A Lone Stranger

I've learned. . . . * . . .that the best classroom in the world, is at the feet of an elderly person. * . . .that when you're in love, it shows. * . . .that just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day. * . . .that having a child fall asleep in your arms, is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world. * . . .that being kind, is more important than being right. * . . .that you should never say 'No' to a gift from a child. * . . .that I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him/her, in some other way. * . . .that no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with. * . . .that sometimes, all that a person needs, is a hand to hold & a heart to understand. * . . .that simple walks with Dad around the colony on summer nights, when I was a child, did wonders for me as an adult. * . . .that we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for. * . . .t...

Why should you "like" your own posts on Facebook?... If you’ve been using Facebook for a while you’ve probably noticed that many people (including me), “Like” their own posts just as soon as they post them. While this could be viewed as a form of "vanity", (I mean really, is it cool to “Like” your own posts?), in most cases it isn’t vanity at work at all. Facebook has made numerous changes to their user interface of late & one of the most reviled changes of them all, were changes to the news feed & the introduction of the "Ticker". Now, instead of seeing all of your friends’ posts, you only see a selected few (selected by Facebook of course), showing up in your news feed. Under the new “Edge Rank” system, friends that don’t “Like” & comment on your posts, usually stop seeing them altogether before too long. In order to compensate for not showing your posts in some of your friends’ news feeds, Facebook added the "ticker" – a box in th...

Absolutely brilliant.....this will delight you... (Thanks to my friend, C A Shivanand Gaitonde , for sharing it...) A German Shepherd starts chasing rabbits & before long, discovers that he's lost. Wandering about, he notices a panther heading rapidly in his direction with the intention of having lunch. The old German Shepherd thinks, "Oh, oh! I'm in deep shit now!" Noticing some bones on the ground close by, he immediately settles down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat. Just as the panther is about to leap, the old German Shepherd exclaims loudly, "Boy, that was one delicious panther! I wonder if there are any more around here?" Hearing this, the young panther halts his attack in mid-strike, a look of terror comes over him & slinks away into the trees. "Whew!" says the panther, "That was close! That old German Shepherd nearly had me!" Meanwhile, a squirrel who had been watching the whole scene from a near...

Dedicated to you O Intelligent one for appropriate answers : 1. If you take an Oriental person and spin him around several times, does he become disoriented? 2. If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from Holland called Holes? 3. Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery? 4. If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled? 5. If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular? 6. Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker? 7. When cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say? 8. Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist but a person who drives a racing car not called a racist? 9. Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites? 10. Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things? 11. Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one? (I like this one alot!) 12. 'I am' is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be that 'I do' is the longest sentence? 13. If lawyers are disbarred and clergym...

A clean house is a sign of a wasted life.... (Makes interesting & thoughtful reading)... A layer of dust protects the wood beneath it. 'A house becomes a home when you can write, 'I love you', on the furniture.’ I used to spend at least 8 hours every weekend, making sure things were just perfect - 'in case someone came over'. Finally I realized one day, that no-one came over; they were all out living life & having fun! Now, when people visit, I don't have to explain the 'condition' of my home. They are more interested in hearing about the things I've been doing while I was away living life & having fun. If you haven't figured this out yet, please read this. Life is short. Enjoy it! * Dust if you must......but wouldn't it be better to paint a picture or write a letter, bake cookies or a cake & lick the spoon or plant a seed, ponder the difference between want & need? * Dust if you must.....but there's not much time ......

"John is my heart"........ (An emotive article by a father, Frank Schaeffer, in the Washington Post.) "Before my son became a Marine, I never thought much about who was defending me. Now when I read of the war on terrorism, or the coming conflict in Iraq, it cuts to my heart. When I see a picture of a member of our military who has been killed, I read his or her name very carefully. Sometimes I cry. In 1999, when the barrel-chested Marine recruiter showed up in dress blues & bedazzled my son John, I did not stand in the way. John was headstrong & he seemed to understand these stern, clean men with straight backs & flawless uniforms. I did not. I live in the Volvo-driving, higher education-worshiping North Shore of Boston. I write novels for a living. I have never served in the military. It had been hard enough sending my two older children off to Georgetown & New York University. John's enlisting was unexpected, so deeply unsettling. I did not relish...

