2009 Missing

It's a shame! I did not post a single blog in the year 2009. I was away to far off places and I was missing home. That sapped all my energy. Now am back, alive and kicking again. So here's to 2009...

2008 ended on a mixed note. There is a new addition to my family - my little niece. There was a sad incident around October which is difficult to get over but as the wise said "time cures the worst of wounds". Then there was a white Christmas and the dawn of a new year.

2009 saw the arrival of my second little niece. We are so blessed!

I worked, traveled around, went skiing, driving, cruising, clubbing and had fun. There were windfalls and pitfalls all the year but I made it back home and in good time to gather round with the family for festivities and merriment.

Thank you God for all my blessings and hope you will help me overcome what I have lost as you always do.

I wish you enough

[recd from a friend...]

Recently I overheard a Father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.
Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, “I love you and I wish you enough.”
The daughter replied, “Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad.”

They kissed and the daughter left. The Father walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry... I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, “Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?”
“Yes, I have,” I replied. “Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?”
“I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,” he said.
“When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, ‘I wish you enough.’ May I ask what that means?”
He began to smile. “That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone...” He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. “When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.” Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.
“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger...
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye...”
He then began to cry and walked away.

Farewell Tigers

It angers and disgusts me to read the title of my blog - "Farewell tigers"! Do I intend to bid them a final adieu, or am I praying for their safety and well being on this last leg of their journey? I fail to decide my real intent.
Is anyone hearing? I see slogans on walls in Bangalore "Tiger on its last leg". I see newspaper articles urging people to see reason, generate awareness...save tigers. I wonder whether poachers have the time to read newspapers or see television or worst read my blog.

I sincerely pray that people have a heart and save the remaining 1411 tigers left in India. Let's do whatever it takes.

I hope the next generation will not have to read books in school which say "Tiger was our National Animal - we did nothing to save them. We killed them all".

Rose and Gold Icing

I saw the pair dancing on a cake
They looked prettier than the rose and gold icing
White flowing gown, a tiara adorning her head
Smart suit, one flower in his pocket and
The other on his arm

Oblivious of the noise and mill around
Lost in a daze they swam above the rose icing
Her mazed eyes looking at his
With careful steps, he led her into
A world all their own

We ducked for cover; a bang rang in my ears
The glass in the window, shattered, rained on us
When the turmoil halted, we rose
Trouble makers had done their task and
Killed the pretty dancing pair

My glassy eyes strained to look
No one danced above the rose and gold icing
The music went blank, no bells tinkled
I held on to the outstretched hand and
Looked back once just to make sure
In the tumult and agitation
I had not missed to see the dancing pair
But they were gone

What a waste

This is a scene on Bangalore's Bannerghatta Road. This water tanker drove for a good distance in front of my vehicle and I noticed a steady stream of water dripping from the pipe at the back and this is not the first instance. I have noticed 9 out of 10 tankers leaking precious water onto the road and the amount of water wasted over a kilometer, I am sure would be enough for a household of 4 for over 2 hrs.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board has a fleet of about 25, 6000 litres tankers and about 23 18000-20000 litres capacity tankers.

I was reading an article in the Hindu dated 24th August : http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/24/stories/2006082425230300.htm
It is indeed a very good step on part of the government to make water available in areas where the pipelines have either not reached or are under maintenance. But I would suggest that the tankers be checked and water loss be prevented, unless ofcourse it is by design. And in case it is by design, I feel the design is flawed!

The third picture shows an autorickshaw letting out thick fumes (not very evident due to the poor resolution of my cell phone camera). Yet again this is not the first incident of a polluting vehicle on the roads. I must commend the Bangalore traffic police on their efforts at checking rash/drunken driving, dazzling headlights, worn out tyres, etc. I am sure they are keeping an eye out for polluting vehicles as well, but somehow this one and a few others escape their notice.