Invictus

Just Making a note of this poem by William Ernest, in case I forget it.

Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.

I am homesick!

Ok, im almost crying. Sitting at my desk at work and trying hard to stop the tears from rolling out. Im not sure if these are 'happy tears' or 'sad tears'. Maybe a bit of both. All I can say is I miss my life in India. I am homesick. Terribly.
The thing that triggered the cry-baby inside me was a friend of mine sending me his wedding pics. This friend got married few days back in India, and I could not attend the wedding. But just seeing most of my other friends together enjoying, smiling, dancing (with such vigor that im sure the baraat horse must have turned red seeing the moves :P) sent pangs of nostalgia, which refuse to subside. Add to the fact that I miss my family, and I miss S, and I miss all those crazy people dancing in front of the baraat horse.
Its not that I haven't been to india in a long while. I payed a visit and squeezed in my shaadi during that visit just 3-4 months back. And I did meet all my friends (the very same who were dancing in front of the baraat horse) during my shaadi. But the very fact that I can afford (in time and money) just one visit a year to india, is pissing me off. And by every passing day, I feel happy about our decision of not "settling down" here in Amrika. I realise that I would be giving up the material comforts here, the clean air here, and that life in India is more physically draining than life here, but still having a life in india just "fits" in my mind. And I would like to tell the people who express shock, concern or amusement over the fact that I have voluntarily chosen to go back in the next couple of years, that I will be just fine :P . I have lived in my country for 22 years, and living here for just 4 years (or maybe 5 when i actually make the shift), will not require much adjustment to go back to living in India!! So please dont be surprised, it really pisses me off ;) .

A brag-post coming along!!

First of all, a heartfelt "thank you" to all those who commented on my previous post. Seriously, I have never had so many comments to even all of my other posts combined!! hee hee.. so you can imagine my joy. :)




Anyways, the main intent of this post is to brag!! to do 'maaz' about the fact that I won the travel contest!! woo hoooo :D Man, I needed this boost!! seriously. I was almost on the verge of a nervous breakdown when my Alaska vacation ended yesterday, and I read the results right on time!! gave me the much needed pepping up!! Thanks blogadda and Ashu (who judged the contest) :)