Clichéd yes.. But its true.. Feels like yesterday, that we took the vow of spending the rest of our lives together! To cherish each other, to stand by the other in times of sickness and health, in times of pain and in times of happiness and be with each other no matter what.
And yes, may be i am a convert to a hopeless romantic- I don’t believe i am said that out loud!
It is our wedding anniversary and i reminisce. We have come a long way from long phone conversations, long emails and even longer chat sessions, from frequent flight to cross country drives, to blissful married life!
Here is why i cherish this day, and why it is so special to me. Besides it being the day i got married!
Like most girls, growing up, i dreamed of my knight in shining armor on a white horse to come and whisk me off my feet and take me away. Luckily for me, it literally did happen like that.
I remember the evening we got married. He was dressed in beautiful gold, silver, slight pink slight blue shervani with glittering jewels all over and riding a white horse. (Its customary in my part of the country that the groom comes on a horse!) He was walking down the aisle covered in red roses, while i walked in from the the other side, the demure bride in gold, silver and deep pink gorgeous attire. I had the funny knot in my stomach. The minute i looked up, the moment was much more than what i had imagined it to be. For us, the world stood still, our family, our friends were besides us experiencing this moment with us.
It was just perfect.
We are building our lives together. Each day is special, each glance is cute, each argument is well taken, each gesture is thoughtful! Every minute is well spent. Our daughter V is a heaven sent gift. She makes us into kids one minute and adults in the next and then kids once again. Needless to say i am enjoying our role reversals very much. There are times, when i would see SD read V's books with much intent. He would see me playing with V's stuff toys.. and of course V would be with our blackberry's and laptops! You see 'role reversal'.
On our anniversary, i confess, on this day, there is always the same funny knot in my stomach. I can go on and on.. But i wont. All i can say is Thank You: To support me when i fall, to encourage me when i am down, to appreciate me when i achieve, to listen when i am angry, to lecture me when i am wrong, to love with my flaws.
SD..... Thanks for being who you are; a wonderful husband, a doting father, a caring friend, a naughty kid, a dutiful son, a family man, a comforting cushion, an ally, a spy, .. and above all.. being my 'bubu'!
Its a wonderful adventure.. and i am sure it will continue to be one. Yes the path, is hilly, its up and down, its curvy and its stable. But hand in hand, i know, we know... It will be perfect.
Here's wishing us a very Happy Anniversary!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Chalta hain....
I know I am late for this... but somehow watching the HBO documentary last night stirred up a whole series of emotions all over for me.
I still remember that call!!! I was sitting in my office meeting in my power suit meaning business! I get a call at a very odd hour from back home, its my brother. I do pick it up in the midst of the meeting, considering the oddity of the hour! He asks- Have you seen TV, I was like come on, I am in a meeting. He briefs me: "A bunch of gunmen have entered Taj and are spraying bullets everywhere. All of us are fine, but our city is at war". I hung up. Shocked, taken aback and dumbfounded. My team asks if everything is fine. I said no. I excused myself, gathered myself together and went back to my meeting- business as usual. The remaining 45 minutes, were really long. I feared the worst. The meeting ended. I was glued on my black berry from then until I reached my desk. And then the reality hit.
I remember it was a long weekend here in US. And yes, long it was. We cancelled all our plans. Our wedding anniversary falls in the long weekend. We just couldn't make ourselves gather up to celebrate when our city burned! We were glued to the TV sets, ensuring to call everyone we knew back home and make sure they were safe.
Yes, it was very scary to be far away, but for once I was guilty of feeling better away than there!
Fast forward to now. It’s almost been a year. The documentary on HBO did a very good job of portraying the facts of the evening as they happened. It was true, it was disgusting and it was chilling!
For the hour the documentary ran, SD and I were glued to our couch and were flabbergasted. At the masterminds of the insane people who for some reason had the calmest voices during the attacks and were happily cheering while they killed, they murdered, they burnt and they spread the violence around. The calmest, shrilling voices i have heard! I was dumbfounded at the lack of leadership and the cowardice of our brave but unprepared Mumbai Police. I could see the confusion in people who were meant to protect the city. I couldn't get over the fact, the senior most people were shot within two hours of the attack and for the remainder 58 hours, no one stepped up, no one took charge of the situation! Not until the commando's got there!
