SNOW IN THE DESERT

Nature has decided to bless us with a day of magic and uplift our heart so that we can retrieve for solace when the weather takes a bitter twist.
There’s snowfall in the desert mountain; yes in our very own Emirates.
This is the second snowfall; the first was in the year 2004. It sounds strange but strange has so much a part of the natural that in a time like this, it’s rather befitting and bedazzling. Read on and partake of this blessing.
The Saturday ( 24th Jan’09) paper stated that an extreme cold spell had brought the temperature on top of Jabel Jais Mountain to as low as -3 degrees Celsius with snow extending to an area over 5 km. The Jais Mountain in Ras al Khaimah situated at a height of 5, 700 feet was angelic and chaste in that white fluffy attire.
Snowfall is reported to have started at around 3pm and lasted till midnight. It was as thick as 10 cm. Imagine the thrill that we desert folks experienced at that moment; just a look at the photographs and TV coverage was enough to sooth our razing hearts .Let’s hope Nature or God of Nature continues to be merciful on us, burning souls.
We deserve a little bit of pampering too.

OF BLOOD.

My brother brought joys no other can bring,
He took me to a time when we were a teen
and when life was not a din.
When we lived with our kith and kin
and when love was rooted deep within.

My brother brought exuberance
in great abundance.
That made life adventurous
that was far from being strenuous.


The house then was a home
for us to roam
The valleys and the lakes
Of our by gone days.

Too soon it was over
and it was time to shift over.
It was time to change attitudes
and be amused,
by reality’s harsh tunes.

An Evening by the Beach!

Fake

What appears rich and resplendent
can cause a riot and leave a rupture
that bleeds ever so profuse
from deep within, from the CORE
That's excruciatingly sore
and utterly painful to forgo.

Let's...

Come, let’s walk the walk
And talk the talk;
Let’s catch the highs and the lows,
the ebbs and the flows.

Let’s have a discussion
And come to a decision.
Then, set out on a mission
That has a vision.

Vision to serve with no reserve,
Bring healing to those ailing,
Clear all dues to have only hues.

Let’s analyze and finalize,
The procedures that can minimize
All the tall-tales and lies.
Let’s not antagonize,
Criticize or hypnotize.
But instead rationalize
And marginalize
Toils and troubles,
Foils and foibles.

Let’s live with grace,
And love the human race
Without worrying about face
So that we leave a worthy trace
For Generation X.

EXTRAORDINARY DAY, EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT!

AN ERA OF HOPE!
The world looks up at Barack Hussein Obama, the 44th president of the United States of America from a completely new perspective. He is the ‘chosen one’ to wipe off everything that’s ‘unfitting' in our world. He is the ‘voice’ of New America and the ‘hope’ of the world. He is looked up as one who can usher in that ‘ray of light’. He is the pride of a nation that stands for equality of opportunity for all. His ascension to the highest seat is a lesson for the world to learn from. America truly has lived up to its constitution that states, ‘all are free to pursue their measure of happiness’ and I as a human being am proud to witness this moment.
It is proof of the fact that ‘impossible is nothing’, one can rise above the ordinary if he strives and toils.
This moment when history unfolded was watched by the world at large because ‘seeing was believing.’
Millions thronged to squares, public places or stayed glued to TV sets on the 20th of January 2009 to believe in this transition. The 44th in line but surely the 1st African American, Barack Obama has changed history. 44th no doubt but is only 42 by age and is the 5th youngest president in the world. He is the choice of ‘Young America’, America that is fair and just. He is the change, the transgression that people so long wanted. The world can finally be proud of this moment, this moment that gives credibility to one’s qualities rather than creed, race, age or color. We are a generation where brown, yellow, white and red have merged to be the ‘color of the rainbow’

The Inaugural ceremony was befitting for such an occasion!

Aretha Franklin the Queen of Soul sang, ‘My Country, ‘Tis of thee.’
There was a special sombre musical performance organized by Yo- Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman,and others.
The Bible on which the president took the oath was the one Abraham Lincoln, the 1st president of America swore by in 1861.
Elizabeth Alexander, a poet and professor of African American studies at Yale University and Pulitzer prize finalist read out , ‘Praise Song for the Day,’ a poem composed for this special occasion. Alexander was only the fourth poet to read at a presidential inauguration (Robert Frost, Maya Angelou and Miller Williams were the others).
Reverend Joseph Lowry, the last speaker made remarkable comments that went, ‘Black does not need to stay back, Brown can stick around, Yellow can be mellow and White will embrace what is right.

President Obama then accompanied George Bush, the outgoing president to a helicopter that took him to his home in Texas for retirement.

SCULPTURES IN THE AIR

WALKING IN THE AIR!

It’s like ‘walking in the air and floating in the moonlit sky.’

The wagon load of guilt that pervaded and doomed every ‘tick of the clock’ has suddenly vanished. Now, I’m so light feathered, I can fly. The world is below and I’m above. Every passer by cheers and applauds and everything is white and chaste.
There’s every reason to smile and hope, every reason to live.
Amazing it is but strange too to witness this twist of fate.
Let this be everlasting, that's my PLEA!

ART FOR ART'S SAKE!

THE MISSION in pictures!

ON A MISSION!

