He’s got the whole world in His hands!

 This morning, if someone were to ask me what our plans were for this New Year’s Eve, I wouldn’t know what my response would have been. We are just grateful to be together this year. There’s so much catching up to do. All the big and the small and mundane stuff. Besides with all the restrictions and caution advised, any plans would likely be without much fanfare. A privately held celebration of sorts, celebrating togetherness.

The last few days have been fleeting fast, and I’m mixing up my days of the week and dates, so much so that the 31st crept up upon me, while knowingly, yet quietly, as if trying to go unnoticed. I’m not one who was wishing the year to be over, and neither am I too crazy about seeking out the thrill of a celebration. I’m happier in my own company, or with the nearness of those, who I truly dearly feel I can show my honest self to. That’s exactly how the evening unfolded. He knows, after all- having the ‘whole world in His hands’, as the children’s nursery rhyme goes.  

We had to be out and about, and had a few errands planned as well. Left after lunch, completed some errands and then decided to do Costco as well. Finished with Costco and then were headed to pick up sarson saag and makki rotis, along with specialties of the area, to take home for dinner. Then had a sudden thought that my friend Surinder lives just around here, and it’s been a while since we saw each other. Called her up and told her where I was and if I could come see her. The delight was evident and her voice, as she said, of course I could come-rather we could come, and to let her know the ETA once I have it. She works from home. 

At the dinner takeaway place, we picked up enough dinner for five. Again called Surinder to say we’d be there in 10 minutes and if we could eat with her, basically inviting ourselves over to her house- for dinner!

The warm welcome of meeting after two years, the hugs, just the joy on her face, reflected in mine and in that of my family upon seeing this kindred spirit again, spoke of celebration in every minute of the welcome. It was a fabulous feeling to be with her again. Surinder’s companionship is complete joy, it’s therapeutic. It was an awesome New Year’s Eve dinner. We had sarson saag, makki rotis, Chana Bhatura, bhindi, baingan Bharat, rotis and achar. With desserts, including ras malai, and juices, tea and lassi all supplied by dear Surinder, we nourished our body and our soul. What an unexpected turn of events, a welcome surprise ending to the day. To the year! What a celebration!

Surinder and I had first met six years ago in a small resort town, north of  Amsterdam. We were both attending a three day workshop. I had been sad and depressed, having lost my mother a few days earlier. With a severe migraine that plagued me for much of the three days, I was confined to my hotel room most of the time. It was a course I was repeating, just because I loved being with the people, who like me, adored my Master so much. So while I did not so much regret missing out on the curriculum, I wished I could have interacted with the group more, because there were several new faces from different parts of the world, though largely Europe. 

It was at breakfast on the last morning, that I noticed Surinder. We were a group of eight or nine women, seated around a large round table. Surinder and I were the only two of Indian origin, among the group of mostly European women. Very kind European women I should say, and we enjoyed great camaraderie. 

It was our concluding day, so the curriculum was light, and everyone was gearing to go back home, so obviously we discussed travel plans, among talk of keeping in touch and exchanging views of how we imbibed in our daily lives, what we had learned at the workshop.

Since my mother had passed away just a few days ago, I was in very poor shape. I wasn’t exactly grieving, and had even refused to go to the funeral, as I could not see her turn to dust. My mother, who was the strongest person I knew, having fought and prevailed over adversity most of her life, had given in; her heart broken by her choice of silence, because some truths cannot be exposed by speech. Some truths have to be realized by all those who are in the situation. They have to be seen, with open eyed and non biased awareness, they have to be known, to be felt with compassion by those, who consciously or inadvertently have been perpetuating a wrong doing. Some tasks should not be delegated, because when they are, sometimes the ownership can be contaminated beyond recognition. My mother saw no point fighting against a relentless enemy. Those who could have helped, were clearly blindfolded, including myself. That was hard to forgive. 

We can forgive others, because at some point the thorn of un-forgiveness cuts so deep, that it’s easier to put up with the one time suffering of pulling it out of one’s life, just so we don’t prolong our misery. But when the thorn is self inflicted, and penetrating from inside out, how do you rid yourself of that? How could I forgive myself, how does one remove this thorn, when one clearly encouraged the thorn to be festered by the negativity of guilt for not having done better? 

My blindfolds came off far too late. I can’t say for others. Some blindfolds however, are best left on, on the eyes of the wearer, for their own perceived happiness. It’s best not to ruffle the air if it blows in discord. Sometimes the darkness of ignorance is better to the blinding light of injustices and untruthful allegations that must be borne in the name of keeping the peace. I was guilty of the silence too. Yes, silence covers wounds like a scab that never heals, that never falls off, but at the slightest friction it prods the pain to awake. 

It was in hindsight that things were becoming clearer, and I was a confused, guilt ridden wreck of emotions that had manifested as the migraine, amongst other agonizing symptoms in my body.

As you can tell, I was clearly a messy heap of turmoil unable to function normally. I was not in position to travel alone. Certainly not internationally, with connecting flights. Staying on in the hotel, would be being alone amongst strangers. 

God must have been watching out for me. He sent Surinder as my guardian angel. This woman, who was a stranger in the morning, sat across me at the airport in the afternoon, as I poured my heart out to her. She had carried my bags first in the bus to the train station, then on the train to the airport, which was quite far. I was unable to do anything for myself with the pain that wracked my body and tormented my soul. Surinder booked me on the same flight as hers. She took me home, made tea for us, and fed me. I felt somewhat revived, having earlier purged myself of some of the pain, under her care, and with the help of her compassionate ear. 

Surinder then herself drove me over an hour to where I could be in the care of family, and continue on my journey with them. It was quite late at night by now. She ensured I was going to be okay, and then drove back home the hour or more, despite us having flown internationally earlier that day. 

Surinder’s kindness to a stranger, her love of humanity, her outstanding personality, and her forthcoming compassion are fine examples of a true friendship that was born that day. 

On this closing day of a difficult year for much of humanity, I was reminded again, of this woman, who’s generosity of Spirit is a rare find these days. Yes, with friends like these in our lives, we have a lot to be grateful for. 

Veenu

01/01/2022

12:00 am

One more sleep till we ring in the New Year!

 My friend Neica in Australia always counted days in ‘sleeps.’

Almost at the Finish line.

 The year is hurtling closer to the Finish line. For some it’s not soon enough, for me, I’m easy. Let time take its course. What’s the rush anyway? 

We are never satisfied. As the year comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on how much we have, as one sees a lot around us that is cause for concern. There is so much injustice, and what really sucks is that the lower income group bears the brunt of the fallout from the failures of the establishment. 

The establishment. Such a farce sometimes, it knows it stands and it’s aware of its power. That is, in my opinion the real problem. Takes away from anything good they may be required todo, knowing they get away with not doing it, if they don’t want to.