How a daughter was raised..... (A brilliant first hand account, from a wise well meaning soul).... "My Dad always 'sounded' it in my ears....."Simi, you must be 'tough'. Being 'girlish' & being 'ladylike', is not an excuse for 'weakness'." He says this, to me & my sisters, even today. All the children were 'raised' to do the 'masculine', as well as the 'feminine' tasks. My sisters' & I, started 'winding' a 15 KVA generator as soon as we got one. I 'learnt' how to wash a 'car' (internal & external), before I was 16. I started 'learning driving' immediately after 'secondary' school. My Dad told me, before he allowed me to drive out 'independently', that I must learn to change 'car tyres'. I remember my Dad saying to me, "If you are 'driving' on a lonely 'highway' & you need to change your 'tyre', what ...

World Elders Day..... There was a call from an Old Age Home to a son abroad. The son said, "It is recession here, please don't ask for any donation or financial help." The Old Age Home Manager said, "Who asked you for any donation? Your Mom breathed her last a few hours ago." Son: "Then I will come, as the landed property is to be dealt with." Manager: "No it was sold two years ago, to meet the medical expenses of your ailing Dad". Son: "Oh, I was not aware. I will send some money to conduct Mom's last rites in that case". Manager: "No, your Mom donated her body to the medical college & some compensation may be received for that. I want your Account No. to remit the cash....that's why I called you." Total silence from the son! Think about this... Respect the elderly... Cheers...

All for a good Sunday morning laugh.....with no offences to one & all....these are Notices in Gujarat hotels....(bound to raise a laugh).. In an Ahmedabad Hotel: * It is forbidden to steal hotel towels please. If you are not a person to do such thing is please not to read this notice. In a Baroda hotel elevator: * The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable. In a Surat hotel lobby: * Please leave your values at the front desk. In a hotel in Jamnagar: * Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 - 11 am daily. In an Ahmedabad hotel, near Gujarat College: * You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid. Edwards Laundry on Relief Road, Ahmedabad: * Drop your trousers here for best results. In a Bhavnagar hotel: * Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is requested that the lobby be used for this purpose. In an Anand laundry: * Ladies, leave your cl...

The "Battle of the Bulges"... (A brilliantly penned article, from the 'leaves' of a former Air Warrior, (Air Force officer), Suresh Panje ).... "At the outset let me admit, that I am not an old beak attired in black robes, to decide the much ado about what is ‘choli ke peeche?’ I even apprehend some vague order of contempt of the court for imagining that the learned judge would have repeatedly tried to ascertain the truth, if not with his better half, at least from the maid on the sly - of course, all in the cause of the next day’s judgment over a serious social controversy, vis-a-vis, what lies behind the blouse. Yes, we have to opine it as a social cause, since it is the attire which enhances one’s personality & status. That reminds me, how prior to the advent of those narrow ‘drain-pipe’ & the later 'bell-bottom' trends, the pants had a fold at the bottom, where occasions were aplenty, ‘converting’ white pajamas into trousers, by the mere flic...

Someone once asked, "Why do we have brakes in a car?" Many answers were provided, like: "To stop the car". "To reduce speed". "To avoid a collision", etc. etc.... The 'best', however, seemed to be: "To allow you to drive faster". Now, do give this a thought... It is true, but seldom appreciated. It is because we have 'brakes', that we can dare to accelerate; dare to go fast & reach the destinations we desire. At varied points of time in our lives, we found our parents, teachers, mentors, friends, colleagues & even spouses, questioning our progress, direction or our decisions. Remember! It is because of them, that we are, where we are today. So let us learn to appreciate the 'brakes' in our lives. Cheers. Think about it...

Intelligent people have less friends. The more 'real' you are, the fewer friends you have. Here’s why: 1. You’re liberated in your own speech, thoughts, & actions, which can be contrary to those of your “friends.” You have a strong mind & values. Your mind isn’t limited & you always have something to say. You think differently to others, but you’re not bothered by their opinions on it. 2. You don’t have time for forced fake catch-ups, or pointless conversations, trying to keep up with what everyone is up to. So, you mostly spend time alone. You don’t care about the latest trends or latest music. You have little interest in materialistic things. You also don’t have FOMO (fear of missing out), so you’re quite content doing your own thing. Your world seems to flourish more on your own. 3. You can see beyond people’s 'try hard' persona, so you distance yourself from people who aren’t worth your time. These people are known as 'social climbers'. They try...

"Drifting Kites" by Twinkle Khanna... (A must read for all parents). * 10 am: I'm enjoying Sunday breakfast with the whole family. We're digging into aloo parathas with home-made ghee & as I am despairing at the horrific number of calories being consumed, the phone rings & we get some terrible news. A family friend has lost her young son. The young man, in his early 20s, had gone to America to attend a friend's wedding - left a suicide note on Facebook & killed himself before anyone could reach him. I cannot even begin to imagine what his mother is going through. There is no pain greater than losing a child. You start worrying about these tiny beings from even before they are born. You worry about their health, their education, their careers, their spouses, their children...Worrying, but not really believing that one unlucky day, your greatest fear may actually come true. You lose a child to an accident or an illness & with a broken heart. ...

