Old Year->X<-New Year

At the cusp of departing and arriving years I almost want to wish that wisdom and sanity prevail over the world society. 

I also know my wanting and wishing are ineffectual. The world has hurled itself into chaos with insanity and madness; and now the momentum will carry it forward to its unltimate whatever......

I am thus dispassionate about either Old Year & New Year or wanting & wishing; neither make any difference........

I will drink to that thought tonight exactly at the stroke of midnight....



A sweet child

Sohini

Way to Paradise

Inspiration-Pacific Ocean

Inspired-Poet

 

Inspirer-Kapalua Bay Hotel

In 2000 Bhupen and I  went to Hawaii. The land is beautiful, ocean is azure blue and weather is just perfect. It is an enchanting land which can motivate you in many ways.

In Hawaiian language there are only eight consonants and five vowels; H, K, L, M, N, P, W, ' and A, E, I O, U. As such, many Hawaiian words have repetitive sounds e.g Waikiki beach. 

This inspired Bhupen to compose a poem which he is very proud of, and he should be. He wrote:

"A funny thing happened on the way to Paradise"

"In search of Paradise we flew to Honolulu

And to beach Waikiki

Rode bus Wikiwiki

On highway Likiliki

Then on to Island of Kauai

Stayed in the town Princevillievillie

Flew in helicopter to Mount Navillievillie

Finally in Maui, town was Kapalua

Up the crater Haleakala

And statue of King Kamehameha

Ate fish Humuhumunukunukuapuaa"

"PS: Did we find it? Yes, indeed.

      Net Loss $$$$, net gain, 7lbs"

I admit it is an inspired creation.

An open Page

An Open Page





Mammography and women's breasts

I believe that Mammography machines where two plates squeeze one's breasts, to take pictures, with I do not know how many pounds of pressure per square inch area definitely make the breasts flat and sag.

Those plates resemble tortilla(chapatti) press. One places one's breast between the plates like a lump of dough. How can they not but flatten the breasts? 

I am dead serious about my belief.


http://www.absolutemed.com/Medical-Equipment/Mammography-Machines/GE-Senographe-800T-Mammography-Machine

A wall plate

A wall plate

Obama, the man I see

Obama

The man showed up from nowhere. I voted for him. And that day, he became my president.

I saw him in campaign, victory, acceptance speech, inauguration ball, news conferences and state of the union speech. Every time I saw him, I gasped with expectation! Never did I expect as much from any prior presidential candidates or presidents.

He exhibited the qualities I like to see in a man. He is well intentioned, intelligent, a good communicator and uses weighted words.  He is poised, genuine, soft spoken, and considerate of others. He has acknowledging gestures and a spring in his walk; loves his family and does not use racial rhetoric. 

I love it when words are used wisely. He speaks them wisely.

This man, as well intentioned as he is and as much as he has accomplished  under impossible circumstances, is not well liked. By either side; by any side. Republicans never supported him and Democrats always abandoned him. 

It is only midterm and he looks a beaten man. 

That is the power of American politics. That is the power of fickle public. 

Now I gasp in pain!

Beverly, the Indian Princess

Red Pointsettia

It is a sunny but brutally cold day. Cold makes me depressed and totally dysfunctional. Bell rang. The delivery boy handed me a package. I knew instantly it was a flower pot of red Poinsettia from Beverly. Receiving it lifted my mood. Beverly sends us Holiday flowers and Birthday cards every year, without fail.

 I have known this beautiful, grand lady for almost 40 years.

In my earlier years as new immigrant, I remember, we used to be part of her grand dinner parties. She intuitively used to recognize my discomfort at  being new to American food, culture and people. She would thoughtfully sit me right next to her husband, Herbie, who was very good at telling funny stories. He will very subtly and effortlessly put me at my ease. I loved him for that and many other things.

Not just us, but many of Gandhi family members  have been fortunate to know Beverly, enjoy her hospitality, grace and thoughtfulness.