I know hindsight vision is 20/20. And when we look at news after the fact, we can work out various strategies that might have helped! If not avoid it, then cope with it as it happens. We needed to take control, take charge and do the righteous things for the ten terrorist who got my country and the entire world at a standstill.
I know it’s easier said than done. I am far away from my country and I have no right at pointing fingers and calling names! I get that.
But someone explain this- 10 gunmen came undetected, they walked in the Mumbai alleys like they owned the place. They entered the most prestigious locations, heritage buildings and sprayed fire and were unhurt until the 54th hour of their "mission". All this while, hundreds of policemen scoured the streets in confusion, senior people in the command post who would get more information from media than their people on the ground. They could listen to the calls of the terrorists and still not take a pre-emptive strike.!.
The "chalta hai" attitude of us Indians, is now a double edged sword. We can adjust and mingle in any circumstances. We will "adjust" Things will keep happening, and we will keep getting hurt, and we will get up and look back and say "Jo hua so hua" (What's been done is done....). "Let’s move on!"
And the funny thing is we will take pride in coming back to normalcy in 24 hours! I don't get it.
I still remember that call!!! I was sitting in my office meeting in my power suit meaning business! I get a call at a very odd hour from back home, its my brother. I do pick it up in the midst of the meeting, considering the oddity of the hour! He asks- Have you seen TV, I was like come on, I am in a meeting. He briefs me: "A bunch of gunmen have entered Taj and are spraying bullets everywhere. All of us are fine, but our city is at war". I hung up. Shocked, taken aback and dumbfounded. My team asks if everything is fine. I said no. I excused myself, gathered myself together and went back to my meeting- business as usual. The remaining 45 minutes, were really long. I feared the worst. The meeting ended. I was glued on my black berry from then until I reached my desk. And then the reality hit.
I remember it was a long weekend here in US. And yes, long it was. We cancelled all our plans. Our wedding anniversary falls in the long weekend. We just couldn't make ourselves gather up to celebrate when our city burned! We were glued to the TV sets, ensuring to call everyone we knew back home and make sure they were safe.
Yes, it was very scary to be far away, but for once I was guilty of feeling better away than there!
Fast forward to now. It’s almost been a year. The documentary on HBO did a very good job of portraying the facts of the evening as they happened. It was true, it was disgusting and it was chilling!
For the hour the documentary ran, SD and I were glued to our couch and were flabbergasted. At the masterminds of the insane people who for some reason had the calmest voices during the attacks and were happily cheering while they killed, they murdered, they burnt and they spread the violence around. The calmest, shrilling voices i have heard! I was dumbfounded at the lack of leadership and the cowardice of our brave but unprepared Mumbai Police. I could see the confusion in people who were meant to protect the city. I couldn't get over the fact, the senior most people were shot within two hours of the attack and for the remainder 58 hours, no one stepped up, no one took charge of the situation! Not until the commando's got there!
I know hindsight vision is 20/20. And when we look at news after the fact, we can work out various strategies that might have helped! If not avoid it, then cope with it as it happens. We needed to take control, take charge and do the righteous things for the ten terrorist who got my country and the entire world at a standstill.
I know it’s easier said than done. I am far away from my country and I have no right at pointing fingers and calling names! I get that.
But someone explain this- 10 gunmen came undetected, they walked in the Mumbai alleys like they owned the place. They entered the most prestigious locations, heritage buildings and sprayed fire and were unhurt until the 54th hour of their "mission". All this while, hundreds of policemen scoured the streets in confusion, senior people in the command post who would get more information from media than their people on the ground. They could listen to the calls of the terrorists and still not take a pre-emptive strike.!.
The "chalta hai" attitude of us Indians, is now a double edged sword. We can adjust and mingle in any circumstances. We will "adjust" Things will keep happening, and we will keep getting hurt, and we will get up and look back and say "Jo hua so hua" (What's been done is done....). "Let’s move on!"