The other thing is, that what the Establishment establishes through rules and laws, over time becomes the culture of a place. It is so vastly different all over the world, with rising disparities in the west. Compared to Europe, we in the USA, are experiencing a sort of cultural anarchy, at the core of which is the worst kind of divisiveness that I have seen and encountered in my almost 26 years here. The real tragedy is that in the past for years, the disparities have grown wider and the awareness has become evident in people much younger, that one would expect to fully comprehend the affects of their actions.

It’s only a grass roots level that can close this chasm of divisions. That effort has to begin at home, in our streets and at the level of the individual. I think that’s a good New Years resolution to start off the new year with. For that understanding, I am thankful. 

Veenu

30th December 2021

11:59 pm.

Some wonders truly never cease to inspire.

I forget now what it was that I was planning to write about. It could have been a few things, as there was plenty to chat about, and a fair bit comes to mind. Nature, however, as always has other plans. Good ones. 

So, this is what happened. Even as I think about it, to write about it, an involuntary big smile spreads across my face, and I can relive the joy I'm about to share with you. Happily. 

We had just gone past the picturesque Yorkshire dales, followed by the Lakes district almost simultaneously, driving south, when the sky turned a misty, watercolor baby blue on the horizon. The Sun was still somewhat high in the sky, backstage somewhere in all of this, undeniably orchestrating this majestic grandeur. 

I thought we were getting views of some waterbody on the horizon, a vast lake flagged by a township, perhaps? Something so pretty had to be inhabited if it was attached to the mainland. Except we were nowhere near the coast and were driving right down through the middle of the country as we continued south. 

The water body looked like the color of the sea that one sees in photographs of the shallow water beaches of the islands of Greece. As we drove further, the mountains on the horizon gave way to gentle, low lying hills, and this waterbody opened up and hugged the horizon in all its pristine blue glory. It clearly was an inlet; I was sure of it—what a spectacle of ethereal beauty. There was no sign that somebody could even remotely connect to man's design but the plentiful and compelling evidence of divinity. 

At the edges of this inlet of tranquilizing blue seemed to rest what appeared to be the thin, pure white foam of a gentle ocean that is so in love with the shore, it does not want to disturb even a grain of sand on its pristine beach as it lay sunbathing. This place was an open-air church where the waters come home to embrace and be embraced, the gentle lapping of the waves, an ode to the Maestro of all creation. It left me spellbound, eyes glued to the horizon, mile after mile, bend after bend, as we progressed along on the highway. 

Above this blue, the beach became a lengthy strip, stretching all along the water's length, the color of a blushing peach, which first turns color from a pubescent green. I wondered if this strip was perhaps a tombolo, except there was no sign of land at either end.

Beyond the ripening peach of the sands of this beach was a rich deep blue ocean reaching further away, filling up the sky. I was taking photos, and videos, even using the slo-mo mode, but nothing could capture the rapture with which this stunning vista had me enthralled. 

It was about an hour later when the Sun eventually came out, beaming in pride, that I realized it was all in a day's work for our Surya Devraj, the mighty Sun. We were witnessing a spectacular sunset, adeptly scored, every tuft of cloud which formed the gentle foam of the incoming tide, every speck of blushing sands, every inch of baby blue, every sliver of gold that shone like sunlight on the illusory inlet. 

We were still a couple of hours away from our destination and the drive, with its unhurried consistency, allowed me to wallow contentedly, drunk with the beauty of this setting sun, high on having had this experience. 

Wanting to give them a rest, I must have closed my eyes, tired from the constantly concentrated effort to unravel the mystery of this scenery, and unawares, I dozed off. When I woke up, the sky was on the cusp of dusk. Luckily, I have the photos and the videos to assure me that I was not dreaming. 

I couldn't have asked for a more fitting homecoming, returning as we were from the fringes of a place that can be as close to a paradise on earth. I have now found the third secret sacred place that I can keep in my heart, knowing it's only a journey away. 

For that, and for today’s gloriously, deliriously, captivating sunset, I am grateful. 

On 12/28/ 2021. Started at 10:43 pm. 

Veenu Banga

Completed 12/29/21

1:07 am. 

Humbled by the ways of Nature

  The wind thrashed around all night. We could hear it through the double panes of the windows and doors and through the walls of the house, battering away all night, at what I could not tell. It’s always pitch dark outside. The lights are so far in the distance, and while one can make out the outlines, you couldn’t see any effects of the wind on structures, because they are so far away.

This landscape is not a stranger to the wind, in fact they seem to be old pals and partners. Actually wind is too mild a word to use for the gales that visit these parts. They’re more like a tempest. There’s evidence of this partnership between wind and earth everywhere the eye wanders. From the windswept grasses to the craggy chiseled shorelines, and the stone ruins of the many kirks and castles big and small and in between that abound on the hillsides. 

In this rough landscape, how do the birds manage, I thought. Vain, vain, vain man, or in this instance, woman. I had soaked some rice for the birds, and thought, softened it will be easier to eat and digest, and I could add it to the oatmeal, as a small treat for the birds. It was 10:15 am already, and the birds were still not here. Usually they’re on cue after sunrise which has been hovering around 9:00 am. Never mind, I thought and put some out anyway. No takers. They did not show up at all. I did see them flying about further afield, but none came near the house, let alone the usual place I feed them.

Ditto the sheep. That’s the hard part. Et tu, sheep? They’re usually hanging around about the house and looking in now and then, steadfast in their mocking, sometimes curious, steady gaze. Today, even they weren’t interested in us. They were further away, possibly at the furthest field. So far away, I’ve never seen them go such a distance before. 

We had work to do, the car to load and then head out to make the overnight trip, so I left it at that. No photos today either. It was a reluctant drizzle, just enough to dampen things, and the sky was also gray, overcast. 

My thoughts were still of the birds, so many of them that would come, and today, none. I thought they knew we were leaving. To be honest though, I was quite disappointed. That’s how life goes, we’re all travelers. They know, know not to depend upon anyone and to live in the moment. 

All animals have a strong sixth sense, that’s a fact of nature. It was a well deserved snub for me. How vain of me to think that I have to provide for them. 

My mother used to say God looks after even the ants and why won’t he look after you? Another friend who was a little older to me, and very introspective and wise, had once told me that I shouldn’t concern myself with the welfare of others as much as I do. That I take away from myself when I do. That I underestimate the grand design of the divine. That everyone is going through what they need to at any given time. And I am reminded of her words often. Old habits die hard. However, with age and maturity, and with some effort the thoughts and habits can be reined in somewhat. Mine, not so much, not do easily.