Our days on this planet are numbered! We are but tourists or visitors; you can call it anything you wish! Having realized that, I have arrived at a conclusion of taking home (that’s my grave) worthwhile memories of this trip.
Yes, I’m on a mission to reach out. I’ve lived enough for my self now I wish to live for others.
It’s said,’ will it and you get it’. And, yes, I got it! Dubai Cares, a charitable organization gave me the wonderful opportunity to serve and today I can proudly say, the best day of my life was, 15th of January, 2009 and the best hours stretches between 4-8pm. That’s the time when the three of us, my son, husband and me lived our lives for those in dire need.
Being in Emperor Hall of DIFC with countless volunteers changed my opinion of people. Now I truly believe that there are many among us who ‘care’. A co- volunteer in my group commented, ‘this is the first time I’m doing something useful in Dubai.’
Another remarked, ‘this is the first time something good is happening in my life.’
I could have expressed my feelings too but continued preparing Hygiene Kits in stead.
I was on a mission and time was limited!!!

SMALL PACKAGES!

Happiness comes in small packages .Simple things like a bird in flight, a dew drop, or a flower in bloom can brighten one’s spirit.
One of the best health recipe is happiness; that’s happiness in its essence.
It’s strange how people struggle to be happy these days; they need special assistance to find the happiness which is within them. Why does one need assistance to look within, I wonder.
Happiness isn’t the wealth you accumulate or the fame you gain.
Happiness is to be found in things that many a times go unnoticed. We fail to notice these things because our craving is for the worldly.
The Buddha rightly said, ‘desire is the cause of sorrow’.
Our desires make us ‘addicts’ and ‘shopaholics’ .Our homes are but storehouses of our never ending ‘hoardings’. We have the wrong notion that happiness comes from fulfillment of our desires, the mindless shopping and spending.
However, these are the root causes of unhappiness. It’s like selling our soul to the devil. That’s what Dr. Faustus did and regretted when it was too late.
Happiness is in giving, in seeing and appreciating natural beauty, in being righteous and virtuous .It’s a state of mind and no one but you can help achieve that state of mind.
Happiness comes from being harmonious with nature and in acknowledging the Almighty’s presence .
Happiness in other words is compassion!

VOICES

It can be a song,a twitter, a rustle or a rumble.

Different forms that are but manifestation,
of impression seeking expression,
That can either empower or pervade.
All depends on interpretation and purpose.

Melodious,cacophonous raves or rants,
Voices are but one's efforts at being recognized and heard.

That's where I belong: Paul Simon.

This is one of my favourite number and the reason why I have it in my blog is to be able to be able to share with all of you, my avid readers the beauty of this song.


Somewhere in a burst of glory
Sound becomes a song,
I'm bound to tell a story
That's where I belong.

When I see you smiling,
when I hear you singing
Lavender and Roses
Every ending a beginning
The way you catch me with your eye....
That's where I belong.

A spiny little Island Man
plays a jingle banjo
He's walking down a dirt road
He's carrying his radio.
To a river where the waters meets the sky
That's where I belong...

HOMECOMING

Like the prodigal son home-ward bound,
My friend comes,

After drifting through mountains,
trialed and troubled .
He now returns with knowledge profound
And a heart more sound.

MARIGOLDS AND CHRYSANTHEMUMS

Come October and the hills are decked in hues so rich and regal. Vibrant and prominent, these lovely flowers usher in the festive season making hearts merry. Every portico and porch is an array of color, a sight that’s sheer bliss!

The concept of ‘good walls make good neighbors’, doesn’t exist in my home town. Houses merge with the elements of nature and appear to be part of it .There are no concrete walls to bar the scenic beauty or corrupt the mind. Every house is accessible. A steaming cup of Darjeeling tea and a warm smile is what you’ll find at the very threshold, the rest of the courtesies follow. There are no inhibitions or reservations. You don’t need to book a time and date to visit a neighbour or a good friend. Such a practice is known only to doctors with an endless list of visitors. However, there’s a concession there too if the attendant happens to be a ‘gaon ko bhai or daju’ (neighbourhood acquaintance) and apparently, that’s always the case as everyone knows everyone.
People in my hometown are ONE and that ‘Oneness’ can be breathed in the air itself.
Like the Marigolds and Chrysanthemums, their hearts are always in bloom, ever willing to give and receive. Nature’s bounty adorns their life, therefore, they need no modern day 'Detoxing' and 'Destressing' therapies. Simplicity of the mind and spirit will see them through it all.

MENTAL BLOCK

This happens to me quite often when the creative juices refuse to flow and all I can do is scratch my head. Yet , even in that dire state there's this deep urgency to vent out my idiosyncracies in 'black and white'.
For rescue , I sheepishly try to ape the Greeks and invoke the 'MUSE' but alas, I forget which one to address. Age is taking it's toll I suppose; got to be honest here.
In this dark and sombre Friday evening(seems like midnight to me atleast), I might invoke the wrath of the 'furies' instead!
It's my weekend and I'm supposed to be outdoors making the most of the cool weather.

Hence, without further 'ado', let me bid 'adieu'; I shall go on with my 'ramblings' when the time is 'fair.

DEATH OF A FRIEND

My friend died an early death,
No, not a natural one;
But a well calculated timely one

He died so he could
prowl the dead of the night
And wreck havoc.