And the funny thing is we will take pride in coming back to normalcy in 24 hours! I don't get it.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Hope...
That is something i like, i live by and i sustain by. I will spurt out something which i normally would not on this public blog.. But it is something important and will help explain the context of my remainder post.
I think, i believe in myself to be an optimist. I believe in the silver lining, i always know and think there is light at the end of the tunnel. And i remind myself and SD all the time to breathe, count to ten and smile. Things will always work out for the best in "long term!"
The reason i share this personal tid bit is because of this lovely post i read this morning. I have been following Sharell for a while now, and i enjoy reading her "gora" version of settling in my alma mater, my city- Mumbai.
Her latest post on Moving on Up once again reinforces my vision in the "long term" plan. There are times when i feel my core shaking up and me actually questioning the light at the end of the tunnel. But SD would remind me of my core and re-enforce me. But then at times its this blogosphere where unknowingly you'd meet new friends, re-acquaint with older friends or even just continue amazing relationships who'd in there unique ways would come to my rescue!!!
I am just glad to be surrounded with lovely people and have a strong support structure which in ways even they don’t know, help get my footing back and then i can continue to believe that in my naive world, Things always will work out and will always be for the best. And for that, i thank them. :-)
In SD's words. Life and some decisions in life is like Poker. In poker, you make a decision knowing what you have in hand and what’s evident from the cards below. You make your call at that moment with your math, your probabilities and your gut feeling. But you make that decision based on what you know now. The next card, the turn, might make you question your decision. But by the time the river card is opened, all bets are off. The decision you made then stands true. And knowing what you knew then, you wouldn't play it any other way. Life draws a parallel to that, you make some decisions with what you know at that point. And in the long run, it will be for the best since there is no other path you might have taken would explain anything else. Makes sense?
And oh yes, everything is fine. This highly philosophical writing comes in out of nowhere. Trust me. I could blame it on Sharell and how her lovely post made me think. Or it could be my highly caffeinated mind which is making me over analyze her words. Or it could be me just in my Monday Morning blue's!
Either or, now that is out of my system. I feel better, and i know "Life is good". But you would know that, the three words... "Life is Good" is something that SD and I believe very very strongly in. You would know, since you have this blogsite in your IE Favorites, in your daily to do reads and you read and tell all about this blog to all you know [Hehe Evil Laughter!;-) ]But if you have not been following my blog [tch tch!!!!Shame on you..;-)] you wouldn't know..... That there is actually some pattern in my madness! It all leads to one thing - "Life is good!"
I think, i believe in myself to be an optimist. I believe in the silver lining, i always know and think there is light at the end of the tunnel. And i remind myself and SD all the time to breathe, count to ten and smile. Things will always work out for the best in "long term!"
The reason i share this personal tid bit is because of this lovely post i read this morning. I have been following Sharell for a while now, and i enjoy reading her "gora" version of settling in my alma mater, my city- Mumbai.
Her latest post on Moving on Up once again reinforces my vision in the "long term" plan. There are times when i feel my core shaking up and me actually questioning the light at the end of the tunnel. But SD would remind me of my core and re-enforce me. But then at times its this blogosphere where unknowingly you'd meet new friends, re-acquaint with older friends or even just continue amazing relationships who'd in there unique ways would come to my rescue!!!
I am just glad to be surrounded with lovely people and have a strong support structure which in ways even they don’t know, help get my footing back and then i can continue to believe that in my naive world, Things always will work out and will always be for the best. And for that, i thank them. :-)
In SD's words. Life and some decisions in life is like Poker. In poker, you make a decision knowing what you have in hand and what’s evident from the cards below. You make your call at that moment with your math, your probabilities and your gut feeling. But you make that decision based on what you know now. The next card, the turn, might make you question your decision. But by the time the river card is opened, all bets are off. The decision you made then stands true. And knowing what you knew then, you wouldn't play it any other way. Life draws a parallel to that, you make some decisions with what you know at that point. And in the long run, it will be for the best since there is no other path you might have taken would explain anything else. Makes sense?
