Stay Hungry... Stay Foolish...

I was pregnant with my child then. My grandmother had not been keeping well at that time. I had had a bad year. I had had a misunderstanding with a childhood friend of mine and few of the decisions I had taken had proved wrong. Perpetually in confusion and resisting the new changes that life was thrusting on me, I would be in a lot of discomfort. And then one fine day, early morning, my brother called me - He informed - Granny is no more.

No more! Huh!

Misunderstanding with a childhood friend!? :)

Ego was coming in the way of my friend and me getting back? :)

I went and visited granny in the hospital.

Was it true? Was this person, with whom I grew up - whom I admired so much - a person of determination and grit, a person with life and joy - just a body - Was there no soul anymore? Would this person never talk to me?

I mean, was there really no life anymore? - How was I supposed to come to terms with that?

My decisions had gone wrong?:)

Why did I feel so heavy and yet so light again..?

Though I still found it difficult to comprehend the reality of what happened, the inevitability of death hit me. A burden seemed lifted off my chest. And all my confusions seemed silly. I got in touch with my friend and told her about my pregnancy. I noticed that she seemed genuinely and honestly happy. I felt the tension waning away and after a long time I felt happy within.

It was at such a time, that I chanced upon Steve Jobs’s commencement speech at Stanford. Among the other things he talks in his speech, he mentions about his close shave with death and I couldn't help agreeing with it.

I know this is a much heard speech, but I couldn’t help reproducing some parts of it here again -

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself.

Stay hungry, Stay Foolish... !

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Lunch with God

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of Root Beer and he started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an elderly man. The man was sitting in the park just feeding some pigeons.

The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie.

The man gratefully accepted it and smiled at boy. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer.

Again, the man smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the man, and gave him a hug. The man gave him his biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?

"He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? God's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the elderly man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked," Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?"

He replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added," You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally!

~author unknown~

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This week's post is an article posted by Braj in 'The Speaking Tree'( http://www.speakingtree.in). Due credit goes to the author.

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My bird journey - The Pigeons...

Name : Rock Pigeon, Spotted Pigeon, White Pigeon .(From top to bottom)

Location observed : On the air conditioner in the building in front of my house, on window sills, terrace tops, etc.

Size : around 12 to 15 inches

Season Observed in : All through out the year.

Nesting : Birds nest for the purpose of laying eggs and breeding.It is said that the pigeon nests any time in the year. I had seen atleast three families of pigeons building their nest in the month of august and september. Yet another pigeon family had their young ones out around the month of march.

The female pigeon usually lays two white eggs. Rarely a female will lay one egg or even three eggs. The eggs are incubated by both parents for about 18 days. The female incubates the eggs at night and part of the day. The male incubates the eggs during the day giving the female time to get off the nest to eat and drink.

Physical Characteristics : Different species of pigeons exist.

An interesting fact about the rock pigeon is that they come in different colours. I can see the Blue Bar ( this is a grey pigeon that has blue bars on its wings ), Checkered ( it is a grey pigeon and has black spots on its wings ), Spread ( this pigeon has a single colour and the colour varies from a shade of grey to shades of black ), and white variety of pigeons near my house.

One thing common to most pigeon variety is that they have a very distinctive neck. The rock pigeon has a shiny green neck, and the spotted pigeon has a chess like checkered neck.

Pictures of the various variations of the pigeons can be seen on this site –

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbidae

http://www.diamonddove.info/bird14%20Rock%20Dove.htm

Other characteristics observed : Generally the pigeons flock together. The white pigeon, which is generally a domesticated rock pigeon hangs out with the rock pigeons. The pigeon courtship is a very common sight and is a delight to watch.

They seem to be scared of the eagle and when a pigeon spots an eagle, it warns the other pigeons, resulting in all the pigeons flying off in the opposite direction.

Pigeons and dove facts

Pigeon facts # 0

In ornithological practice, there is a tendency for "dove" to be used for smaller species and "pigeon" for larger ones, but this is in no way consistently applied, and historically the common names for these birds involve a great deal of variation between the term "dove" and "pigeon." The species commonly referred to just as the "pigeon" is the feral rock pigeon or rock dove (Columba livia), common in many cities.

Pigeon facts # 1

The species Rock Pigeon was domesticated many centuries ago and has today been bred into numerous varieties. Carrier pigeons have been used to carry messages, especially in times of war, and doves have also been bread for their meat, for physical characteristics (“fancy doves”) or for use in ceremonies. The most famous varieties are probably the homing pigeon and the racing homer; two doves famous for quickly and accurately finding their way home when released in other locations.