So that’s what happened today, a well deserved humbling blow to my ego, if that’s the right word? Definitely to this sense of self importance. The audacity to think I was feeding the birds, or that they’d have gone hungry otherwise. Did I think I was indispensable? A visitor to their homeland  and already making assumptions, micromanaging, and all of those words that are used for people who think…or people who assume, like I did. As if I know it all. 

In a way, it’s nice to know that I don’t. Don’t know it all. It’s not my responsibility. That’s liberating to know. For someone who is supposed to be at that place in life, where we look inwards, and have supposedly accumulated some wisdom, (which btw I have not) I should have known better. It was a good lesson. Of many things. 

All my romanticizing of the birds and the sheep, was just that. The creatures of the wild are more pragmatic than us humans, though not without emotion. They know when to move on. From that I should learn a valuable lesson. Now I know, and for that I am grateful. Grateful for the experience and grateful for the realization. That’s a good thing to be thankful for! 

Approaching Orkney, and looking ahead to the journey.

Veenu Banga

12/27/21

10:08 pm. 

Boxing Day bounties

 Not all bounties come in boxes. Some can only be experienced with an open heart, eyes filled with wonderment, and heart easily ready to embrace joy. Well, how about the feeling that one is walking into a changing post card every few minutes. 

Yes, my gift did not come in a box. A gift as marvelous as this never could. Thank you God for the bounty of this beauty that I had the good fortune to experience these past two weeks. For this, I am grateful.

The birds were here again today. While the snow had melted after the sunny day yesterday, they were still looking my way expectantly. Since a few of them were pecking away in the ground, I thought I’d let them feed on their god-intentioned nutrition. I wasn’t sure if there was enough to go around for all of them. After some time. I gave in and put out some oatmeal for them. It was terribly windy and the oat meal blew away, leaving a scattered windswept work of art on the concrete edging around the house outside. 

Again, they flew away when I did that, almost as if chiding me for the delay, as in too little too late, and we’re no longer interested. So I went about my business, only to check in about 10 minutes later, and almost all of it was gone, and the remaining oatmeal was being vigorously consumed one piece at a time, pointy beaks tapping away with the mechanical finesse of hurried fingers at typewriter keys. 

Tomorrow we shall say good bye to them, adieu I hope it is, and that may the divine bestow upon me this gift again in the summertime. I had never imagined that I would be this close to the top of the world. Indeed, now I know what explorers must experience when they’re further up north and describe the terrain pristine. I’ve never seen such clarity in the air, there’s a fineness of lines in the landscape, far out into the distance. It is as if one has suddenly been given clearly perfect eyesight capable of seeing far distances, distinctly magnified. 

Grateful for this wonderful gift that I did not even have to unbox. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy. One sunrise at a time, one set everyday. The promise that the clouds and the sky will deliver new scenery my way, constantly changing, forever, magical. What more could one have been given, without even asking. I must have been good all year!

Veenu Banga

12/26/2021 

(Boxing Day)

11:37 pm.

Happy Christmas is what we said in School!

Wonder who started the Merry Christmas? Probably the Pilgrims, who wanted to do everything different from the Mother country? In the UK,  it’s still not uncommon to say Happy Christmas. 

Woke up to a white Christmas. Looked quite pretty. Last night, I was outside trying to capture the Aurora, when the flurries started. So, while this morning was not a surprise, it was still a source of amazement and joy. 

The speckled brown birds that come in hoards every morning, to feed in the grassy patch at the back of the house, today sat on the fence that divides the Croft from the house grounds.They were just looking towards the house when I saw them outside around 9:30 am soon after sunrise. No worms today, with snow on the ground. Since I did not have birdseed, I thought I’d give them my spelt bread, as I wasn’t sure they would eat it. So I tried a little bit of it, very, very little. They looked, flew towards the bread, and then off and away they flew. 

A few minutes later, I thought I’d check, and to my surprise it was all gone and they were pecking around for more. I really did not want to feed them bread,  it also had no seed at home. Then, I remembered we have breakfast oatmeal, and thought I would try that. Same story. It was all but ignored. Not even 5 minutes later, they were polishing it off Asif it’s a breakfast favorite with them too. And now, they did not care about me, as I looked through the window. Very pleased about that, though I wish they find something in the wild. I’m sure nature has an arrangement. 

Even the sheep are less bashful now, and don’t run away upon seeing me watch them. They hung around close to the fence, looking at me, as if I’m a new specimen they have just encountered. Most of them look at me with disdain, however, I’m not going to take things personally. 

It was really quite cold today, with temperatures ranging from 31-36F. 

The Aurora have been largely elusive, and again, I’m not taking it personally. On the whole, the sky has been rewarding, and my camera is deliriously happy! What’s not to be thankful for? 

It was a nice quiet Christmas Day, and I saw old photos of Christmases of the past years, evidence of how we have all grown older. The last year has been rough and I think my aging accelerated a fair bit. Yet, amidst all the craziness, and madness I underwent a radical shift in temperament and attitude, thanks to my nuns. 

It’s been a hard year for all of us, for most people I know. However, almost everyone I know was making plans, and there was hope. It’s all we need, and for that, I am grateful. 

Veenu Banga

12/25/2021

11:11 pm.

Merry Christmas, almost!

 It’s Christmas Eve. The year slipped away, not quietly though. It was one heck of a year, and almost everyone I know feels the same way. Real see-saw of events. However, I’m going to take away the good, with the very good, and that’s my story. It’s all good, and we’re here to celebrate it.

Took the day off yesterday. Was a bit of a bummer, as had stayed up till 3:00 am the night before, and this time, my body was not forgiving me. So didn’t do much, and thought I’ll just be thankful that I can take a guilt free day off! 

Nice sunny day today, went downtown and had a nice meal at 88. Great vegetarian options. Leek and tomato soup, with Nachos with chickpeas for my mains. Surprisingly delicious, and big helping that I could not finish. Brought it home.

Heard from kind people, met kind people, and that’s a lot to be thankful for! On that note, and while it’s still Christmas Eve, I’ll call it day. Who knows, maybe Santa is headed this way?!

Veenu 

12/24/2021

11:56pm.

12/22/2021 Grateful for a meal lovingly prepared

 And eaten in grateful togetherness! 

As the year comes to a close, I can look back and in all honesty, say there was and is so much to be grateful for. A roof over our heads, food on the table at all meal times, the love of friends, while families stayed apart due to travel restrictions, and above all, our health, despite its ups and downs.

Grateful for friends and neighbors one can depend upon. Neighbors are actually closer to us than family, because distance does not separate us from our neighbors. As we count down to the new year, we must all be thankful for good neighbors and colleagues who are our neighbors at work. We must remember to include them in our prayers. 

This spring I met two amazing nuns, who have deeply impacted my life. Their guidance was a big gift in this year and I am grateful for them. Their support gave me back my voice. I pray for them and bless them everyday.