And oh yes, everything is fine. This highly philosophical writing comes in out of nowhere. Trust me. I could blame it on Sharell and how her lovely post made me think. Or it could be my highly caffeinated mind which is making me over analyze her words. Or it could be me just in my Monday Morning blue's!
Either or, now that is out of my system. I feel better, and i know "Life is good". But you would know that, the three words... "Life is Good" is something that SD and I believe very very strongly in. You would know, since you have this blogsite in your IE Favorites, in your daily to do reads and you read and tell all about this blog to all you know [Hehe Evil Laughter!;-) ]But if you have not been following my blog [tch tch!!!!Shame on you..;-)] you wouldn't know..... That there is actually some pattern in my madness! It all leads to one thing - "Life is good!"
Monday, November 9, 2009
Crossing of the boundary!!!!
SD and I share a common passion with the outdoors, with socializing and with anything that involves having a good time. We love to do all this with V. By now, she is used to meeting all our friends, she is getting used to being picked up, being pampered and doted on. Above all she seems to enjoy it as well!
After having V, so far we have been successful at striking a balance between toddler activities and things we like to do
. The following is a very common day in our house: Day will be the zoo, evening will be the park, and once V is asleep and being watched by her grandparents, SD and I head out, for plays, for friends, for lounges, for the "grown up" stuff as we tell V.
This weekend, very sadly, I mixed the two. For the first time in two years and have been super guilty of it!
There is no other way to say this but that SD and I enjoy a good game of poker. Our winter weekends are well spent with friends who share our passion! But, there was a golden rule: We play only when V is sleeping or napping.
For a lot of reasons, yesterday the game started when V was awake. It was fine, we were at a friends and V had her play dates she loves to hang out with! She was super cool; no troubles, was happily eating, playing with her toys, her play date and singing merrily. She was oblivious of the fact that a bunch of adults were on the poker table and really hoping that the kids’ don’t come and read out the cards!
Of course she would come to me, if something was not right ="the toddler toy phone not opening, She was not sharing her snacks with her play date and other similar toddler troubles" And yes, I would tend to them. Would resolve the conflict and would get up to fix there snacks, wipe the mouths, hands, feet, and be back in time to make my "check/bet" SD would the same as well.
But I was torn; though I was on a roll, and winning my hands. As our friends said: "The distraction with her helped my poker face" I was at the same time not engaging her enough. Yes I would tell her be right there, but then I would wait until the flop and then rush to her.
So you get my evening, I was torn in my own pleasure and my amazing toddlers play time. Even though I consider myself a good multi tasker, so far I have not multi tasked with V's play time with my play time. (Yes the laundry, dinner, cleaning doesn’t count as multi tasking with V time! Wink!)
Phew, Don’t judge me, I did get her changed, did her bed time routine and put her to bed per schedule (Yes, in the middle of the game!) Thank god, our friends are super awesome and understand this! But yes, I did feel and am still feeling the guilt of messing the golden rule up.
The sad part is, I can’t say, something similar won’t happen again. There will be super bowls, walks, plays which will need this crossing of the "play times". I have to let go a bit and realize that she is growing up as well and does not need the constant engagement. She may actually enjoy reading her book by herself sometimes.
At the same time, I have to understand that with all the hard work SD and I put in during the week, its okay for us to enjoy our "grown up" activities with V awake. I don’t become a bad parent just because I let her be with messy hands for an additional minute.
Or at least that’s what I am telling myself
After having V, so far we have been successful at striking a balance between toddler activities and things we like to do
. The following is a very common day in our house: Day will be the zoo, evening will be the park, and once V is asleep and being watched by her grandparents, SD and I head out, for plays, for friends, for lounges, for the "grown up" stuff as we tell V.
This weekend, very sadly, I mixed the two. For the first time in two years and have been super guilty of it!
There is no other way to say this but that SD and I enjoy a good game of poker. Our winter weekends are well spent with friends who share our passion! But, there was a golden rule: We play only when V is sleeping or napping.