Why do you love us Indians so, I have asked. Because, she says, there is Indian royal blood flowing in my veins. According to her, someone in her ancestry landed on Indian shore to spread the good word from Bible. One thing led to another; then, as the saying goes, "rest is history".

Indian royal blood or not, she truly loves us like a good Princess would love her flock. We are extremely thankful to have known her and be part of her family. We consider her part of ours.

We  love her dearly.

Pride in Work

I am getting my carpet cleaned by a man who did it once before. He is an old man and a story teller. I asked him his age but he refused to tell me. In his young days  he worked for Kraft. To support a family of husband, wife and six children he also had a side job of cleaning.

His immediate supervisor at Kraft convinced him to start his own carpet cleaning business. His first job was in famous Black Hawk restaurant in Chicago. With hard work, diligence and caring attitude he built up reputation in his field.

The job that he is most proud of is the curtain cleaning job for Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. In those days no cleaners knew how to clean yards and yards of velvet for theaters. There were no machines which could handle the job. He volunteered to take on the challenge. He with his brother tacked the curtains down to stage scrubbed, brushed and hosed them down.

He brought the faded news paper clipping of the job. I have copied it, with his permission, below.

Bob Neuzil with brother Ron



A Face Above the Rest



A face above the rest



Intertwined

Intertwined

We are all intertwined but then there is one who always goes solo.

English Language

I am not sure if the title fits.....

In 1976 or 1978 I had seen "Story of English" on PBS narrated by Robert McNeil. Since I love the language, I was captivated by the show and was glued to the television. What I remember is what a strong influence early Gaelic, Celtic languages had on the final English to be. How English has transformed through the times of Chaucer, Shakespeare and others. Many professions, even today, use English as the only medium of communication; Airlines, Stock Market  and such. Today several nations use their own versions of  English; USA, Canada, Australia, India, Jamaica, South African and many other countries where British had established their colonies.

It was and still is considered the language of elites.

Now, I am no linguist, nor do I profess to be an expert on English language. I merely amuse myself with some very close similarities I find in the sounds and meanings of certain words of English and the conversational languages we use in Northern  India. Most Indian words in the following examples have the same sounding first alphabet of the English words. Here are some examples:




English and Indian Words



Mirror or Reflection

Mirror Image



Reflection


Would we be less vainglorious if the mirror had not been invented?

Perhaps not.The Narcissuses of the world would surely discover the use of standing waters to admire their own reflections in... the reflections with an "I".

Someone's Darling Son

Someone's Darling Son



Little over a year ago on one of Gujarati authors' (Zaverchand Meghani's) birthday anniversay a friend sent me a poem by him. It was  handwritten by the poet and  on original paper with all strike outs still intact.The title when translated read "Someone's Darling Son".

The poem is a lament. To paraphrase, it is about mortally wounded soldiers coming home. All are welcomed by cheering crowd. All, except one, are attended, caressed and comforted  by their respective daughters, sisters, mothers or wives.

One unrecognized lonesome soldier lays there unattended. No relative of his has come to claim him.

The poet, in the end, suggests do not write long elegy in the ashes of this unknown soldier; just say, here fell "Someone's Darling Son".

I used to know this poem by heart. I read it, remembered it and choked, once again.

Why Cats?



Murphy and Fifi

I watched a refreshing interview of Richard Feynman on You Tube.

I also happened to catch Schroedinger's Cat Experiment. It was about a thought experiment of Quantum Physics objects. Some matters can be in two opposite states at the same time. The subject was challlenging enough  to catch  and hold my attention and interest.

What caught my serious attention was the use of a cat. The experiment was such that the cat could perish in the process. I do realize that this was just a thought experiment...and yet, I selfishly thought why cats, my most favorite pets.....

Testing



Rebel


This is the second post today to see if I can upload my Photo Shop files. After so many tries and little research I found out that Photo Shop files have to be converted into .png files before upload. I am glad it worked.

Beginning

I created my blog today. Having done that, I do not know what to say in it. May be, it will come to me as the time goes by.

For now here it is.