This year, I also realized who my true Masters were, in different spheres of my life. That’s always a good thing. Our Masters is our compass in life, our North Star. Happy and thankful, I have found mine. 

May all find their North stars, and may it be a blessed holiday season and joyously Happy New year for all! 

Veenu

12/22/21

11:55 pm

Sparkling Solstice day!

 What a glorious start to this winter solstice day! Woke up around 7:00 am, while it was dark outside. There was a sliver of orange on the east horizon, beyond the waters of the North Sea and the low hills of this gorgeous place. It was two hours to sunrise, which has been later and later by a few minutes. 

Sat on the lounge, looking out through the tall windows, watching the spectacle unfold, while periodically going out on to the deck to be outdoors on this crisp solstice morning. The smell of the fresh air, along with the sights on the mountain was like an embrace of quiet, peaceful and welcome solitude. Relished every minute of the two hours till the day shone it’s light. The sun remained elusive behind cloud till about 10:00 when it was up and about in the sky. Thereafter it was a sparkling bright day!

Headed out around 11:30 am, and was rewarded by a beautiful half rainbow in the clear blue skies. Grateful for this beautiful start to our day! 

I’m also grateful that the family has been very supportive of my becoming a vegetarian. It’s been a two way deal. I’m supportive of whatever it is they want to eat, and yesterday, actually almost got some farm eggs for them, except there were none left. 

I have, in fact noticed, that the family is eating far more vegetarian foods. Not that they were big meat eaters, but eggs were a regular staple, as was the occasional fish. 

Discovering so many vegan foods, even pies, is such a delight. Never realized they had so much variety! 

Nature is so perfectly aligned with the needs of our body. Have been missing the four seasons, so this is a welcome break. Besides I get to air my woolens! 

The days are going get brighter and will start to grow longer from tomorrow. Nights will start becoming shorter till the Summer solstice in June. The perfect Yin and Yang play of the Universe. 

Christmas is three days away. May it be happy for all those who celebrate. Wishing togetherness to all who celebrate anything or not, at this special time of year! On that note,  May Peace pervade the earth! 

Veenu Banga

12/21/2021

9:26 pm. 

Grateful for small luxuries!

 One can stay up late, only so many days in a row. So, happy and grateful that I could wake up late. It’s about where we are in life, what stage in life, and our circumstances. I guess a lot of good things come with time. 

It was a nice sunny day, with no wind. Clear sky, clearly in control of the world. Holding it’s own against the dropping temperature. The clouds came in about 90 minutes away from sunset. 

Saw eggs in an Honesty Box just up the road, and thought I will pick them up on the way back. Bad idea, they were gone.

Saw lots of sheep and many of them gave me enquiring looks. Spotted sheep caviar at the edge of the paddock. Her the barking of a working dog, saw a bashful Shetland pony.

I’m hoping it continues like this. May I have the courage to rid of all negativity from my mind, so it is filled with positive thoughts! 

Veenu

12/20/21

9:23 pm.

When in roam..

Some places stand out for peculiarities that are their very own, and become the signatures of the place. It would be the tiles of Portugal, which are everywhere in the country, and evident in close quarters in the buildings of Lisboa city. 

Ditto in Italy, one doesn’t have to go to see the ruins of Pompeii to find archeological ruins, they’re all over Rome. In fact, you can’t turn a corner without finding streets dug up with excavations in progress. 

So it goes with Scotland, one doesn’t need to go in search of the fabled Nessie of Loch Ness, the lochs are all over the country. Especially, more so in the Shetlands. 

What about Ireland? The rugged cliffs, the lambs, the rock walls of Ireland, which are everywhere and run for miles in the countryside. 

For the experience of these and other beautiful places in the world, I am grateful. Thankful that travel has taught me much, and most of all, that we are all people.

Veenu 

12/19/2021 

!!:59 pm.

Enchanted by a calm, still, quietly magical day.

 This and much else, I have to thankful for. Waking up to a late sunrise. Watching sheep run away at the slightest movements. Watching the sudden appearance of a flock of birds, busily pecking at worms, there must be over a hundred of them, these brown well fed creatures with pointed beaks, they all looked like pregnant magpies. They were soon driven away by a small company of crows. Thus the day rolled on.

Taking a walk along the narrow side road, just stopping short of the water’s edge, at a fence marked, Private. Not a leaf stirred would be apt, except there are no trees on this landscape. Grasses perhaps, tall ones, instead of leaves, and folded and contoured with the wind, looking like the waves on the ocean. Except these are carpeted all over the hillsides and on the fields and in gardens. It was relaxing day. The kind that makes you think you’ve just walked into a painting. So much Gratitude for this opportunity to unwind and emotionally rejuvenate. 

Grateful to discover that the city has its points, but also that quiet country living has its own unique charms. May all discover these sweet serenities. 

Veenu Banga

12/18/2021

12/17/2021! Seriously. Very Grateful for the kindness of strangers!

“God cannot be everywhere so creates….’’goes the saying. Today, we actually experienced several of those, His creations. My faith in humanity is being restored. My nuns would say it has much to do with me. Possibly, since I cannot argue with them, and probably, because they’re always right. 

Thankful for a lovely day, and the many kindnesses of many strangers. Grateful was sunny and bright. No rain. Great clear skies! Grateful for some awesome photographs! 

Meeting he who declined to be identified, so will respect that. Went out of his way to help us. The farmer /person who stopped and knew what to do, and told person one how to get it done. Person three, who came and did the job, going above and beyond, and getting it right in a jiffy!

The kindness of every stranger that stopped to ask if we were okay. May everyone encounter such forthcoming kindnesses, so they learn to pay it forward.

Veenu

12/17/21

!!:54 pm.

12/16/2021 Gratitude for our days and nights

With the sun in the morning and moon at night. Each new day brings something new, we just have to keep our eyes open, and hopes renewed. 

Watched a beautiful sunrise in the open sky. Soon a huge gathering of birds graced the outside. Never seen these birds before, gray spotted birds that looked like a cross between a pigeon and a pheasant. The sun was out for longer than expected, and the rain forecast got somewhat delayed.

More good things are free, we just don’t realize it. Rather, we are so dumbed down by the commercialism and rat race that we believe to be true, that which is defined for us by trends and tastes of others, who perhaps themselves do not know what true joy is. More than the things that cost money, it’s the experiences that these very things give us, that matter in the end. By itself, no thing is worth much, if it were not be to used as an instrument of joy. 