For a lot of reasons, yesterday the game started when V was awake. It was fine, we were at a friends and V had her play dates she loves to hang out with! She was super cool; no troubles, was happily eating, playing with her toys, her play date and singing merrily. She was oblivious of the fact that a bunch of adults were on the poker table and really hoping that the kids’ don’t come and read out the cards!
Of course she would come to me, if something was not right ="the toddler toy phone not opening, She was not sharing her snacks with her play date and other similar toddler troubles" And yes, I would tend to them. Would resolve the conflict and would get up to fix there snacks, wipe the mouths, hands, feet, and be back in time to make my "check/bet" SD would the same as well.
But I was torn; though I was on a roll, and winning my hands. As our friends said: "The distraction with her helped my poker face" I was at the same time not engaging her enough. Yes I would tell her be right there, but then I would wait until the flop and then rush to her.
So you get my evening, I was torn in my own pleasure and my amazing toddlers play time. Even though I consider myself a good multi tasker, so far I have not multi tasked with V's play time with my play time. (Yes the laundry, dinner, cleaning doesn’t count as multi tasking with V time! Wink!)
Phew, Don’t judge me, I did get her changed, did her bed time routine and put her to bed per schedule (Yes, in the middle of the game!) Thank god, our friends are super awesome and understand this! But yes, I did feel and am still feeling the guilt of messing the golden rule up.
The sad part is, I can’t say, something similar won’t happen again. There will be super bowls, walks, plays which will need this crossing of the "play times". I have to let go a bit and realize that she is growing up as well and does not need the constant engagement. She may actually enjoy reading her book by herself sometimes.
At the same time, I have to understand that with all the hard work SD and I put in during the week, its okay for us to enjoy our "grown up" activities with V awake. I don’t become a bad parent just because I let her be with messy hands for an additional minute.
Or at least that’s what I am telling myself
Monday, November 2, 2009
I'm Back!!!!
I really don't know where to begin.. It’s hard. Where should i start- should it be the sun, the sand, the amazing vineyard views, the lovely sea shore drives, the relaxing mornings, the late evenings, the lazy days! Meeting old friends, their kids, meeting family; where..
Where should i begin describing this completely rejuvenating vacation. Ah... After a long time, i woke on a Monday morning refreshed, and no effort. I was actually ready to get back to work! Surprising.
But yes, that’s what this vacation did to us. On our flight back SD and I were discussing different things on the trip that stood out, that made us smile, that carved memories! We had to keep cutting the other one off.. since there was always something that came up which the other one forgot to mention!
It was perfect, we got to spend time with V without any distractions, she learned new words, met new people, experienced different foods, visited different places and yes she enjoyed a lot! Dropping her off this morning was so hard, it was like the first time i started working after we had her! :-(
In the trip, we could actually sit down with SD's parents and have a conversation. Though they have been here for a while, i don’t think we could catch up as much. Since the weekdays are always packed with work, schedules and V. The weekends always go by in a rush. For the past two weeks, all we did was spend time together as a family. It was wonderful.
I know, this relaxed feeling wont stay long. We will be back to the schedule before we know it. The rushed mornings, the sleep schedules, the planned weekends and so on. But i also do know, these past two weeks made memories of a lifetime for us. I can still feel the saltiness of the ocean breeze in my hair. I can still taste the lovely food in my mouth. I can still feel the warmth of all our friends we met. I can still feel the comfort of the resorts. I can feel the sand in my feet, the grapes in my hand and SD, V and family laughing at jokes and awwing and aahing at the views. As i type these words on my keyboard, the whole vacation is rushing through my mind like a movie.
I don’t know where to begin and where to end to describe the past two weeks.. all i know is this.. now that i am back.... for the next few weeks, there will still be an after effect of the vacation. But the memories will be etched for a long long time!
Where should i begin describing this completely rejuvenating vacation. Ah... After a long time, i woke on a Monday morning refreshed, and no effort. I was actually ready to get back to work! Surprising.
But yes, that’s what this vacation did to us. On our flight back SD and I were discussing different things on the trip that stood out, that made us smile, that carved memories! We had to keep cutting the other one off.. since there was always something that came up which the other one forgot to mention!
