, figuratively, and at times Literally too, by driving like Schumacher on steroids.  You can tell the city is developing quite fast When you can't decide which mall to visit on weekends. Elegant pattu sarees and gold jewels never go out of fad And jasmine buds adorn b...