Its our turn now…

This was an essay written by my daughter about 8 years ago and the words still carry an important message hence the inclusion.

Nana , Nani , Dadi Dada are all words which bring feelings of love , wisdom and security in us . We always love to spend time with our grandparents , listen to them narrate their experiences and share our joys and sorrows with them. Their influence on our lives and character will stay for a long time.

As we grow older we become more and more involved with our studies and friends and may not be able to sped as much time as before with them. They too have to face various problems associated with old age. At such a time we must make it a point to be there for them. There are some unfortunate grandparents who do have their families and have to live in an old peoples home . If we can go and spend some time regularly with such senior citizens then we will surely be able to bring some joy to their lives.

Here are a few things that we can do for and with our grandparents:

1. Walk and talk a lot with them.
2. Run minor errands for them.
3. Rearrange their room keeping medicines ,water ,torch etc at arms length from the bed.
4. Write letters or help with bank work.
5. Make a bulletin board to pin up things to remember.
6. Ask them to take up your home work – not do it!!
7. Play indoor games or cards with them.
8. Iron clothes for them.

These are just a few things that I have thought of. I’m sure you can think of many more to show your grandparents how special they are to you.

Its our turn to be there for our parents and grandparents as they grow old. However do leave the choice of the kind of help needed to them.

Ciao,
Archana

Ganesha in our Lives

The Ganesha festival is currently being celebrated all over the country albeit with some minor regional differences. The entire period of 10 odd days is filled with intense joy and happiness. In Maharashtra, the cities dress up and light up to transform themselves almost into a fairyland.

Here is popular sms doing the rounds currently:
Lord Ganapati says, “Care for your head. Wear a Helmet. Not everyone gets a replacement like me!”

All those going around without one, do you get the point?

Regards,
Archana

Puneri Tadka!

Just read an article in the newspaper depicting idiosyncrasies of Puneri’s.
Here is my own take:

Try praising any individual to any true Puneite and one always gets a derisive response, “Oh him” (or her as the case maybe), “I know him, he was in my school and always got the poorest marks” or some other dark aspect in the person’s life he would surely not want to include in his resume!

Shopping at any of Marathi shops reveals the ‘Take it or leave it’ attitude of salespersons. Try asking for something else but you may as well have asked for the moon. “Do you want this or not?” is a question you have to answer first. Some veterans have even been known to tell customers to try elsewhere!

The Peshwa’s have long gone but their traditions continue. The afternoon siesta is a must for shops so if you need something urgently after 1 PM then just too bad. You’ll have to wait till 4.30 PM before the shop reopens. No signs of any market progress here methinks!

No article about Pune can be complete without any reference to the rickshaws! Brangelina too could not resist a ride in one of these famed vehicles! But very sensibly they made sure to travel at daytime. Try asking for a ride after 8PM and every ricksha driver worth his salt will refuse a potential customer if it means having to go in a direction opposite to where he lives. Yet the same driver in his avatar as ‘rickshawale kaka’ who ferries school children is the most loveable and dependable person. I have personally seen many treating their group of kids to ice creams or cake on the final day of school academic years! Jekyll and Hyde?

Pune is soon becoming famous for its eating joints, top of the line, street side fare and everything in between, all full up with a long queue outside waiting for their turn at the gastronomic delights. Make a trip to the vegetable market and you will find hardly find space to put in a foot, everyone apparently stocking up for unforeseen difficulties! There are several providers who deliver freshly chopped vegetables straight to your doorsteps. Lets not forget the ubiquitous dabbawalas. In short food in all forms raw to cooked is brisk business here. My only question, in the above scenario how much food does an average Puneri really consume? No wonder the tekdi’s and yoga groups are a big hit here!

That’s sizzling Pune for you, love it or leave it!

Archana

Chak De

Just got back from watching this much spoken of movie. Yet another ‘blue’ team with the added baggage of being the ‘fairer’ sex.

Kabir’s energy seeps through the screen and infuses optimism, hope and determination in the crowd. Wonderful to see over a hundred people respectfully standing for the national anthem.

Shah Rukh and Yashraj score a century here! Hey should that not be goal???

The winning shot. Is that better?

Whatever, the movie is definitely worth a dekkho standing like a pillar amongst its peers with their foreign locales and designer looks.

But does the message last? As we drive out, the drivers are back to their habit of edging each other out. Speed ahead. Don’t ever give way to another. Traffic rules are for fools.

So that answers my question.

Think about it….

Who stands to gain if we are united, work as one, put the nation/society before self?

And are all gains only to be measured in rupees?

The cynics will say, Chuck it out of the window….

I would prefer, Chak de.
Chak de India

Archana

Sach(in) or out?

Now for the other famous Men in Blue!

The Wall has crumbled exposing the debris that we call Indian cricket.

The game is a sure unifier for this cricket crazy nation. A mass opiate giving instantaneous highs and equally deep lows! Lose a match and its almost like we have lost a war.

Yet one feels let down with the amount of politicking that goes on for the powers that be to get 11 men together in their blues.

And now. The captain resigns and yet another vociferous debate.

Every channel , newspaper and website worth its salt devotes endless minutes and pages to this topic.

Is it worth it? Does it really affect our daily lives. Improve them any bit?

Our best wishes for the next captain who ever he may be! Sach in or not…..

Go for it guys, our sports ambassadors in blue! Play for the country! Play a clean game!

We are proud of you!

Ciao!
A

Why Blue?

A very relevant question.

To me its the colour of the wide unending blue sky….
All covering, all protecting
yet instills fear that may fall down on our heads if anything goes drastically wrong!

Its also the uniform colour of our brave military pilots!
Yes the men (and women) flying the iron birds and doing such a wonderful job to protect our skies.

Most of us don’t even recognise their existence except when some skirmishes begin with neighbouring countries. Some see them as rescue workers in case of floods or other natural calamities.

Yet we owe much of our feeling of security and comfort to the hard work they put in! The hardships they bear. The risks they take.

Think about it the next time you hear a fighter jet streaking past overhead, leaving behind a white trail just in case you failed to spot it on time!

Yes, A yen for blue!

Ciao,
Archana

Welcome

After a long period of debates and arguments I have finally come to this point and have this forum to share my e-thoughts…

What do I feel?

Free Independent

Free of undependable editors

Ready to soar into the blue sky

Blue black white grey – clouds of all colours

Free to bring out gems glittering in the daily grind we call life

Free to enjoy Life

Enjoy the Fine things in life

Every tiny moment matters

Like a spate of green signals on the way home from office

Unexpectedly finding a Hundred rupee note in the pocket of your winter dress

Daily garbage clearance

So many things

Lets ruminate on this for now

Dream of the big blue sky

Ciao

Archana