It was perfect, we got to spend time with V without any distractions, she learned new words, met new people, experienced different foods, visited different places and yes she enjoyed a lot! Dropping her off this morning was so hard, it was like the first time i started working after we had her! :-(
In the trip, we could actually sit down with SD's parents and have a conversation. Though they have been here for a while, i don’t think we could catch up as much. Since the weekdays are always packed with work, schedules and V. The weekends always go by in a rush. For the past two weeks, all we did was spend time together as a family. It was wonderful.
I know, this relaxed feeling wont stay long. We will be back to the schedule before we know it. The rushed mornings, the sleep schedules, the planned weekends and so on. But i also do know, these past two weeks made memories of a lifetime for us. I can still feel the saltiness of the ocean breeze in my hair. I can still taste the lovely food in my mouth. I can still feel the warmth of all our friends we met. I can still feel the comfort of the resorts. I can feel the sand in my feet, the grapes in my hand and SD, V and family laughing at jokes and awwing and aahing at the views. As i type these words on my keyboard, the whole vacation is rushing through my mind like a movie.
I don’t know where to begin and where to end to describe the past two weeks.. all i know is this.. now that i am back.... for the next few weeks, there will still be an after effect of the vacation. But the memories will be etched for a long long time!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Yes... I am a 'Plan-o-holic'
Finally we are set for much awaited vacation.. 2 weeks of no schedules, no meetings, no running around! Its two weeks of pure bliss, warmer temperatures, relaxed moods and yes... loads of fun.
But the past two weeks..hmm. Well has been the exact opposite. It’s been crazy at work, crazier at home and with dropping temperatures and a case of sniffles for most. Let me put it this way; I need the trip to start Today ;-)
This time around, I had decided to let go my super duper " spreadsheet planning modes ". I kept telling SD, this time I wont, I will not fret over my preparations, my need for having things in control! He would just smile and nod! I guess he does know me better.
Alas, How much ever I shy away from them, I know for a planned vacation, the todo's are my saviour. This is the sad state of my desktop screen right now... My desktop is filled with notepads titled "Todo, todo-1, todo-2" Trust me, there is a pattern in my madness, i know exactly what is in which list, and where i need to check it off. And i actually smile, when i move these one by one to the trash can! Urgh!
There is once again a master checklist! To Do list, packing list, food to carry list, meds to carry list, clothes list, this list and that list...... you get the idea!
Oh yes and the "not done yet" are as usual in big bold alphabets, red, green, yellow colored backgrounds to display the urgency of the same. And yes.. of course there are Back up plans!!!
Yes, I am disgusted at myself! And yes I do feel bad for SD, since he is at the receiving end of my "List-1, 2, 3"
This is how bad I am... I am actually scared for my poor black berry.. since if it crashes... out goes all the details, hence I am being not so green.; and have printouts for all. (Maybe, slightly green, the printouts are front to back!) But you get the idea.
Alas, i have put myself in the rutofoverplanning again. Silver lining: Luckily SD and I never detail out the trip itself...That’s pretty much... we will do what we feel like and what we are in the mood of (Thank God!). Remeber, its a vacation!
But like always, the preparations for the trip is what I need to be "under my belt"
Hence, I have to bend and say "I am GN, and Ii am an Plan-o-holic"
But the past two weeks..hmm. Well has been the exact opposite. It’s been crazy at work, crazier at home and with dropping temperatures and a case of sniffles for most. Let me put it this way; I need the trip to start Today ;-)
This time around, I had decided to let go my super duper " spreadsheet planning modes ". I kept telling SD, this time I wont, I will not fret over my preparations, my need for having things in control! He would just smile and nod! I guess he does know me better.
Alas, How much ever I shy away from them, I know for a planned vacation, the todo's are my saviour. This is the sad state of my desktop screen right now... My desktop is filled with notepads titled "Todo, todo-1, todo-2" Trust me, there is a pattern in my madness, i know exactly what is in which list, and where i need to check it off. And i actually smile, when i move these one by one to the trash can! Urgh!
There is once again a master checklist! To Do list, packing list, food to carry list, meds to carry list, clothes list, this list and that list...... you get the idea!
