The last time I tried a three-day transcontinental trip I ended up with facial palsy. Was an interesting experience, to say the least, and I remember promising myself to not be that stupid again. With the subsequent return of my face to its normal elastic condition, the lessons and the promises were soon forgotten. This past weekend, I attempted stupidity again. Thankfully, there were no disastrous consequences this time around and I remained in full control of my face throughout the weekend. As always, had some interesting travel experiences.
On the flight from Frankfurt to Chennai, had my seat changed at the last minute. A few hours into the flight, ended up striking a conversation with Ms D, seated next to me. I’ve always had a little bit of the philosopher in me, or so I’d like to think. What started off as the “do good and go to heaven” philosophy as a kid evolved into an objectivist “I” oriented one with “The Fountainhead” and “Atlas Shrugged”. Didn’t find all the answers to the questions there and the quest hit another tipping point with “Conversations with God”. More tangents from there eventually led me to my current pursuit of the Zenist philosophy of mindful living. On my current reading shelf are the following books, “The Power of Now” and “A 10 week course on Mindfulness”. When the student is ready, the teacher will appear, so goes the saying. Ms D ended up being a ”Mindful Living” teacher. What followed was a very interesting conversation on spirituality and coincidences. I could feel the universe winking at me. I winked back.
The flight from Chennai to Coimbatore saw me sitting next to a random person. And no, it’s never that interesting twenty something year old girl that I know is long due. The random person had the book “Debt of Honor” by Clancy. Being quite the Jack Ryan fan, I remarked to him that it was a good book. I was sleepy and we spoke no more. The universe would have none of it. No surprises then, when I found myself seated next to the same guy on the flight back from Coimbatore. I told Mr. A that the occasion called for an introduction. Mr. A happened to be the CEO of the Indian arm of a well known MNC and what followed was an interesting conversation on the world and it’s various economies. I didn’t even battle an eyelid when he told me that he was going to be in Chicago next month – his office is right across the one I will be based out of the next four months. More winks.
On a non-travel related note, met KK during the break and we ran a couple of laps at the uber prestigious “Race Course” in Coimbatore. Long ways from the time I used to gape at people running there on my way to school. There are few things that would motivate me to miss the Republic day parade on TV, and a chance to catch up with KK rates as one of them. The guy is phenomenal – a bundle of energy with a superb attitude to life. Walked off feeling super energized and extremely bullish on life. So much so, decided to shamelessly copy KK’s resolution for the year – “Fighting Fit” albeit with my own tweaks to it. For anyone in Chennai, look him up for getting involved in a wide spectrum of activities – running, cricket, frisbee, volunteering and entrepreneurship.
And finally, I have traveled a ton the last couple of years across multiple airlines. I’ve had a wide range of experiences – from the fabulous to the notorious. However, nothing prepared me for the question from the “premiere” class Jet Airways cabin crewmember “Sir – can I make the bed for you?“. And she then proceeded to actually convert my seat into a full stretch bed. I’ll admit, it did feel a little weird, but I’ve never slept that comfortably at 37000ft before. All those lessons on “Wowing the Customer”, and I finally saw a superb demonstration of the concept.
It feels good to be back, in more ways than one. Safe travels, everyone! Over & Out.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
The Keeper of the Goats
Ten unforgettable childhood vacations. The one place I still return to when I want to get away from it all. When I feel the need to find myself, stay grounded. When I need to remind myself where a lot of it began. The days when without any hesitation, for two months every year I proudly proclaimed myself to be "The Keeper of the Goats". Someday soon, I'll finish everything I promised I'll do.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Closure.
He had had more than a year to get over it all. Now he had a few miles. To think about it all. To attempt to make his peace with it. Or to let the wound fester forever.
Deep down he had known it would come to this. That this was the only ending possible. And yet he had made excuses for the both of them. He had refused to accept. He had forever thought that strength lay in holding on, now he was forced to consider how much more strength it would take to let go.
As he ran the miles, he started back from the very beginning. A cold and violent November night more than a decade ago. Lightning. And he was certain, fully soaked with the invincibility of his age. Nothing seemed impossible and the universe seemed to conspire to grant him his wishes. He wished. Some of them on shooting stars. Two years later, the universe granted him his deal. He was high on life and on her. Simple. Strong. Mutual.
More miles. More years. He laughed at a corny quote “Absence does to love what wind does to fire, inflames the strongest, extinguishes the weakest”. All he knew was when two flames came together, the fire only grew taller. He was put to the test. He passed, barely. He believed in graphs and that after the lowest lows only the highest highs remained. She was strong. She was perfect.