Today I am grateful for having the sense of discrimination to know that. Finding joy in the rain, instead of complaining about it, even as we went chasing for something in the outdoors, which turned out to be hard to reach, and we had to settle with being content to view it from a distance. Thankful that we all were able to laugh about it. Then the unexpected discovery that on our way back home, we would be in the vicinity of an eatery we had wanted to go to. Thankful for the hot food that we all thoroughly enjoyed!

Thankful also to discover that a particular journey takes far less time than expected. Something to look forward to. Grateful to have something to look forward to. 

Grateful to find good elaichi/ green cardamoms locally. Crushed some in a mug and made hot tea. Turned out nice, had almost forgotten how nice it tastes. Hadn’t had it in a while. 

Grateful for nice woolen clothing on a cold day. Grateful that the cloud cleared early and the moon has been shining brightly across the sky. Grateful for some nice photos that I took today. 

Praying all are well and this years ends on a good note for all!

Veenu Banga

12/16/ 2021

11:55 pm.

Friendly crafters and Artists and a wild swimming aficionado

 What a joy to meet unusual kinds of persons! Grateful for the sweetly diplomatic crafters, and friendly and cordially helpful watercolor artist that I met today. Also amazed and impressed with the Wild swimming aficionado, had never heard of that term before. Grateful for a lovely day, with an awesome veggie toastie and delicious tea served in a fine pottery tea set. 

Grateful to be able to support local businesses, crafters and artists, as too many get too little recognition. Grateful for a good hot meal, a warm living room and roof over our heads. Grateful for a comfortable place to put my head upon a pillow, which reminded of Perry Como’s For the good times! 

Grateful for the sensibility to enjoy music. Grateful to be grateful for another of God’s beautiful days. May all be healthy and happy this holiday season! 

Veenu

12/15/2021

11:54 pm. 

Grateful on 12/14/202

 Today is my father’s birthday. I am grateful that he was born, and was healthy for all the years of his life. I am grateful for him, and that he was instrumental in giving me life. 

Grateful too today, for sampling great local produce, and amongst other things, enjoying deliciously simple stir fried spinach, which I made with just some garlic, butter and olive oil. That’s all. Thankful also for enjoying the outdoors, and being with loved ones. Grateful for remembering today my prayers, and grateful that I was taught to pray. 

Today, I am also grateful for hearing from someone I love very much. Grateful that I have so many people to love, and think of you. Grateful to know that it is love, because I want to share the beauty with them, knowing they will like it. 

Grateful for the kindness of strangers, not one, not two, not three, not four, but at least five! Grateful that I know to remember them in my prayers. 

Grateful that I no longer hold a grudge or feel disgust and hurt, at the inconsideration and unkindness of people, and that I move on and forgive them, because it’s all they know and it’s where they are in their journey. 

Grateful for life’s so many serendipities, that looking back at the , I truly feel God is watching out for us. 

Grateful that I have finally acknowledged that my writing gives joy to some people. Grateful for having the courage to be able to write with more honesty. Grateful that there are fewer pieces sitting in the drafts and I am able to share more. 

Praying things get back to normal in the world. Grateful for having been given the abilities to tide over the past year. 

Grateful for childhood friends who I will be seeing very soon!

Veenu Banga

12/14/21

11:12 pm.

The unintentional bias

We are all guilty of it at some time or another, and some more guilty than the rest of us. In this instance, I am more guilty, I suppose. This article explains my bias against sitar: https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/notes-from-behind-a-locked-door/ and this is not the only article I read about this state of affairs. The NYT had a very lengthy story as well. 

Oh well! 

Grateful for a glorious day!

 Glorious and Full! Good breakfast, almost amounting to Brunch, in good company, meeting great people, learning new things, feeding mind and body and nourishing soul. Thank you God!

Meeting old friends, blessed to be complimented for something that one takes for granted, and is a blessing really to oneself. Gifts of love and gratitude for that too. Walking the streets finding quirky buildings and signs in a Pun filled City. How’s Kilt and Kocktails, Steak, cattle and roll, too many to remember..and photos of others. Great street art, chasing the elusive Banky which eluded us after all. Maybe Bristol is where to find him.

Good midday snack at M&S Food Hall, Emmental cheese and mushroom toastie, coffee cake and a pot of tea, and then coming out into an aggressive drizzle. Lots more amazing buildings, the kind you stand and stare at, more street art, and the Hard Rock for the city’s lapel pin. Back to the Grosvenor to put one’s feet up. Dinner at Balbir’s which was great. 

All in all, a great day with the Grace of God. Plus a nod of approval for a literary piece, from my someone special. And that should be a wrap up of a completely full day. Except it was so much more. 

Between the midnight edging closer and sounding me a reminder that a body longing for rest and the circadian rhythms et all, one must surrender to all that bigger than us. On that note, a thank you and gratitude for more that I may have forgotten, a good night to all!

Veenu Banga

December 12th, 2021

11:34 pm.

The Highs of Horizons.

I find nothing more fascinating, or exhilarating than the sight of wide open horizons. I say horizons, because it changes every minute in the twists and turns of the drive. The horizons that encircle you, or almost, are the ones that keep my focus darting around, so as to not miss a thing. 

In the winter, when days are short, a long distance drive, can easily last into the sunset and beyond. Further more, there’s often no sunsets,  because, and especially in UK and Europe, it’s frequently overcast and raining. 

In the approaching darkness of dusk, a horizon adds a whole new dimension. You can see the ‘glow’ of a town or a city, and feel the anticipation of your approach. On ships, it’s this glow is the first sign of nearing port, and the sailors get excited by the prospect of going offshore. 

Today, while driving up north, I saw a glow to the east, very bright, and almost like a sunrise. However, it was getting darker and I knew better. It was probably the light pollution from the lights of an area a which is playing host to either a game or perhaps a concert. 

Very thankful and feel deep gratitude, to have the ability to appreciate these vagaries of Nature. Grateful life brings these opportunities my way. Nothing more dynamic than nature. This coitus of sky and earth, of sea and sky, of mountains and clouds, all produces all the different glories and Nature’s bounties that are created as gifts to humans, born of the perfect synchrony when Nature procreates. 

What riches are these, what an abundance of spoils that are ours for the asking, or just taking, free. The sights, the shapes. The bonsai olive tree that I saw today in a huge pot, just sitting idly outside a chippy shop. 

Well, I’m going to stop as I don’t want to miss the midnight deadline. Grateful also for awesome tapas style Indian dinner. It was delicious. What better note than a happy belly, to call it a day and say goodnight!

Veenu Bangs

December 11, 2021

11:58 pm. 

Grateful for a nice sunny day on 12/10/2021

Today I am grateful that the work week decided to end on a sunny note. It was a glorious sunny day, and despite a on again, off again wind, one could still enjoy a walk. I’m grateful for thermal wear that makes life easier on colder days.

Today, I’m also grateful that I went downtown, and we saw the Christmas lights everywhere. 