Oh yes and the "not done yet" are as usual in big bold alphabets, red, green, yellow colored backgrounds to display the urgency of the same. And yes.. of course there are Back up plans!!!
Yes, I am disgusted at myself! And yes I do feel bad for SD, since he is at the receiving end of my "List-1, 2, 3"
This is how bad I am... I am actually scared for my poor black berry.. since if it crashes... out goes all the details, hence I am being not so green.; and have printouts for all. (Maybe, slightly green, the printouts are front to back!) But you get the idea.
Alas, i have put myself in the rutofoverplanning again. Silver lining: Luckily SD and I never detail out the trip itself...That’s pretty much... we will do what we feel like and what we are in the mood of (Thank God!). Remeber, its a vacation!
But like always, the preparations for the trip is what I need to be "under my belt"
Hence, I have to bend and say "I am GN, and Ii am an Plan-o-holic"
Monday, October 12, 2009
Line 43...checked
So this is how it goes.... You make the sixty mile drive, wear the warmest fleece, the warmest gloves, the warmest cap, wear the jump suit which countless other daredevils have worn before you. The suit fits you snugly, the gear is put on you by professionals; you are strapped in, taken to the flight.
Its like the movies.. but damn you are starring in it. There are cameramen all around you, your instructor is barking orders in your ears, cracking lame jokes to make to relax. You forget everything they told you in the orientation except the "breathe~!!" You look over your shoulder at your husband; who is doing the same.. trying to smile with a mind full of worries! You look anxiously at your FIL... sitting, smiling.. not talking much.. but confident.. and then you close your eyes.. and pray.. this better go well!!!
The instructor tell you its time (!), shows the alto meter.. its 10000 feet in the air.. at 14500 feet, the light turns red, then yellow and then green... and then before you know it... your friend jumped off the plane, then your FIL, then another one.. and now its you..
At the edge of the plane at this obnoxious height and this unbelievably cold weather... you somehow don’t feel the chill!!! You look over the airplane's door and think: “Why the hell am I doing this!!!” What you see below is corn fields.. lots of them, some tiny tiny things floating in the air (They are actually the people who jumped off!!!) And then you do want to close your eyes.. but you dont, since you do want to see yourself jumping off the plane!!! yes.. willingly jumping off the plane at 14.5K feet, with the cameraman before you.. and you right after... tandem.. tied to the instructor.. yes...you hold on.. tight!
And then you jump, the first three looong seconds pass by, you open your arms.. and you are Free falling... You cant think, but you are screaming in excitement.. and you know you are flying.. you are doing something that you wanted to do for the longest time ever.. you are diving in the sky... you are grinning at the cameraman.. you are looking up in the sky.... you forget everything... but you remember your daughters face.. and you cant wait to do this again with her! The sixty seconds of the free fall feel so long... The sheer rush.. makes you crave it more. The instructor tells you pull the parachute... sanity comes back.. at 5500 feet, you pull the parachute.. like there is no tomorrow. In sixty seconds, you fell 9000 feet at 120 mph!!!! (Thank god no cops in the sky to give me the speeding tickets!)
The parachute opens..(Thank God).. you are whisked up in the air once more.. and then its smooth sailing.. you are in the sky.. looking around.. looking down.. looking happy. Is that the Chicago skyline far away! You cant stop thanking the instructor enough.. you cant believe you jumped off... you want to just relive all of it again. You think.. wow.. your hubby did do this.. just for you... He did jump off the plane.. since you wanted to experience this moment with him!
The next five to six minutes are pure bliss. You cant stop thinking of how small you are in this huge world.. your perspective changes.. your views change... and the minute you touch down.. you get rid off the links from your instructor.. the links with which you were tied to the guy.. which ensured you don’t fall off.. you run in delight.. in sheer energy and excitement to see the hubby, give him the tightest hug.. look for your friends and FIL.. who made the jump.> Especially the dad!!! kudos.. he did the sky dive with you.. making the experience all the more special!