Where do the birds go to die? "Are the free flying birds, the crown creation of nature? Where do birds go to die? Strange questions but the answers are stranger, or probably there is no answer at all. One fine morning, seated at my favourite tea spot, overlooking the evergreen banyan tree against the background of the pleasantly warm early morning sun, watching my avian friends, a mix of parakeets, sparrows & Mark Twain’s favourite friends, the Indian crows; all of them permanent occupants of this peaceful tree colony; the following thought just popped into my head. I have been watching my feathered friends, chirping, cooing & quarreling oh so sweetly, ever so often, but I have never seen any one of them ever lying dead either under that tree, or anywhere in the vicinity or our residential colony, or surprisingly, even all over the world. The world is populated with flocks of birds, but strangely, one never sees bodies of dead birds lying around. Rarely one does see bird ...

"Can you tell me how to become a soldier?"... (I have always advocated, that "soldiering" does not only mean donning the Olive Green uniform. "Soldier" is another word for "discipline", meaning anybody & everybody who is "disciplined", is a "soldier"). Read on..... Many years ago, the story is told of a soldier who always wore his Regimental tie & lapel pin when in public. On some occasions, he rode the bus from his home to the downtown area. On one such trip & when he sat down, he discovered the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it." Then he thought, "Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter; who would worry about this little amount." Anyway, the transit company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' & k...

Trapped in a lift? What next? What you need to do if & when you are trapped in a lift? We never know when & where accidents will happen to us, or to people around us. This information may help many, when 'the not so pleasant' things happen to either you, your friends, or your loved ones. This happened to a friend....in his own words... "One day, while in a lift, it suddenly broke down & began falling from level 13 at a brisk pace. Fortunately, I remembered having watched a TV program that said you must quickly press all the buttons for all the levels. I did that & finally, the lift did stop - at the 5th level. Whew!" Remember! * When you are faced with a life & death situation, whatever decision or action you make, will decide, whether you survive or not. * If you are caught in a lift breakdown, the first thought that comes to mind is, 'I'm going to die', but after you read what is mentioned below, things will definitely be different –...

Building bridges... Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms, fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery & trading labour & goods as needed without a hitch. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding & it grew into a major difference & finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence. One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work," he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here & there. Could I help you?" "Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbour; in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us & he took his bulldozer to the river levee & now there is a creek between...

Wax in the stomach....?? Sharad, a mechanical engineer, found himself with an upset stomach every night. While normal medical checks revealed nothing wrong in him, deeper probes revealed the reason – his stomach was collecting significant amounts of wax. The doctors identified the villian – the ordinary disposable paper cups he used for drinking his tea at his office pantry. A disposable paper cup is quite popular in office pantries due to the convenience it offers. What manyoverlook is the fact, that these paper cups are coated with a tiny layer of wax, which is essential to prevent water from seeping into the paper. When very hot liquids are poured into this cup, the wax on the paper cups disintegrates & a little comes off & is promptly sent along with the drink, into the stomach. While the body can discard minor amounts, over a long-term, it can become a problem. So what can be done about it? You can try to bring your own glass cups. Glass is one of the least reactive...

For those who loved Roger Moore, here is a lovely story from Twitter. (Thanks to my dear friend, Madhu Mansingh for this). "As a seven year old, circa 1983, in the days before First Class Lounges at airports, I was with my Granddad at Nice Airport & saw Roger Moore sitting at the departure gate, reading a newspaper. I told my Granddad I'd just seen 'James Bond' & asked if we could go over, so I could get his autograph. My Grandad had no idea who James Bond or Roger Moore were, so we walked over & he popped me in front of Roger Moore, with the words, "My grandson says you're famous. Can you sign this?" As charming as you'd expect, Roger asked my name & duly signed the back of my plane ticket, a fulsome note full of best wishes. I was ecstatic, but as we headed back to our seats, I glanced down at the signature. It was hard to decipher it, but it definitely didn't say 'James Bond'. My Grandad looked at it, half figured out ...

She Waltzes Through Life.. Shadow lengthens not; yes, walking on a tight rope she waltzes through life She waltzes through life; sun, moon, stars, trees and flowers fail to catch her rhythm Fail to catch her rhythm; a wife and a mother too, she waltzes through life.. Dedicated to my wife and all the respectable ladies out there