17 November 2010

relocation project-1

Just to avoid racking my brains over a post title, I am going to post a few posts under the theme "relocation project", in the coming few weeks.

I sold my car today. My first car. It is a part of the whole cross country relocation programme I am involved in :D.
And surprisingly, I didn't feel 'that' sad seeing my car go. I mean, I did feel a teeny bit of pang, but that's it. Maybe it is because it was not a great car in the first place, that's why. And I was having some issues with it for a while, and it did contribute to a major part of my agonies in the past couple of years. But even then, letting go a possession can induce a bit of sadness.
I have learnt a major thing in this whole relocation project. Yes, I have given this project a name, have made notes, lists and what not. The reason: I am absolutely terrible at this kind of thing..you know, packing, organizing, sorting... And I was dreading it, like I dread going to the gym! So anyways, I thought why not treat this relocation as a project, an assignment with a deadline. That way, I would complete it, and maybe even enjoy it a little bit. And it has really worked! Just the completing part..not the enjoyment part ;)

Anyways, as I was saying, I have learnt that no matter how hard it might seem to let go your stuff... your old clothes, your hand picked furniture, you car, your dingy little rented apartment that you so loving decorated (and loving messed it up on a regular basis), its just the inertia you need to overcome in this whole "letting go your stuff" process.
Few days back, when I started packing, I decided not to take the clothes that are too big for me, or the clothes I had got from India during the first visit which are too small to fit me. So basically I created a heap of clothes which I eventually donated. And now that I think about it, it was just the first piece of clothing (a jeans) that went into that heap took me hours to put it in that heap. I spent a considerable time thinking whether I will ever fit into it? It does have some awesome college days memories attached to it. Its not that faded or threadbare.. But then once I put that first jeans in the "clothes to donate heap", the rest of the clothes went in it pretty quickly. And I realised that it actually felt good. Giving away clothes that I never touched, had even forgotten they existed. It felt like a cleansing process. It felt like something old was coming to an end, and something new was starting. And it did feel good! After that one jeans I had trouble parting with. Even though the rest of the clothes had their own stories behind them, their own memories, I realised that clinging to them in the name of memories was just a waste of space and a waste of money.
So anyhow, by the time it was my car's turn to go away, I had become almost cold hearted. And that's why, the lack of any earth shattering emotion. :)
But I guess, once you really make up your mind, it is easy to let go and move on.

03 November 2010

Happy Diwali!

After lots of pleas, threats, blackmails and chocolates' lure, my mom finally took some snaps of our decorated house (for diwali) and sent them to me. And that was sufficient to turn me into a cry baby. (Yes, these days I cry at the drop of a hat.) I am missing home. Especially during diwali. I don't want to turn this into another post on nostalgia and homesickness as I have already bawled out here. But I am surely missing diwali. And everything that comes with it. The faral, crackers, lights, gifts, rangoli. I love our traditions for these reasons. You can actually 'feel' the festivity in the air. And it kind of grows on you. It is even sufficient for turning an anti-social, anti-tradition, anti-dressing up/make up person like me into a completely adorable, socialable, civil and well dressed person. For those few days.
Riding this festive wave, I bought a ticket to CA few days back so that hubby and I could spend our diwali together. I agree this was an impulse buy and that I had promised myself that my last trip 2 weeks back would be my last CA trip just 'visiting' before I move there.
I have been told that the couple's first diwali is supposed to be a big deal with lots of celebrations and the likes. Well, I don't know about that, but I am just glad that we will be together during the festival. I am also looking forward to the nice meal hubby has planned on cooking for me ;-). Anything for home made food not cooked by me. The 'not cooked by me' part is crucial... I have been so sick of eating food cooked by me for the past few months. I mean I don't cook 'bad' per se, but its just that I am tired of the same taste and the lack of variety in my food. Anyways, I digress.

This post was anyways just for wishing you guys a very HaPpY DiWaLi!!! May your life be full of happiness, light and fun :)