Still enjoying the goodies from India. Grateful for that. 

Very grateful for the long chat I had with Susan who is such a blessing in my life. Very grateful for Susan, she’s my sunshine who I can count on everyday of the week. May God bless her and all her family who she loves so dearly. Thank you God for Susan.

Grateful for BBC programming. They have a healthy amount of programming on India. Grateful I can be grateful. 

Grateful for the clear skies tonight, the moon is exactly a half full and the stars were clearly visible in the shy. They can even be seen in photographs. Grateful I’ve still got this going every day. 

It’s edging close to midnight and I don’t want my blog post carriage to turn into a pumpkin! So on that note, I hope everyone has lots to be grateful for.

Veenu Banga

December 10, 2021

11:56 pm.

12/09/2021 grateful for small unexpected joys!

Unexpected finds can be quite a source of delight and generate a fleeting but pleasurable excitement. In dryer weather, it can mean a good hand lotion. This is what I discovered. Great on the hands. Nice very gentle fragrance. I liked it so much, I wanted to get one for Susan. Then I saw the ingredient list. Not quite perfect- but. I will leave it at the but. 

https://www.moltonbrown.co.uk/store/journal/fragrance/heavenly-gingerlily

I guess I could say I am grateful for hand lotion with this fragrance. 

I’m grateful for the sarson ka saag that I had at dinner. It was yummy. I’m grateful for all the goodies that arrived from India. I’m grateful for this blog, where I can express my gratitude for things. It certainly is working.

My nuns say, purge, let it go, count your blessings, etc. Counting blessings certainly works. I am going to leave it at that today. The comfortable bed that I’m grateful for calls, and I must go keep my date with the dreams that are sure to delight. 

I hope they’re worth remembering and writing down in my journal. I love surprises in my dreams, and I am grateful for that!

Veenu Banga

12/09/2!

10:58 pm.

Grateful for the little towns and villages 12/08/2021

Vast open skies touching wide green fields on an expansive horizon. Just being present in this vividly diverse universe, where no one place is like another, is a joy to be thankful for.  

Scenic spots that mark the countryside, like a perfectly painted scene of the quiet life in places and spaces. Of farmhouses, pubs, churches with tall spires, schoolhouses, barber shops, and sundry other stuff. Newsagents, corner stores, and now even kebab stalls, some which offer ‘kadak chai’ on their menu. This is not India. The world has changed. In and around Reading, a college town, with charm that youth exudes. 

Pie Dinner at Sweeney and Todd. A series of B roads, followed by narrowing farm roads bring you to Tylney Hall. One of many road trips to be thankful for. Memories are made of evenings like this. The kind we reminisce about when something familiar comes up, or another trip is being planned. 

Grateful that the world is slowly opening up, just in time for the holidays and families are getting together to celebrate. 

Thankful for the nice day today with sun out. Thankful for the samosas, paneer pakoras, saag and methi roti- Sweet Memories. 

Thankful for good dentists, and grateful to find parking.

Thankful for thermal wear on cold and windy days.

Thankful for water comfortable proof boots, which reminded me of Ecuador. Thankful for the memories of Ecuador. 

Thankful for a comfortable bed to sleep on.

Thankful to find so much to be thankful for. Thankful the thankfulness takes away from that which is not pleasant to remember.

Thankful for comfortable walking shoes.

Thankful for looking forward to going to the temple cafeteria.

Thankful for being able to hope I can go for Gurudwara langar. 

Thankful that so many do Seva and inspire others. I should too.

Thankful that when I look into the mirror, I see a friend. 

Thankful for being able to be thankful. Grateful I can be thankful.

Veenu Banga

12/08/2021

11:10pm.

Yin and Yang, and night and day

Light and darkness both come to go away. On this day, BA and JM, the birthday of one and the death anniversary of the other. They were my soft spot to land. They were my days to celebrate, and they were the joys without fail. They were the summer that was never late. In a life of harsh winters, they were my escape. 

I had my first official nervous breakdown at age 20. The perpetrator took pride in orchestrating this, my plight, as a fair trade for alleviating pain that otherwise may have befallen him. He boasted, in fact, about his skill in averting, what may have been disastrous for 'his' people, even though his allegiance should have been to his child. No matter. Having been conditioned early to endure the perpetrator's injustice, I somehow rode it out. 

I knew I had others who loved me beyond measure, and they were enough, and then some. So, despite the horrors of oppression and false insinuations against a child by a group of adults, I must have instinctively known there was more to life. Life as I experienced it, filled with loving and caring, even adulation, I may add, whenever I was in the presence of this other side of my family, which included BA and JM. 

This day is the birthday of my BA, and it is the death anniversary of my JM. They were both brother and sister, devoted to each other and the family. They had both made tremendous personal sacrifices and did do cheerfully, out of a sense of responsibility, and with great clarity of purpose. They lived honorably, were successful, and were highly venerated by those they encountered in their professional and personal lives. They had no enemies. Everyone who knew them had a good word for them. Today, as I think of them with loving memories brimming in my heart, I am beyond thankful to have had them both in my life. They held me in my lowest hours, so much so that I did not feel the pinch of what I was going through. If anything, I should have done more for them. The best of me is what would have been their best reward. They deserved that as it would have been born of their nurturing. Unfortunately, that was not to be, in the circumstances I was placed in. 

We all have the winters of our lives, some more so than others. We wouldn't know how good or bad we've had it because it's all relative. Overall, I would say my winters have all been bearable. I'm grateful for that, for the warmth, both physical and emotional, that was accorded to me despite and by the circumstances the good lord placed me in. So on this winter's day, in looking back, to loss and to gain, to the joys and the sorrows, overall, I still have so much to be thankful for. 

Today, I'm also thankful for the deliciously crisp and sweet green grapes I've been munching on. 

I'm grateful for the print magazines loved ones have saved for me, so I can read them when I visit, as they know my fondness for the printed word—the printed word, which is in my blood. But more on that another time. 

I'm grateful to be in touch with my childhood friends, who knew me then for what my circumstances were and who I was and know me now, and love me still. I'm comfortable with them too, more so now, as some of the trauma of my childhood has eroded. 

I'm grateful to have overcome the shame that was not mine but projected on me to deflect it away from those who pointed fingers in my direction. Today I know better, but it's been a long time coming. I'm tempted to say that I regret this realization did not come sooner, so those who loved me and are no more could have seen me restored, at least somewhat. However, we reconcile with what we cannot fight, and I will say it was not my time, and perhaps those who wronged me knew no better. 

There are no good or bad people; we are all just people. We're all victims of the human condition. Some say the 'time' is bad. Here I beg to disagree, for whatever time we have is all good if we have it. If we have time, we have life. As long as there is life, there is hope, and where there is hope, there is possibility. With possibility, anything is possible. That is a lot to be grateful for! 

