Tuesday, November 28, 2023

CELEBRATIONS AND SUSHI


 

CELEBRATIONS AND SUSHI


When you meet friends whom you’ve known for OVER 20 years and more, you kind of start from where you left off. There are no awkward moments, nor any irrelevant pleasantries to exchange. The conversation simply flows, just like the laughter! A Vacation trip with my besties from college last month was fantastic. I felt like I had once again become the college kid who would speak her mind and laugh out loud without fear of being judged or misinterpreted.

Traveling over the hills, driving past tea estates and misty landscapes we felt ecstatic! Reliving those moments of carefree freedom, countless dreams, and unimaginable naivety. Talking about old times, college crushes, and more.  Catching up on friends’ whereabouts- who was doing what, A whirlwind of topics that need not even bear relevance to time or theme! 

St. Xavier’s College Mumbai lives in some part of every Xavierite whether they choose to acknowledge it or not. There is a magic within those magnificent walls that cannot be described. Even today the lending library beckons- I wish I had spent more time in those rustic alleys and read more. The Woods, the first Quad, and the Arches appear before my eyes- if only I had lounged around more than I did. A little bit longer in the IMG please, whispers my favorite rendition by Ghulam Ali.


Looking down at the valley from Dolphin’s Nose, Coonoor, we felt that whatever each one of us had achieved was irrelevant.  How mindlessly we had been caught up for the past 2 decades trying to reach a position in our careers, personal lives, and more. The endless rat race seemed so futile from up here. Everything looks like a speck when u look at it from a height. The importance we tiny particles of energy attach to ourselves is hilarious! 


By the bonfire that night at the cozy homestay, we made a few new friends. With a certain family, the connection was different. Like an instant link. We began chatting and continued like we’d known each other for years. The family was from Delhi and was celebrating Dusshera holidays with their son. Like most Delhiwale these guys were foodies- so obsessed with taste and culinary ecstasy that they had named their pet cat also SUSHI! 

I couldn’t help rolling my eyes in amusement.  

With the addition of new friends, the college reunion trip became a lively celebration. 


Those few but wonderful days left us with lingering regret! Why hadn’t we understood in our 20s what we realized now? That the only things that endear over time are the memories we make. Our lives are only a series of events- one leading to another. It is imperative to live each day to the fullest. We must squeeze it dry and move on... Celebrate your experiences irrespective of what they bring- happiness, joy, hard work, heartbreak, or suffering! 


Life is like sushi- made of exotic, colorful ingredients rolled together and served before you. Pick it up and relish the different flavors- some you like, some you don’t. It is ok! 

That’s all we need to live successfully– Celebrations and Sushi!


Wednesday, September 27, 2023

THE WONDER YEARS


It has been a wondrous week. A little FREAKY, a little upstaging, yet filled with Wonder! 

It all began on a breezy Tuesday evening as I walked briskly in the community park. 2 preteenagers playing basketball- or rather, passing the ball amongst themselves, while they had an animated conversation. I could not keep myself from overhearing.

 

 “Hey! I had an appointment for my passport today. Just two options for gender on the application form, you know?" said the first boy.

“Of course,” quipped the other boy- Male and Female- what else, da?” 

“There are thousands of genders, you do not know?” 

“There’s gays, lesbians, transgenders…” his voice trailed off as I ran from the basketball court. Despite the sprint, I was shivering when I got home. 

 

I had better ask my kids to never talk to those two boys!!! It is absolute blasphemy! What material have these kids got their hands on? 

“Ma, what are you muttering to yourself? You sound queer!" teased my daughter. I winced at that word. Had she been talking with those scoundrels down at the park?

 

My thoughts wandered into the realms of unimaginable frenzy. I was brought back to reality by loud, squealing sounds as my two children were embroiled in a fistfight over the television remote.

It took a couple of days for me to get back to a peaceful and relaxed state of mind- ready to handle Exam Week. Trust me, two young kids having a week of tests together in a single house is unnerving, to say the least. 

 

So, here we are- my 5th Grader and I as we study science together.

He goes for one of his frequent water breaks. It is only during examinations that we feel unusually thirsty! In the meantime, I glance over the Science textbook and flip a few pages forward. 

Chapter 2 – The Human Reproductive System. I am shocked! Isn’t this chapter supposed to be taught in ninth and tenth grades? How is it printed in a 5th-grade textbook? Academicians who devised the Cambridge syllabus think it is appropriate, 

Not Me!