More miles. The muscles began to scream. He wondered if there was some truth to using the pain in the body to forget the pain in the mind. More years. A blur. Cracks. Expectations. Fundamentals. Great times. He tried running faster, hoping that it would bring clarity. But it was not to be. It was hard to see what went wrong. It was futile to find someone to blame. He was used to seeking false premises to uncover contradictions. He found many and he found none. And then that fateful call.
The last few miles. The last year. He saw himself at his worst. He had never imagined he could be destroyed. He was, many times over. He had never imagined that some problems were beyond solving. He had found the unconquerable. The tears, the madness, the pain. To the point where he was disgusted with himself. He hated himself. And he loved her. They told him it wasn’t the end and years later it would all seem trivial. He only recognized the moment. He tried every trick in the book. He hung on, barely. He imagined it was worse for her. He would never know.
The last mile. The last straw. He had asked for one last favor. It was not to be. There was to be no setting the record straight. He reached the end of the road. He dug deeper. It was now or never. The sun was fast setting and the cold biting. Cleansing. The answer stared at him, from eleven years ago. He had felt an absolute. One that required no other. Somewhere along the way, he had forgotten. He had given the keys away.
He stopped. He had always maintained that he would make the highest exception to the one he loved the most. He saw the fatal flaw in the logic and the fix. He had always thought of her as his highest love. He was wrong. He was himself his highest love. No other was possible, not her, not anyone. He smiled. Then and there, he made his highest exception. He finally forgave himself. There was no one else to forgive. There was no bitterness, no hatred, no regrets. He withdrew what he had granted to her, that which he realized wasn’t ever grantable. He felt exactly what he felt about her years ago. Absolutes. The last few steps were the summation and his recognition of his past with her and his peace with his present. And her future.
Closure. He made it, with seconds to spare. He was invincible, again.
Deep down he had known it would come to this. That this was the only ending possible. And yet he had made excuses for the both of them. He had refused to accept. He had forever thought that strength lay in holding on, now he was forced to consider how much more strength it would take to let go.
As he ran the miles, he started back from the very beginning. A cold and violent November night more than a decade ago. Lightning. And he was certain, fully soaked with the invincibility of his age. Nothing seemed impossible and the universe seemed to conspire to grant him his wishes. He wished. Some of them on shooting stars. Two years later, the universe granted him his deal. He was high on life and on her. Simple. Strong. Mutual.
More miles. More years. He laughed at a corny quote “Absence does to love what wind does to fire, inflames the strongest, extinguishes the weakest”. All he knew was when two flames came together, the fire only grew taller. He was put to the test. He passed, barely. He believed in graphs and that after the lowest lows only the highest highs remained. She was strong. She was perfect.
More miles. The muscles began to scream. He wondered if there was some truth to using the pain in the body to forget the pain in the mind. More years. A blur. Cracks. Expectations. Fundamentals. Great times. He tried running faster, hoping that it would bring clarity. But it was not to be. It was hard to see what went wrong. It was futile to find someone to blame. He was used to seeking false premises to uncover contradictions. He found many and he found none. And then that fateful call.
The last few miles. The last year. He saw himself at his worst. He had never imagined he could be destroyed. He was, many times over. He had never imagined that some problems were beyond solving. He had found the unconquerable. The tears, the madness, the pain. To the point where he was disgusted with himself. He hated himself. And he loved her. They told him it wasn’t the end and years later it would all seem trivial. He only recognized the moment. He tried every trick in the book. He hung on, barely. He imagined it was worse for her. He would never know.
The last mile. The last straw. He had asked for one last favor. It was not to be. There was to be no setting the record straight. He reached the end of the road. He dug deeper. It was now or never. The sun was fast setting and the cold biting. Cleansing. The answer stared at him, from eleven years ago. He had felt an absolute. One that required no other. Somewhere along the way, he had forgotten. He had given the keys away.
He stopped. He had always maintained that he would make the highest exception to the one he loved the most. He saw the fatal flaw in the logic and the fix. He had always thought of her as his highest love. He was wrong. He was himself his highest love. No other was possible, not her, not anyone. He smiled. Then and there, he made his highest exception. He finally forgave himself. There was no one else to forgive. There was no bitterness, no hatred, no regrets. He withdrew what he had granted to her, that which he realized wasn’t ever grantable. He felt exactly what he felt about her years ago. Absolutes. The last few steps were the summation and his recognition of his past with her and his peace with his present. And her future.
Closure. He made it, with seconds to spare. He was invincible, again.
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