Veenu Banga

December 7th, 2021

10: 22 pm. 

On 12/06/2021

 “Got nothing to be grateful for, check your pulse,” said the notice board outside a Baptist church on Wekiva Springs Road. I had read this some years ago, and it has stayed with me. 

This came to mind today as I sat down to write. I was going to start this piece with, “what’s not to be grateful for, as long as we are alive?’ And then I remembered the church board quote again, and thought, let me give it credit for saying it so eloquently.

Among other things in the month of a December, I’m grateful for the four seasons, especially as I live in a place where it’s warmer than most places, for most of the year. It’s not just the magic in each season, but also how everything changes. Even the demeanor of the birds is different. I saw a lone crow almost shivering today. In the summer, they’re more social, but come winter, even birds don’t get out much. 

It’s also in December, that the winter solstice quietly happens, and the countdown to Spring officially begins as the nights suddenly start growing shorter and the days start to become longer. Silently, softly, gently, effortlessly, regularly, unnoticed and without fail turn the hands of time. 

From one solstice to the next life happens with its own dark and bright days, away from the cycle of nature. People are distracted by the so called day to day ‘real’ life, when actually the reality of the universe is not in our control. 

Today, on the 6th day of a December, I’m also happy about a phone call from a friend.I’m thankful for the gentle rain that watered our yards, and gracefully receded, allowing the sun to shine through. 

I’m grateful I resisted You Tube, not out of a sense of triumph, but more out of respect of the fact that I can do without it naturally. It was a day of simple pleasures, courier deliveries, reading, listening to a podcast, and eating hot food. 

I’m grateful for the yawn that reminds me sleep beckons, and I must heed its call. So on that dreamy note, a very good night to all! 

Veenu

12/06/2021.

11:05 pm.

Grateful on 12/05/2021

Trains and trams and scooters and bikes

A land famed for it tulips and dikes, 

And eels, and cheese, and clogs and more,

Canals and Quirky buildings galore

As if that was not enough, cafe’s that explore

Ideas for sustainability, recycling, and more..

Today I want to mention Repair Cafes, something that’s been on my gratitude list for s couple of weeks now. What a joy to find one, and use it! I never thought there are others like me. 

I mean we’ve all heard that, ‘we’re are more alike than different,’ and words to such effect. One wonders where those alike people are. One finds them in the uncanniest of ways. I’m not sure I know anyone who will use a cloth ‘thela’ (bag) instead of a large purse, just to be eco friendly and also be oneself, if you find them comfortable and so much lighter on one’s shoulders. So when I heard about the repair cafe, I was naturally intrigued. 

To cut to the chase, the Repair Cafe we used is manned by volunteers who have retired from related businesses, and are now doing this to make a statement about their beliefs and for pleasure. 

Yes, they really did the job. Our toaster wouldn’t keep the bread down on its own, and we had to manually hold it. Well, guess what, they fixed it! I have always believed Mechanical engineering to be far under-rated, and electronic and computer related streams tend to be overrated. So this was a breath of fresh air! 

I am definitely thankful for the Repair Cafes doing their bit for the world. 

More about Repair Cafes here: 

1) https://cardiffjournalism.co.uk/intercardiff/science-environment/repair-cafe-a-strong-community-is-a-more-ecologically-aware-community

2) https://www.rapidtransition.org/stories/make-do-and-mend-the-rise-of-repair-cafes/

3) https://repaircafewales.org/about-us/y

I am also grateful for FaceTime for obvious reasons, and for WhatsApp. It took me a long time to embrace WhatsApp, and it still repulses me to some extent. I just did not want one more thing to eat into my time, and certainly not a great fan of the alerts. Everything becomes an emergency, like the boy who cried wolf. Very scary to think that someone may not answer a real alert, being desensitized by the constant barrage of jingles. Fortunately, you can shut them off. 

All of us with a roof over our head and food on the table have a lot to be thankful for. That’s why those of us who have, should be charitable towards those that do not. My favorite charity is Habitat for Humanity, followed by the Salvation Army, and Orlando Rescue Mission. 

This season, may all have something to be thankful for!

Veenu Banga

December 5th, 2021

9:45 pm.

Grateful for safe passage on 12/04/2021

Trains, planes and automobiles! So goes the saying. Boats, ferries, ships and sailings. The many ways we go from place to place. 

I’m sailing, and you’re with me. As always when I’m doing something exciting or see something I like or enjoy, I want to share it with you. But physically you’re not here, yet in my thoughts you’re there, always. 

Come nightfall and in my peaceful solitude, in the quiet of my bed, under the warm quilt of Australian wool, undisturbed and unnoticed, I think of you. Not voluntarily. You come, and disturb my peace. Then we talk as I invoke the best of you. In you. I think I’m thankful for that too. Do you like traveling with me? They say you’re everywhere. Why then do I say that I take you with me? I don’t know. May be I do, and can’t articulate it? 

It may be because I like the feeling of control, of knowing you are there because I brought you with me. You’re there as easily as when I think of you?

I’m thankful for my nuns. For the teachings of Samyata. Equilibrium. I now accept more, and react less.The nuns did far more for me. They redefined my relationship with you.

I’m grateful for my imagination. It rescues me from frequently having to accost unwanted tracts of memory. 

I’m grateful for NPR. For its podcasts which are a delight to listen to on the road. Wait, wait, don’t tell me, Hidden Brain, Planet Money. For their Masterpiece stories. God bless all the benefactors for their generosity which brings us these treasure. Too many to name. Series such as Bridgerton, Grantchester, the Jane Austen shows, Death in Paradise, Miss Marple, Father Brown, Doc Martin. Again far too many to mention I’m grateful for Ted Lasso.

What a blessing to appreciate all these wonderful things one has been exposed to. I wish I had started doing this sooner!

Veenu

December 04, 2021

9:38 pm.

Two things to be grateful for on 12/03/2021

 

Super impressed with myself! Three days in a row. This morning I had thought I would write and get it done with sooner so as to go to bed early. However, did not happen, and it’s 10:20 pm already, and the washing machine has signaled its job is done, and its now mine to hang it up. 

I’m not a fan of the dryer, primarily since I mostly use cottons, and some are colored with vegetable dyes. Besides, it’s not good for the environment, and definitely not kind to the fabrics. 

This reminds me of Kalamkari, the real stuff that is made in Tamilnadu, uses vegetable dyes, and never needs ironing when hung out to dry neatly. Will fade in the sun, or even with simple exposure to UV rays, and its colors will run, unless they’re first soaked in salt water, or vinegar, when still new and definitely before the first wash. So I guess I’m grateful for being taught early on, thanks to my mother, to the vast treasure of handlooms and other artesian products, especially fabric, thanks to my dear mother.

