Golden Gate

Golden Gate on a very foggy day. I had always wanted to take a picture like this. Now I wish I had a better camera.

Paris in Vegas

Click on Image of Hi-Res

Fun Times

Stinson Beach, California

In Pictures ...

Lost Opportunities

I was rummaging through the desk trying to find the nail clippers, but to no avail. I had chipped a finger nail and wanted to cut it off properly. I had spent past 15 minutes trying to find it, and finally decided to give up and yelled for my sister to come and find it for me. ‘It must be in the bathroom, where it usually is’, she said impatiently. But I had already gone through all the stuff there a few minutes ago, more than once.  So I yelled for her again and heard her complaining. She finally got up, came to the bathroom, opened the drawer and pointed it to me. It was right there in front of me all the time and I didn’t see it. “See I told you its right there. You should go and have your eyes checked”. 

That’s when it hit me. You know, there’s a lot of things that you want out of life. And life offers you immense opportunities to that extend but more often than not, we are just so busy with our other endeavors that we fail to take advantage of the opportunities presented to us. Later when we look back and look at all the lost opportunities, we try our best to get a hold on them, but to no avail. It usually is always too late by the time we realize what we have missed, and what might never be ours to take because we missed it, or rather ignored it, when it was presented to us.

Often times it so happens that, those opportunities that we ignored show up again. But there's always a catch. You either don’t need it or its not yours to take anymore. You had your chance and you lost it. That is the reason why I say that ‘People come into your life for a reason, and its very important that you figure out why, before its too late’. Never take anything for granted, look at everything as if you will never see it again. If you like something, hold onto it and never let go. Who knows, what path life will take you on and if you will ever have a second chance of experiencing the same things again.

Crossroad

Finally the crossroad that he had been waiting for came into sight, or at least he thought so. He just hoped that it wasn't another mirage like before. He couldn't control his anxiety and decided to quicken his pace. The straps of his heavy bag were already biting into his shoulder, but he continued, lest he miss it again. There was still that feeling on the back of his mind that kept stomping on his optimism, telling him that this was just another mirage and he should not get his hopes high. But nevertheless, hope was the only thing that had kept him sane and alive for so long and persuaded his optimism to rise every time it fell.
And then he saw it, there it was. Was that smoke what he saw. He couldn't believe his eyes. He had seen a lot of mirages but never smoke in them before. This was it. This was the real deal. He bagan to jog and the run. Yes there it was, the bus that would take him to the paradise city. He had finally arrived at the first crossroad in time for the bus to Paradise city.
There was a big puff of smoke, and then a bigger one followed. He bag to sprint. No. Not now. Not now when he was so close. The bus began to move, and he tried to pick up his pace. He gave everything he had to catch it. He ran and he ran. Sweat pouring down like rain. He was literally drenched. He could feel his feet cramping up but he didn't give in yet. It was just an arms reach away. He could catch it. He would still be able to get on board, and then he fell. His legs cramped and he got a stitch in his stomach. He tried to get up but fell down again, and again, and again. And then he saw the smoke disappearing in the distance.
He just lay there. He could see the moon behind the clouds in the east and the sun in the west. And he just lay there. He was falling down, down into a dark abyss. There seemed to be no end to it. He had a funny feeling in his stomach. The feeling that you get when the elevator of a skyscraper first starts its journey down. The feeling of weightlessness. He was falling down and now he was afraid. he opened his eyes and saw the stars again. He sat up, had a small meal, some water and the began walking towards the next crossroad. There was still hope left in him. The hope that he would be able to fulfill his dream some day. Yesterday, he wasn't even sure if it was possible. Today he almost missed it, no no, he almost caught it, almost fulfilled his dream. So that was some definite progress. He still had hope.
Minutes became hours, hours became days and days turned to weeks when finally the next crossroad came into his sight. The bus was waiting. The anxiety in him began to ebb again and he could feel the adrenaline rush. He took a few quick steps and began to jog. Should he run faster, will the bus wait for him long enough, should he sprint? He suddenly stopped and stood still looking at the bus, with all the questions still buzzing in his mind. And finally he decided. If it was meant for him to get on it, maybe it didn't matter if he ran or not. He would be able to get on it regardless. And; he just walked.

A New Decade

As the new year drew ever closer, my thoughts reflected back to the start of 2009, thoughts of new beginnings, new opportunities, new possibilities, resolutions, hope. Of the past that I wanted to leave behind and of the future that I had wanted to embrace. Nothing turned out the way I had anticipated for 2009. Failure after failure. One bad news after the other. There was no stopping the deluge. It had probably been the lowest I had ever been in my life so far. So as another new year approached, my thoughts went back. My hopes for the coming year again began to lift. But I always had a bad feeling in the back of my head about another let down, and I was very wary of what I hoped for.

But then, when I tried to pen down my experiences of 2009, I remembered all the good things that had happened in the most unexpected ways possible. I would say that I had never had a better time in my life till now. Of the best time that I got to spend with my family after a long long time. The small but memorable vacation we had, after what could very well be said as ages. The opportunity that came my way unexpectedly, of meeting my dearest old friends whom I haven't seen in about half a decade. My small but very good spiritual trip to the various religious places in India.
Then an unexpected but very pleasant visit by a dear old friend. The amazing weekends we had together, which were just becoming better and better every week. Then a long hiatus to the East Coast that I had been looking forward to for a long time.
In short, 2009 for me has been kind of an eye opener. It gave me time to think of some events of the past. It taught me a lot too in terms of economical living and the value of money. It made me see the wide disparity present in society today. It made me think a lot. It reunited me with some of the best friends that I am sure not to lose touch again with. It showed me that some things in life are just not meant to be, while others will come into your life weather you like it or not. The difference lies in the fact weather you welcome them happily like you welcome old pals or you detest them like unwanted guests.
As for 2010, there already has been a very pleasant and unexpected surprise visit by another very dear friend whom I have literally not seen in a decade. I hope that the rest of 2010 is as much fun as 2009 was, if not better. And I wish the same for everyone of you. I know its quiet late but, Happy New Year to you all.

Of Love

I wrote this quiet a while back, but never really got around to posting it. I was going through my drafts and couldn't remember any more, what it was that kept me from posting it. So here it is.

I had an interesting conversation with one of my friends today.

Him : About how far should one go in the name of love.
Me : I'd say its a personal choice ... but why do you ask ...

Him : Just want to know if someone in this world has any definite answer to this
Me : Maybe just keep going on ... till you are sane
Him : Hahaha then your love would go far away from you
Me : If it still goes far away .. then maybe it was never really worth it

Later I wondered if one really had a choice in how far one wanted to go or can go. You see, love is not a bed of roses as it appears to a lot of us. The rose is just a camouflage to what actually lies under. When in love, one just keeps going on. The intent is to only keep going on till one is sane, but when in love, one never knows when that boundary of insanity is crossed. One never knows when to stop, or even if he knows, he can't. Even if he wants to he can't. Its a kind of a quagmire, from which, maybe, only time can rescue you.
I wonder why birds choose to stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on earth. And then I ask myself the same question. I wonder what it is that has the power or will to pull one out of that quagmire. What it is that can make birds to never stop at the same place twice.