 

I know time passes quickly, but aren’t we rushing things a bit? We are in such a hurry nowadays to tell our kids everything. I cannot understand why? Is it money matters, time management, multi-tasking, and, about puberty and sex? Next time my daughter looked up at me wide-eyed- “Mamma, how was I born? How did I come out from your tummy?” Should I say- “Ask your 10-year-old bhaiya? He knows it all!”

Scary! Too much information to young minds can be dangerous and, confusing. 

 

The children of today, however, have innumerable sources of information. Imperatively, they should receive the knowledge from the right source. My only doubt is regarding the time. A little too early, I feel. Or is it only me trying to push time a little? Struggling to stop the flowing tide? Foolishly trying to hold onto that little shred of innocence that keeps them children still.

 

Taylor Swift, the American Pop Star is every little girl’s favorite. “She’s too hot,” said a tenth grader on the school bus home. Obviously, our seven-year-old comes home and sweetly asks, “Mamma, you know that there is another meaning of the word HOT?” Little does she know I am breaking into a sweat right now! 

 

The time has come for me to wake up to a new phase in my parenting journey.  A different and cumbersome dawn awaits. I realize that my ten-year-old prodigal son is no longer the fussy eater, skinny, happy-go-lucky boy that he was. Of late, he’s become a different person from the one I’ve been raising all these years. The newly developed emotions are complex and deep. Feelings are hurt very easily these days.  We are careful in our choice of words while conversing with him.  Be a bit careful while being firm, but not overstrict. We cannot be over-friendly too. He can easily outsmart his incredibly gullible parents. 

 

The daughter has grown up from our little doll, whom I used to love to dress up in laces and frills. “EEW! I won’t wear that even if it’s the last dress on the earth”, she exclaimed, the day I picked up a frilly dress for her to wear on a play date. I was forced to exchange it for a funky crop top, which she paired with blue boyfriend jeans to complete the look!!

 

Conversations on a play date with a couple of 7–9-year-old girls usually revolve around clothes, hair color, makeup, and BOYS!!! Believe it or not, Barbie and Ken are for real!

 

Kevin and Winnie, the lead pair of the hit series “The Wonder Years” could probably be my go-to for tips and advice. As youngsters, we loved to watch the two teenagers in their struggle with unknown emotions and teenage turmoil. Personally, we could not identify too much with them. But, for my current generation of American-inspired kids, I’m sure I’ll find help for The Wonder Years that my babies are stepping into.  

Thursday, May 11, 2023

THAT SPECIAL DAY

 Today I came across a new word that describes me- Xennial. Makes me feel like what I always wanted to be Xena! The Warrior Princess! Before you get visions of the steaming hot Brunette in the black leather dress- please STOP!

 

Xennial is a word that describes people born in the cusp years between Generation X and the Millennials. Enchantingly boring, you would say. Yet, thinking of it there are so many things that we Xennials have in common. One of them is our love for a special day. The one day that makes you look forward to life. A special friend, years ago gifted me a Garfield poster that summed it up. I LIVE FOR SATURDAYS! Beamed the Orange Cat. I do too!!

 

Honestly, for most of my life to date, I’ve lived from one Saturday to the next. My school was 30 km from my home! After a full five days of travel, studies, and homework, Saturday would be my day to sleep in. No one dared to wake me up early today. It’s the cycle of Karma- what you give is what you receive. My brats refuse to get up before 11 a.m. on Saturday mornings. I remember my mom’s rants as I go through my Super Saturday Mornings! Catching up on sleep, cooking, and getting the whole week dusting and cleaning done. Simultaneously I need to take care of both the kids’ routines. We must cut nails, have oil massages, scrub our teeth and clean our ears. Ugh, by afternoon I’m exhausted! 

 

The evening however brings hope. There is something about the air on a Saturday evening. An unmistakable lightness pervades and you feel joy all around you. The effect is universal. I’ve felt it everywhere I’ve been. The atmosphere on a Saturday evening is magical! As kids, we spent these wonderful evenings catching up on new movies on VCR. Saturday nights were for rejuvenating oil massages that would keep your hair shiny and strong. All that changed in College. “What is the plan for Saturday night?” asked the cute guy beside me in the library. “What’s the scene for Saturday night?” asked the gang after marriage. My generation grew up watching John Travolta croon in Saturday Night Fever and Alia Bhatt gyrating to Kudi Saturday, Saturday Kardi! We are indeed influenced! 