In India, they’re easy to source and every family would or rather Should own at least a few pieces from a Co-optex, APCO, or Khadi (popularized by Mahatma Gandhi) stores. Co-optex has great sheets and pillow covers, and even Sarees.

In Delhi, there is a whole Road of State Emporiums (Baba Kharak Singh marg) selling wares of their respective states, mainly cottage industry products. My mother was a huge patron of these shops and back in the day, we purchased several small pieces of gold jewelry from KAIRALI, the Kerala Emporium, sandalwood stuff, and silks from KAVERI, the Karnataka emporium, Andhra silk saress from LEPAKSHI, the Andra Pradesh emporium, dresses from GURJARI, the Gujarat emporium, and several other items such as table linens, and curtains , comforters, etc. from the Assam, and Orissa emporiums, (they have great one of a kind woven curtains, and I still have some) and a few others, but these were my mother’s favorites. There was also the pricey Cottage Industries Emporium on Janpath (old name, Queenway) which we only rarely went to. 

Even after she left Delhi, my mother continued to buy from these shops whenever she visited Delhi, which was not often, because she preferred Bombay, and later, Mangalore as she lived with her son, and when my brother’s job took him to Hyderabad, it seemed Mummy had come home. She loved everything about the place, the people, the culture, the gardens where she could walk, and it had a warehouse size shop, called KALANJALI, which became her favorite go to place for all things! She wore clothes made of KALANJALI fabrics, and I got the benefit of that as well. In fact, the salesman in Kalanjali stores remembered me when I went on my second trip to Hyderabad years later. Here I also discovered Thanjavur paintings and indulged myself with a few. And stone and wood statues. 

I still have silk curtains that I purchased in India, and Oriya silk from the Orissa emporium in Hyderabad. Mummy was lavish with her gifts, especially if they supported artisans. I later passed on this to my children, and they are even more hardcore culture vultures than me. This may be a trip down memory lane, but it’s also something that gave me tremendous joy then, and even now, I write with a huge smile on my face. Yes, definitely, definitely something to be grateful for! 

Well, this tirade went on for far longer than I had anticipated, so I will keep the second part short. It’s not what I intended to write about today, but for the sake of brevity, I will say I’m grateful for a wonderful French bakery, where I’ve been buying my breads. Today I indulged myself and got a raspberry tartlet. I was blown away, it was really good. Coming from me, that means really, really, very good, because I don’t ever eat fruit tarts and other sugary baked goods that are piled high in the breakfast buffets of hotels in America. This was the gentlest whipped cream, which you could barely see, and with no/ nada/ none/ added sugars, so one could get the gentle and natural sweetness of the cream, and the mild tartness of the raspberries. Again, not a tartness fan, but this indulgent buy on a whim, was well worth it! I will try strawberry the next time. 

So this is it. Two more things to be grateful for, and thankful God’s day is safely and happily done. Big gratitude for that too. The moon rests easy, barely visible now, it being amavasya today, or tomorrow? It will again start to grow in the coming days. Overcast skies hide the stars, which is a good reminder, that they are still there, we just don’t see them. And, no, they haven’t lost their shine, it just is God’s way. Always perfect. 

Veenu

December 3rd, 2021.

11:41 pm 

Two things on 12/2/20221

I think it’s a good idea to count down to the new year, by expressing gratitude for this one. No length of time is going to be perfect for everybody. However, whether we know it then or not, we all learn and grow from whatever our experiences in our life.

With age comes wisdom, and that is certainly a big thing to be thankful for. Other than that, the many little things, the many serendipities in our life, our many friends and acquaintances, and the good times we have had with them, are all worthy of our gratitude. 

When I started this day, I had other things in mind, and now at the day’s close, there’s something more unique to be thankful for.

The first should really be the nice discussion I had on our post dinner walk. We spoke about Banksy. Though I’ve known about him for many years, and even know someone who owns an autographed limited edition print, which I have seen, there were stories of his escapades in Bristol (Banks’s hometown) and more notably in LA and NYC, that made for interesting conversation. 

The second thing to be thankful for today, was the most delicious sugar sweet blueberries that I had today. Finished off the whole container. Btw, fruit does not taste the same everywhere. Such a pity. Why the heck does food taste different in the USA. Do you suppose it could be the water? 

I still haven’t written what I really want to write about. Maybe it will come someday.

This is a start. There’s so much to be thankful for. Actually, I’m also very thankful for You Tube. It has brought the music back into my life. It gives me so much pleasure to see a huge revival of OP Nayyar songs, being sung by everyday young people. Today’s discovery was this one: https://youtu.be/iUGtb2WJsPs made perfectly their own, with their regional accents, which made it even more delightfully individualized. I have seen a lot many other such videos too, from all parts of India. OP Nayyar’s compositions have so much joy, and that he used Asha Bhonsle far more than Lataji is pivotal to the fact, that it was his intention to have that joie de vivre which is the undertone in Asha Ji’s voice. 

So I felt quite ashamed that I complain about You Tube taking me down a rabbit hole so to speak, in search of the next soundtrack, when actually it’s my own lack of will power to blame. If anything, You Tube has revived a certain enthusiasm that I seemed to have lost along the way. 

Let me leave you with a surprise singer singing my favorite OP Nayyar song: https://youtu.be/4EMHLbif4As What impressed me here, was not just that it was a Pakistani singer, but they had a real orchestra of sorts, no keyboard crap that imitates all the musical instruments. Seems fake and dishonest, and does a disservice to music. Maybe, I don’t know enough, and feel that way, so please forgive me if anyone reading knows better. The man here actually plays the violin, an instrument that usually has a foreboding sound in movies and because of that, it normally completely turns me off. Here however, it is absolutely delightful and charming. Only OP Nayyar can make a violin sound so romantic! My heart is smiling and still singing this song. 

Veenu 

December 2, 2021.

11:53 pm.

Two things

The two things to be thankful for, was originally going to be for things on November 30th. Anyway, come December and we are still here with the grace of God, and what more can we ask for? 

So many looking forward to put 2020 behind us, and that’s understandable. However, what ever the circumstances, we have learned and we have grown, so it’s all good. 

The small things are really the most enjoyable, such as a good pizza, so I am grateful for discovering the pizza that Nynka makes, it’s the best. I’m also grateful for my digestion that I can eat it two times a week on some weeks.

Also thankful for You Tube (yes, that thing, again!) for the exciting journeys we’ve traveled together, both inwards and outwards. 

Forget now what the original second thing was, but that’s okay too. Just thankful for the opportunity to be thankful. That’s a great thing in itself, is it not? 

Veenu

1st December 2021.

10;03 pm.