I am a Chocoholic & I must have my daily fix or I go a little nuts--esp. dark choc-the darker the better--so my angel(translate to my daughter Misha) finds & brings for me the darkest chocs--last week she got one with 75% cocoa which was a bit too much for me also---but that does not detract frm the pleasures of yummy dark bits which r like heaven

I have been remiss--this will simply not do I must & will make all out efforts to be more regular. These days I spend going to an Accupuncturist & getting needles poked in both my hands as a cure for osteo arthritis. I must say I went as a sceptic but after one month of being a pin cushion I am totally sold--my knee pain has lessened --I can walk & sleep without pain &best of all I can climb up & down stairs hurrah for the Doc Jasmine Mody

I feel like a rose in full bloom --not exactly but u can get the gist

The Trip

A trip to Udwada & Sanjan(Parsi holy places) in Feb was balm to the soul but pathetic to see the way these hamlets have deteriorated leaving only behind only natives & v.v. old & frail Parsees whose blank & vacant stares tell u that they have nothing to look forward to & r only waiting for thr Chinvad Pool-----really really sad

Ode To Friendship

It was my first day as an International student at an American school. An introduction was made as is the American custom to make me feel welcome---for the rest of the class I was an alien entity-a student from India, the land of cows, sadhus & beggars--in 1965 American students had no inkling about India & far less about a Zoroastrian girl from India who was as fair & pretty as the Americans ,wore skirts & pants with elan & spoke fluent English-even better than most Americans. It was not their concept or image of an Indian who talked about coming from a big city Mumbai, which was like their New York.They were all wary of me, so the 3 of us an Afghan boy, a Dutch girl & yours truly forged a friendship through the initial awkward moments of adjustment in a foreign land.
One afternoon as I was eating my sandwich lunch in the amphi theatre (my favourite place rather than cafeteria) I felt 2 dark eyes watching me from under a mop of dark hair-I smiled & waved to her & that broke the ice.Patricia came over & we bonded over lunch. She was the basketball star but surprisingly unaffected.She loved to hear me speak English & talk about books & literature. Another key to our bonding was her self deprecating humour & my laughter & guffaws. I was seeing America thru a child's eyes & everything amazed & fascinated me, even the most mundane things like grocery shopping,drive-in movie or eating hot dogs.And Pat taught me to love all sports--we attended all basketball & football games & cheered & cheered. I fondly called her Patty Anne & the name stuck. We were inseparable that one year in California at Acalenes High.
When it was time to say good bye, she gave me a sheaf of hand written poem wherein she said a lot of things but in the end ,she said "I like you because You are You". That sums up what our friendship was about--2 persons from 2 different cultures & yet bonding at a deeper level.
Its been more than 40 years now. I lost touch with Patty Anne-I don't know if she is in USA or what she is doing but whenever I think of her,a smile lights up my face & there is a song in my heart for the brief time she came into my life & made it one of the happiest, & I cling to that memory even today. I am sure Patty Anne the same holds true for you too.

Random Thoughts

Sant Tukaram said,
I could not lie anymore so I started to call my dog "God"
First he looked confused
Then he started smiling, then he danced
I kept at it: now he doesn't even bite
I am wondering if this
Might work on people?????
I seriously think one would be straightjackated & locked up for life if one started calling everyone GOD esp. the havaldar who gives you a ticket for rash driving---may be just may be one's Boss won't mind it??????????

Parsee Recipe--Eggs on Tomato

Here is a delightful Parsee recipe for all those harassed working gals -it is made in a giffy & looks yummy

Take 1/2 kg. tomatoes & blanch them. Remove skin & chop.
In a saucepan cut 2 onions & fry in oil till brown-its important to fry till brown to get the sweetness of the onions. Now add pinch of haldi,chilli pd. as per taste ,salt & a bit of sugar & fry till aroma comes out. Add tomatoes & cover the pan & cook till tomatoes come away from the side of the pan.
Place the tomatoe mix in a non stick frying pan & cover with eggs -either full or scrambled. Cover the pan & let it cook till eggs are done which should not take more than 3 minutes. Cut into pieces & enjoy with bread or chapati.

Inner Musings

All of us at one time or the other wonder why some people keep coming into our lives again & again-I have myself experienced this -work collegues or acquaintances that cross our path in myriad ways on more than one occassion & for no apparent rhyme or reason, or so it seems at the relevant time. But each time they leave their footprints in your life--they make you laugh or cry or liven up your humdrum existence or simply be there for you. So they are destined to come & they are there for a reason --learning experiences gleaned from such encounters are what KARMA is all about & if we could but get smart about it then may be we can make our own Karma.