 

A lot has changed after the kids, though. Constantly changing nappies makes you forget the days of the week completely. But not for long! As the children begin school the change is visible. Come Saturday, and you have a list of things to do! Birthday party invites from all and sundry! The sequence of Saturday night fever begins once more! 

No matter what the plan- whether it’s a quiet dinner with family, a wild Saturday night party or just being at home watching television. There is something special about a Saturday. You feel a certain natural high. There isn’t a care in the world. The next day is a holiday and no one can take away your freedom tonight. That’s what a Saturday means! 

 

Compare this to the gloom and unexplained depression that Sunday nights bring. As the sun moves down below the horizon on Sunday, my heart sinks too. 

Kids hate the thought of returning to school after the weekend, but we adults too can’t stop the tide of sudden unhappiness. It starts rising as the clock strikes 6. By nightfall, you feel tears rise and a choking feeling on your neck! I know couples whose kids have passed out of college. They do not need to return to the Monday Morning routine. Yet, these guys feel the same! We begin counting the days till the next Saturday! Each Sunday evening brings a longing for the dawn of the next Saturday. Au revoir dear friend! Till we meet again- On that Special Day-Saturday!

 

Friday, December 16, 2022

ONE DAY WITHOUT THE INTERNET

 

ONE DAY WITHOUT THE INTERNET

 

It was a regular Thursday morning. The morning rush of packing two kids off to school leaves me exhausted. However, today, there was no time to rest. The assignment I had been working on for two weeks was due that day. I had to upload the files onto the client’s server by 4 p.m. sharp.

Finishing breakfast quickly and cooking lunch, I hurriedly sat down to work. To give you a brief I work as a freelance fashion illustrator. I work from Home. All my projects are received and delivered over the internet.

A few last-minute picture references needed to be downloaded to corroborate my designs... An hour’s work on the internet, a thorough look over the entire pdf, and finally, upload. Yes! My day was planned to the tee.

As I logged onto Google, up came a blank page. “Your internet connection is deactivated.”

I closed the browser window, checked my Wi-Fi settings, and tried again. Unsuccessful!

I tried connecting to the internet on my smartphone. No luck. On checking my text messages I found the answer to my misery. A message from the internet service provider. It said that due to maintenance work outside our apartment the internet connection would be disabled for the entire day!

Panic-stricken I called my neighbor who was kind enough to say that the connection might be restored by 7 p.m. otherwise the next morning. All hell broke loose... How will I be able to meet the deadline today? Cyber cafes existed a decade ago... do we have them now? Being so used to 24*7 WIFI CONNECTIVITY I felt lost. It was a strange feeling like I was marooned on an island. Completely isolated and cut off from the world.

It’s tough to imagine that the Internet is an invention as recent as the 1990s. Before that, the public did not have access to the World Wide Web. An invention so recent is now an integral part of our lives. All of us are connected at some point in the day to the internet. Most people start their day by checking their emails or WhatsApp notifications. Social media, OTT Entertainment, YouTube, and Online Shopping keep the public glued to the Web. For me and lots of professionals, the internet is a means of income. You can access stock markets and commodity exchanges worldwide over the Internet. The World Economy, Healthcare, and, Education survived the Covid 19 crisis thanks to the INTERNET.

No internet access can be crippling.

 

A kind friend agreed to let me use a workstation at her office with a Wi-Fi connection. Packing my laptop I rushed there and was able to upload my assignment successfully. Once back home I realized that the kids were late! They should have been home by now! I dialed the number of the school van driver. It was unavailable. As the home internet connection was still deactivated I could not access the GPRS locator of the school Van. WhatsApp messages on the school Mom’s Group would buzz with information. I was not receiving any. Panic attack no.2! Frantically trying to call the parents of kids who shared the same van. One parent reassured me that the bus had had a flat tyre a few kilometers from school. The van had stopped en route and the driver had managed to fix it. The kids would be home in less than 10 minutes. Phew! I breathed a sigh of relief!

 

It was 5 p.m. by the time the children reached home. Hungry, exhausted, and cranky. My little one ate her snack and wanted to curl up on the bed with her iPad to watch videos on YouTube kids.

It’s her way of relaxing. As there was no internet she could only watch videos that had been downloaded before on the device. She soon got bored and threw a fit! Oh my! As if my day couldn’t get worse! It took a lot of my energy and patience to calm her down. She blackmailed me into calling a friend home for a play date. I thought she was too tired to play!!

