Saturday, December 22, 2012

The ocean beckons...


If there is one place that I'd I always want to visit, I think it is the ocean.

There is something about the ocean that meets my every need, that answers my every call....
When I seek calm, she gives me a shoulder to lean on, like the friend who is always there by my side... 
When I seek company, she laps at my feet with a warm embrace, like the love that senses my deepest fears...
When I seek words, I find them in her conversations with the wind, like the strangers that pass me by...
When I seek strength, I find it in her battle with the coast, like I find from my family of love...
When I seek love, I watch the sun melt into her, like the child into a mother's embrace...
When I seek companionship, I find it in her camaraderie with the skies, each reflecting on the other... When I am happy, she dances to the flutter of my heart, like the friend who will always be happy no matter what...
When I am gray she rushes to meet me, like a mother to the lost child...
When I am lost, she anchors me to the vastness of the universe, like the faith that I hold onto...
When I am anxious, she lightens my worries, like those who protect me...
When battling loneliness, I find solitude in her gentle soothing words, like that from an elder ...
When tears flood my eyes, she makes them her own, like the father who tries to protect from all the pain in the world...
She voices my anger in the roar of her waves,
She dances with her waves to the tune of my heart,
She rises to the tide of my soul, and
She moves to the rhythm of my mind...
She is my wellspring of hope and comfort...







The

In the holiday spirit...




Those not-so wayward wayside signs... :)



Old town with an old friend...











Sunday, December 9, 2012

The last-hoorah...




The happily ever-afters...



The pacific sunsets...

I have always loved sunsets. It is strange to me that instead of being engulfed by the sense of an ending, sunsets give me hope and joy. I guess, knowing with certainty that there will be a new beginning tomorrow - whether I am there or not to see it - gives me a sense of hope. 

Watching the pale, lifeless sky turn bright red and glow golden somehow reminds me of the creative process. It reminds me of the artistry in nature and the beauty around us. There was once a time, when sitting on the open terrace and watching the sun set between concrete blocks was a daily past time. The harshness of life as a PhD student, the physical pain and the mental fatigue would both dissolve as I stared at the sunset, watching the sky morph and come alive. 

Today, after a long time, I did the same and found the old sense of calm and quiet. I guess, this is a reminder for me to brave some chilly winds and to resume my old habits. This time of course, I have the pacific ocean in front instead of the concrete blocks. I guess, life has changed for the better (at least in that sense...) :) 












Monday, November 12, 2012

Happy Deepawali....


Sometimes there is more happiness in memories of the past than in the present... These are glimpses of the hustle and bustle of Deepawali back home... of the sights, sounds and smells that enthrall you and enchant you.