The palash are in bloom—delicate, fragile. Selective! Just one or two flowers reluctantly scattered under a massive tree.

Watching a child’s glee at her  first soap bubbles….

A friend pointed me to an online reseller of used books. Hardly used books, very used books, books so fragile they tear when you turn the page… but what a steal. Appeals to my frugal heart, though I went overboard with the buying… a book on 1950’s Indian film industry, a book on the trek to Shri Badrinath (1958 edition)…who’d have owned these? Why would someone sell them away? 

Shivratri is next week, at the temple Guruji is reciting the rudra.. .so lucky, blessed to even hear these words…. I close my eyes and I see those jagged mountain peaks, un-climbable, snow capped, pristine…how fortunate that I opted for a circuitous, cheaper ticket and was blessed with this once-in-a-lifetime sight. Raga Shankara/Dhan Dhan Dhan dhavalashikhar…the abode of Lord Shiva… these words hold much more meaning now

An explosion of beauty… suddenly, fresh leaves have sprung up, tender green, hesitant, against the darker green-black of older leaves. This morning I counted: bauhinia, cordia, nagkesar, asok, african tulip in extravagant bloom. New leaves, a fragile tan, on the Tivar. Celebrating spring.

Despite the cold, yes unseasonal cold for Mumbai. Good excuse not to go for walkathons that begin at 6.30 AM. Though dawn must have been breathtaking.

Watched the Oscar-nominated Her. What a brilliant movie. What a world we live in… so many in my row had come all alone, phone in hand.

One life skill I badly need to learn is the ability to STOP being a garbage bag for strangers... this morning I stopped to compliment an old lady on her saree; got ten minutes worth of complaint re her DIL...
Mercy!

Today, I celebrate the asoka blooms. Generous. Bursting forth with color. The tree alight.

On Sunday, watched 2 movies. Both landmarks.

Gurudutt’s Kagaz ke phool. What brilliant shot taking. How quickly the story moves. Almost modern in its treatment.

DD showed Shyamanand Jalan’s Eashwar Mime Company. What fantastic work. Minimalist story line. Didn’t have the guts to watch the last frame.

Incredible feeling.
Stunned.

I’ve discovered a new pastime—listening to old hindi songs on radio and singing along. Purani Jeans zindabad.

A young colleague made a life changing decision. From abused divorcee with special needs child and rote 9 to 6 existence--to bride, immigrant. What courage must it have taken. To abandon all that was familiar, secure after such a jolt. To trust life again.

A salute to your professional skills that we are talking, though a part of my mind recognizes how even handed you have been navigating this change over the last five or is it six years… so be it, and perhaps I’m grateful too for your friendship and loyalty. Life moves for us at different paces and places , and I wish you well. For me, this acceptance is growth,  a maturity milestone.