It was the elder one’s turn now. His science Homework due the next day needed him to do research on the internet. Oh no! Again we tumbled into the car- 3 kids, a laptop, and I. We headed to a cafĂ© nearby that offered free Wi-Fi. Sipping on some much-needed strong coffee I thought about how my kids’ lives were also so Internet dependent. Young and Old find it difficult to manage even a day without internet connectivity.

The light of the Wi-Fi signal turned green only at 7.45 that night. I remember the time so clearly because of the loud shrieks that the kids let out! Just minutes before their bedtime and they were able to get some online gaming and Youtubing. Finally, both slept peacefully. Exhausted, I too decided to call it a day. Hey, Wait! I had a full day’s mail and messages to catch up on! Sleep could wait! The Internet was on. Welcome back, dear friend! 

 

 

 

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

WITHIN ME FOREVER


 WITHIN ME FOREVER

This year I turn 10. Do not be astonished, I am not talking about my age. It is going to be a decade since I became a Mom. When you step into motherhood. Not only do you bring a new life into the world, but get a whole new life yourself. EVERYTHING changes in this new avatar. Frankly, I am becoming ten this Diwali.

Ten long years- yet, I can remember almost every bit of my journey. Each milestone that my firstborn encountered - is engraved on my mind. I can see it clearly and vividly. How the nurse pointed out his finely shaped eyebrows as she laid him into my arms, the clothes he had worn on the day of the first vaccine, his first proper meal, his favorite song. The first day of playschool, nursery, etc., etc. Do you get what I mean? 

However, it is just the opposite of the second one. What happened? Did I close my eyes in exhaustion by the time she started taking her first steps? Maybe, I just settled down as a mother. The second kid sorts you out as a parent. You learn to treat your kids as kids. And stop being obsessed with the creatures. I graduated from being a scout on constant ATTENTION to one AT EASE.

It is generally this way for children born second or third in any family. These kids learn to find their way around better than their elder siblings. Parents become wiser and let the child be; without fussing unnecessarily as they do for their firstborn. Although I get it often "you love Bhaiya, more than me!" no one believes it. My younger one is as spoilt as the first, if not more. She’s “The Smarty” who gets her way every time! IN EVERYTHING!

Pretty often I find myself admonishing my kids in the same manner that my Mother used to. I've become MY MOM reincarnate - I never thought I would. I hated her, all through my years of growing up. So often I get the same treatment from my brats when I'm strict and enforcing rules. They Hate Me! 

This is the experience of being a Parent. It's like a rollercoaster ride. At one time you are at a peak and the next minute you come hurtling down. Before you can take a breath, there comes a steep turn that makes your body stretch like an elastic band. You must hold tight, fasten the seatbelt and be ready to SCREAM! Don't hop on the ride if you want to keep your sanity intact. You’ve got to get your hands dirty, your clothes and hair all messed up, and, end up breathless! Then be prepared for the ride to start all over again!!! 

Parenting is tough and challenging, nonetheless an exhilarating experience!

My kids are my responsibility. They didn't choose to be born, that choice was mine. Whatever it takes, I will do my best to give them the best. I owe it to them. Education, learning, values, skills- professional and interpersonal – all-around excellence. That's our endeavor. All moms and dads want the same. We all try to do the best for our children. There are no rules to Parenting. It’s unfair to judge anyone’s parenting. Some moms are hardworking, some are lazy, some mothers are over-cautious and some are laid back. Some like me are strict while others are lenient. The key as Lord Buddha said, is in finding - The Middle Path. I'm yet to trudge upon it.

If I take extra care and make meals as per the choice of the children- I’m making them fussy. If sometimes I just want to let go and keep it simple- I’m lazy. If the mother shows her affection towards her kids- she’s pampering them and being overprotective. However, if she treats them normally- she’s rude and indifferent! Phew! Take the rough with the smooth- we all sail through- I HOPE!

Despite the hardships, the better part of motherhood is- The Children. To be able to hold and care for your own. Little hands, tiny feet, and chubby chins to cuddle and watch them grow. Unconditional kisses and hugs can brighten up the darkest of days. I see a reflection of myself in their sparkling eyes. Bringing them up makes me relive my childhood, my fantasies, and my dreams. I’m never alone as I’ve found best friends in my two darlings. Kids can be molded by love and care. That’s the only rule that you can follow. 

We, new-age moms want our kids to be as independent as possible. I’m no different. “When will you eat on your own? Why can’t you go down without me accompanying you?” You must do most of your tasks on your own, I can’t help you always” These are common laments I’ve made. However, as they turn older and more independent I miss being needed all the time. “Chill Ma, I’ll do it on my own.” I strangely miss the times when I sat long hours beside him with the Math and Phonics.

