After a long... time

Idakkoru blog ezhuthanam ezhuthanam ennu vachirunnittu nadannilla...but today I got the final push...and it was perfect timing as Onam is right around the corner :)

For those who don't know..."Thiruvonam" is on Monday, the 23rd of August, and as usual...our Onasadyas begin before "Uthraadam" on the 21st.

And to my surprise..."Atham" is before Chingam 1st this year...This Saturday, 14th of August is Atham! So..it's countdown :)

Aaaarrrrpppoooooo...............!

Othiri naalukalkku shesham Onam veendum oru late mid-Augustil...Now..that shouldn’t be a big deal for anyone working...but for kids and the parents of these kids…it should be huge...as it gives an opportunity galore to really celebrate (that’s if we really want to) in its whole nine yards...incorporating the traditional games and sadya in vazhayila and at least visiting the tharavadu if not meeting there already...making memories for our little ones to take into their heart and live – passing it on to theirs..

Pande paranjille...Onam varumbo ariyaathe vannu povunnu oru thidukkam...that no other celebrations give...actually that’ll be a lie...Christmas has always given that feeling in winter when everything else is so cold, gloomy, and dark! Onam too..Karkkidakathile mazha (as it has shifted to US with the evident thunderstorms we got over the last two weeks) kazhinjulla oru velicham and freshness and life..calls for a celebration...not to mention the vilaveduppu (that too with the many karshaka-sree awards going on around here)! :)

Njaan puthiya oru joliyil keri...so that’s one of the highlights I’ve got to share...contractor aanu but still…pays me and I love it :) Now...why is that a big deal? Because it is also giving me a chance to be in sync with the new tunes...thanks to RadioJoyAlukkas.com :) Their live radio has been keeping me sane and happy and definitely up-to-date with songs with a 'back at home' feel :) No...i’m not taking any ‘achaarams’ from them...I simply love them as they have become part of my daily routine :) There isn’t any news reading to listen to...well for that I got my own pathrakkaaran (MNL) delivering news to my inbox ;)

And before I go off the track...as I was saying...I got the final push to write again :) Last week was really super duper busy at work with long hours and deadlines...and this week therefore is all calm and catch-up on overdue self-study training :) So, I’m doing my self-study and went to get a coffee...and the creamer is out..can’t still drink up American black coffee...it’s just bitter! So..I went to the next floor as they actually have a real kitchen with stocked up coffee, sugar, vending machines, etc…..took 3 cans..came back down and Walla!..there’s a fresh pot! As I was getting a disposable cup…someone else comes in…takes the coffee with the claim that he just made the pot (nicely) :) "So, by the way, I’m not good with names...you’re...?", he asked. I introduce myself and ask him the same and he tells me who he is. Then, of course the next question was... “where you from?” I replied...India!. Then he goes...“Oh I know you’re from India..what part?” I said...ummm...this place called “Kerala”. And he goes..KERALA? I’ve been there :) Where you from in Kerala? So the conversation went on for another good 10-15min and to my surprise...I learned more from him! He has been to just the south – Trivandrum, Cochin, Tanjore, Coimbatore, Ooty, Madurai, Bangalore, Mysore, etc. etc. He told me about a boulder on top of this temple in Tanjore that weighs 70-80 tons and how it was taken to the gopuram and how there’s a plaque from Mahatma Gandhi, so on...and on...He visited in 84, the year Indira Gandhi was assassinated. And how he would be disappointed if he went back now as he was with Bangalore then. He bragged about the details and how he loved it in Mysore and all other places and I stood there amazed and proud! Then someone else came to get coffee and we said bye-bye to catch up later :)

I went back to my desk thinking Oh..I’ve got to visit these places..forget beach vacations and camping! I almost felt like a fish out of water..what am I doing here? But then as I thought...here I’ve as much freedom as I will have in India..actually a whole lot more (being a woman)...to practice, live, explore, and even pass on all of my Indian-ism to my kids with as much respect and admiration! Then, I came to a conclusion, it isn’t really visiting these places that gives me a feel for the culture...it’s the actual knowing and practicing that makes me Indian where-ever I may be. So, Chachu and Chikku...here comes amma with thumpi, pookkalam, oonjaal, vaazhayila, and sadya for Onam ;)

And here is a song for you...to prepare for this year's Onam! Come...Let's Celebrate...say aaaarrrrrpppoooo! :)


[Ulsava Ganangal Vol.1 | Raveendran | Sreekumaran Thampi | KJ Yesudas and Janaki Devi]

As always, I thrive on your comments and suggestions..and please be honest! :)

2009

The clocked ticked 11:59 on the 31st.... I believe....To the many of you, it's the ball dropping in the TV and the champagne bottles popping...or kissing your sweetheart/significant other....holding on to your dear ones....and to me...

it's looking at my cell phone to see the clock read 12:00 so that I can start dialing the minute it does...to wish my dear ones..Happy New Year :)

I wanted to send in my blog on the 31st at 11:59 ;) and being on time was on my mental list of resolutions...but....I guess that went off the list before even the year started...and fell back to saying "better late than never" :) But, I am not going to quit...i'll keep on trying - to be on time - because.....'practice makes perfect' right? :)

So...talking about Resolutions....I'll be on time for at least all the programs this year (pls feel free to harass me if i'm not ;)) and next on the list is to bug you! (as always, please feel free to tell me if the bugging becomes pestering ;))

For the past few years....my new year's eve and the day of always have me searching for the lyrics to "Only Time" by Enya and as I may have done in the past...I would like to share it with you (again to at least the some of you):

Who can say where the road goes where the day flows only time
And who can say if your love grows as your heart chose only time
Who can say why your heart sighs as your love flies only time
And who can say why your heart cries when your love lies only time

Who can say when the roads meet that love might be in your heart
And who can say when the day sleeps if the night keeps all your heart
Night keeps all your heart

Who can say if your love grows as your heart chose only time
And who can say where the road goes where the day flows only time

Who knows - only time
Who knows - only time

Yes...only TIME will tell me a lot of things....but one thing I ought to know is 'myself'. Many-a-flaws have been brought to my attention and as the year goes it'll be my time to be flawless....as I become more 'imperfect' :)

And...Here is to "2009" ~CHEERS~

~Happy New Year~