I ran towards my daughter.. gave her a million kisses, and told her.. we have to do this together.. when she saw the video.. I didn’t think she was so sure of it. After 18 years we will talk! ;-)
Yes.. I did it.. I Skydived.. in all sanity, i jumped off a plan at 14500 feet, came back on ground.. willingly...and now cant stop thinking and talking about it!
SD did it.. and not once did he say "This is not my idea of fun"He was more pumped up!
Papa did it... yes he did...!!!
You have to experience this at least once... it is best feeling in the world.. and no matter how many times or who tells you.. you only feel it when you yourself land on the ground.. and say: "Why the hell didn’t I do it sooner!!!"
Bucket list line number 43: Sky Dive.. Checked! ;-)
Its like the movies.. but damn you are starring in it. There are cameramen all around you, your instructor is barking orders in your ears, cracking lame jokes to make to relax. You forget everything they told you in the orientation except the "breathe~!!" You look over your shoulder at your husband; who is doing the same.. trying to smile with a mind full of worries! You look anxiously at your FIL... sitting, smiling.. not talking much.. but confident.. and then you close your eyes.. and pray.. this better go well!!!
The instructor tell you its time (!), shows the alto meter.. its 10000 feet in the air.. at 14500 feet, the light turns red, then yellow and then green... and then before you know it... your friend jumped off the plane, then your FIL, then another one.. and now its you..
At the edge of the plane at this obnoxious height and this unbelievably cold weather... you somehow don’t feel the chill!!! You look over the airplane's door and think: “Why the hell am I doing this!!!” What you see below is corn fields.. lots of them, some tiny tiny things floating in the air (They are actually the people who jumped off!!!) And then you do want to close your eyes.. but you dont, since you do want to see yourself jumping off the plane!!! yes.. willingly jumping off the plane at 14.5K feet, with the cameraman before you.. and you right after... tandem.. tied to the instructor.. yes...you hold on.. tight!
And then you jump, the first three looong seconds pass by, you open your arms.. and you are Free falling... You cant think, but you are screaming in excitement.. and you know you are flying.. you are doing something that you wanted to do for the longest time ever.. you are diving in the sky... you are grinning at the cameraman.. you are looking up in the sky.... you forget everything... but you remember your daughters face.. and you cant wait to do this again with her! The sixty seconds of the free fall feel so long... The sheer rush.. makes you crave it more. The instructor tells you pull the parachute... sanity comes back.. at 5500 feet, you pull the parachute.. like there is no tomorrow. In sixty seconds, you fell 9000 feet at 120 mph!!!! (Thank god no cops in the sky to give me the speeding tickets!)
The parachute opens..(Thank God).. you are whisked up in the air once more.. and then its smooth sailing.. you are in the sky.. looking around.. looking down.. looking happy. Is that the Chicago skyline far away! You cant stop thanking the instructor enough.. you cant believe you jumped off... you want to just relive all of it again. You think.. wow.. your hubby did do this.. just for you... He did jump off the plane.. since you wanted to experience this moment with him!
The next five to six minutes are pure bliss. You cant stop thinking of how small you are in this huge world.. your perspective changes.. your views change... and the minute you touch down.. you get rid off the links from your instructor.. the links with which you were tied to the guy.. which ensured you don’t fall off.. you run in delight.. in sheer energy and excitement to see the hubby, give him the tightest hug.. look for your friends and FIL.. who made the jump.> Especially the dad!!! kudos.. he did the sky dive with you.. making the experience all the more special!
I ran towards my daughter.. gave her a million kisses, and told her.. we have to do this together.. when she saw the video.. I didn’t think she was so sure of it. After 18 years we will talk! ;-)
Yes.. I did it.. I Skydived.. in all sanity, i jumped off a plan at 14500 feet, came back on ground.. willingly...and now cant stop thinking and talking about it!
SD did it.. and not once did he say "This is not my idea of fun"He was more pumped up!
Papa did it... yes he did...!!!
You have to experience this at least once... it is best feeling in the world.. and no matter how many times or who tells you.. you only feel it when you yourself land on the ground.. and say: "Why the hell didn’t I do it sooner!!!"
Bucket list line number 43: Sky Dive.. Checked! ;-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)