“Mom, I’m going down!” yells the younger brat and before I can say Jack Nicholson, the door slams shut. I feel lost…. Too early isn’t it for the empty nest syndrome to settle in? Within minutes she’s back, tears rolling down her cheeks. Some kids pulled her hair and teased her. I must go and teach them a lesson!! 

“Mamma, will you help me?”

 “Sure darling, I’ll always help you!” I reply beaming.

We can’t hold onto our children. It's important to let go and have no expectations. May their dreams take them to unprecedented heights and their endeavors meet success unparalleled.

As life unfolds, they will encounter disappointment, heartbreak, and anguish. In moments when they need me, I will be there. Physically or emotionally We parents will be there to support our kids. That little light that came from me will be Within Me, Forever.

Monday, June 13, 2022

The Melting Pot

 Summer is over with a BANG! Quite literally, I’d say. A few days back, I was caught in a car crash- hit headlong by a speeding bike from the opposite side. In a flash, the airbags were out, the windshield smashed and curls of smoke began rising. I felt I had reached heaven. Alas, the doors of heaven aren’t open for me yet. Fortunately, I escaped unhurt apart from a few bruises and a bleeding lip. The accident did much more to me than just that, surely.

Remember how we empty a packet of biscuits into a jar? A bang on the jar sorts them into their places, making room for a few more. That’s what this jolt did to me. It sorted out my head and allowed the negativity to escape, making room for the forgotten feeling of gratitude to settle in again. Thankful for being alive, happy, and writing again.

Let’s start at the beginning of summer. As school vacations began, we set off, bound westward!! After 3 long years thanks to the pandemic, I am heading to the city that is characterized by its unique essence and vibrancy. Mumbai, the city where I grew up, studied, and laid the most important foundations of my life!

Welcome to Mumbai—the warm and sultry air hits you almost like an old friend greeting you with a friendly slap on your back.

Each day, millions of people enter this megapolis hoping to fulfill their dreams, make a fortune, or just plain have a good time like me. Mumbai disappoints nobody.

 

 The best part, I feel, about the city is the sea. It travels along the island’s length from South Mumbai to the North. You can either visit the iconic and picturesque Marine Drive or catch it at Chowpatty Girgaum. If you are a love-struck couple, head to Bandra Bandstand for the perfect evening by the water. For families with pesky kids, Juhu beach is ideal, or you can head as far as Gorai creek on your journey with the sea. The Sea Link, connecting the suburbs and the city, is spectacular and a drive over it by night time is not to be missed.

 

Shopping is what most head to Mumbai for. Apart from the malls, there are amazing wholesale and local markets in every locality. Dadar market, Santacruz, Fashion Street, Linking Road, Crawford market, etc., the list is endless. All the best designers have their outlets in Mumbai. My favorite shopping haunt in the city is Colaba Causeway. Globe trotters have this colorful market on their bucket list. Try the shoes, bags, and clothes on the streets or walk into any one of the swanky boutiques. Nobody walks out of those streets with empty hands- no one, trust me.

 

Mumbai is called the Financial Capital of India. You can smell money on the streets. Every dinner conversation in the city eventually steers towards real estate and property prices. The sums range between 5 and 100 crores! It is one of the most expensive cities in the world, yet there are innumerable ways to explore Mumbai without making a big dent in your pocket. Bollywood and the Hindi Television Industry call Mumbai home. Celebrities can be spotted easily in any of the swanky boutiques, pubs, or salons in the elite western suburbs of Khar and Bandra.

 

What I hold dear about this city is its affability. The indomitable spirit of Mumbai! It’s easy to make friends here, Strike up a conversation on a common topic with a stranger-I do it often, People don’t judge too much... Which is the case in small cities, I can walk down the streets to pick up my groceries wearing shorts and a tee and with a messy bun without as much as a whisper, I couldn’t even dream of doing this in Coimbatore. Here I see people in supermarkets with Louis Vuitton bags and perfect make-up-buying tomatoes!!!

People mind their own business and avoid interfering in the decisions of others. This attitude, however, has its downsides. It can get very lonely in this big, bad city. Everyone’s caught in the grind. They are too busy doing their thing. I have many friends in Mumbai, but I have to make appointments to meet up with them when I'm in town!!

 

They may be few, but my friends here in our small town of Coimbatore are the best! Always ready to help, just a call away. If I’m down in the dumps, they’d surely be around to catch up for lunch and cheer me up! 


The city of Mumbai is like a Melting Pot where diverse communities, classes, talents, ideas, and individuals simmer. They merge and blend, losing their individuality and taking on a new hue and identity. High-rise, multi-storeyed apartments coexist with the filthiest of slums here. Beautiful driveways coexist with corners overflowing with waste disposal yards. Unbelievable, yet true. Each familiar alley leads to something unknown. A dip in this melting pot brings out new emotions and stirs my senses, awakening a restlessness and creativity that keeps me charged. Till the Melting Pot beckons again.....

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

HORN PLEASE! I'M OK


                   HORN PLEASE! I'M OK

 

Indian Summers can be excruciating, to say the least. If you have the misfortune of being stuck in traffic in South India on a sweltering, summer afternoon, you'd agree. Air conditioning does not help much, trust me.

          So here I am, on my way to pick up my daughter from school- correctly 1.45 pm on the penultimate day of March. Caught in a traffic jam – an unending line of vehicles ahead. And a sea of them around me….We move, then stop. The minutes tick by but the wait seems endless. Restless people in their vehicles look around for some answers. When will this traffic move? When the signal turns green, I guess? The car behind me honks, then the biker beside, and soon it's cacophony all around!

We move, but a few yards on it's a halt, again! The futility of fretting dawns on me, and I turn up the music volume on the pen drive. Glancing around, I wonder why we call Life "A Journey?" It's a "Ride in Traffic" actually. Stay with me, and you'll begin to piece it together.

We are all waiting in our vehicles- some in fancy Limousines, .Mercedes, and Jaguars. Some are in their shiny SUVs, basic i10s, and comfortable hatchbacks, while others are on bikes, scooters or buses, and autos. Each vehicle is symbolic of a person's house, lifestyle, and worldly possessions. Each person carries their burdens of karma with them as luggage. We must steer our cars with the utmost care, or else someone will dash you. It's indeed, a dangerous world with everyone eyeing the other- ready to snatch and overthrow. As we are waiting for the traffic signs to say GO, we look around us and envy other people. The man in the Limousine is too high and mighty and continues talking to his co-rider (elite circle of family and friends). All the others want to be in his car – some stare with obvious envy, some with hatred, and the other contented lot look on.

          Life is an overcrowded road with other vehicles around us. These are the significant others in our lives. Family, friends, colleagues- all those who share our journey. As the green light glows we all gear up and move. Some move faster than the rest. They zoom ahead and out of sight. These are the ones who chase their dreams and race on, leaving others behind. Now they ride with other vehicles- new friends they meet and bond with. At some point the automobiles that were trailing caught up. As the saying goes- "The past comes catching up." Learn to let it go.

          You must have noticed that as soon as you start getting used to a pattern- it could be a lifestyle, a job, or maybe something as insignificant as a workout routine. You feel, "yeah, I'm doing great now- this is going to be smooth sailing." Up comes a sudden jolt, and things grind to a halt. Like the traffic light just turned red. You must wait till it changes color and then move, either on the same road or change course. I'm sure we've all experienced this. No matter how hard you make the attempts you will see the results only when the right time comes- When the light turns green, metaphorically speaking.

It's how we handle the waiting period, the 'stuck in the traffic mode' that defines us as humans. Some people enjoy each moment and live to the fullest converting every obstacle into an opportunity. Some bicker and bawl- feel frustrated, depressed turning to vices, etc. Others quietly wait. "Leave it till the time is right." Everyone goes through each phase- each traffic jam and comes out wiser in their unique way.

          We all know that ultimately The Green Light will beckon. It's inevitable. Each one must pass through once that happens to leave all the others behind. Yet, we hold on – to the road like it's never going to end. While waiting in traffic we get restless, annoyed, or start snacking! As the sweat drips, we beg the cars ahead to move. We bang our horns incessantly, step out and go check- "what's keeping the traffic so jammed" I'm going to miss my meeting!!!"  Loosen up, guys! Let's learn to jam in the Jam.

Go slow, it's going to be over soon. Enjoy the heat and dust and the wait. We know not when the time to get into gear and move on appears. Some will go straight, a few turns left, some right, and some might take a U-turn and join the Jam again!

"HONK, HONK"- the line is moving! Yay! I need to rush to pick up my poor girl still at school. Will I get stuck in the traffic on the way back home? I'll probably say, "HORN PLEASE, I'm OK!"

CELEBRATIONS AND SUSHI

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