Pigeon facts # 2

Doves and pigeons tend to have powerful breast muscles which have made them popular as food. In Jewish tradition, doves are considered kosher and they are the only birds that can be brought as a korban (animal scarifies).

Pigeon facts # 3

The Passenger Pigeon is the only non-island pigeon species to have become extinct in modern times (i.e. after the year 1600). The Passenger Pigeon was once the most numerous species of bird on the planet and one of the breeding colonies was estimated to contain over a hundred million birds as late as 1871. The species died out in 1914 after years of habitat loss and massive overhunting. It was used as food by poor people in the United States and was an inexpensive way for landowners to feed their slaves.

Pigeon facts # 4

The largest pigeon species in the world is the Crowned Pigeon of New Guinea. This pigeon is almost as big as a turkey and can weigh 2-4 kg. The smallest species are the doves of the genus Columbina, which weigh as little as 22 grams.

Pigeon fact # 5

Many pigeons have received bravery awards and medals for their actions in war time. The French pigeon Cher Ami did for instance receive the Croix de Guerre, a military decoration given to units or individuals who have distinguished themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with enemy forces. Cher Ami delivered a message that helped save the life of 194 American soldiers during World War I, despite being shot through the breast by the Germans, blinded in one eye, covered in blood, and with a leg hanging only by a tendon.

Pigeons and dove lifespan

Domesticated rock pigeons have an expected life span of 15 years in captivity with occasionally individuals reaching an age of up to 35 years. In the wild, feral rock pigeons tend to live much shorter lives, often just 3-5 years.

Some additional information on pigeons can be found at : ( Some parts of this post has been picked up from the sites mentioned below. Due credit goes to these sites )

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Dove

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/pidgeons/

http://www.diamonddove.info/bird14%20Rock%20Dove.htm

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rock_Pigeon/lifehistory

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Mom and me and you...

As you purse your lips, your face content in our love, your expressions showing indifference to my cuddles, you spot the shining gold in my mangalsutra and play around with it - I can feel you feeling secure in my arms. I remember, as I was growing up, the gaze of little me reached up to the connical "thalli" and the black beads of my mom's mangalsutra and I remember how much this single simple black and gold ornament symbolized security to me.

As you tug at my kameez, lifting and pulling the corner, watching curiously at the flowers and designs on it, trying to pick them out of my kameez - I can feel you exploring life. I remember how after having a hearty meal or a delicious feast, I would washed my hands, and I would love to wipe them clean with my mom's pallu - I remember how much joy this little action gave me.

As you cry when I move around, calling and imploring me to pick you up, as you get mysteriously quitened when I do pick you up, as you stretch both your hands on my shoulder, envelop me in your hug and fall asleep in the comfort of my shoulder - I can feel the contentment and bliss you feel in my arms. I remember the days when my dad would go outstation, my brother and me would fight to sleep next to my mom and I remember how much the love, comfort and warmth of my mother would envelop me as I snuggled and slept besides her.

As you go "aaaaaaaaaa" in satisfaction and fulfillment of a full stomach, as you are ready to take on new activities with renewed energy - I see the twinkle in your eyes, your mischievous smile and your happiness. I remember the time, when I would be ill, hardly able to open my eyes due to a high temperature - let alone eat on my own, my mom would feed me with her own hands and the same morsel of food would seem so much more tastier.

As you poop and oblivious to the poop, you play and pull everything around you, while all of us, including me, come to clean you and set you free - I see that you know, that in case of trouble, all you need to do is to cry. I remember as we were growing up how my mom, wiped our tears or made a joke of some silly fights that we would have had with our friends - I would know that I was being serious about nothing - after all life was all a play.

As I watch you grow day by day, you will know, as I know, that no matter what you go through as you grow up, no matter who will stand by you as you fail, when you open your eyes and mind over your troubles, you will see your parents right there in front of your eyes.

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Helen Keller - The Story Of My Life - On Examinations

I read the 'The Story of my life' an autobiography written by Helen Keller* a few days ago.

As I read this book I was amazed not only to see how a blind and deaf person went beyond her disabilities and became one of the most respected and noted thinkers of her times, but also to see how Anne Sullivan, her teacher, taught and channelized her young boundless energy to bring out the beauty in her.

Helen Keller's writings are a pleasure to read, and give us a glimpse of the world that she lives in and experiences. Where at one hand one cant help rejoice in the small victories she experiences in her process of learning, on the other, one can’t fail to notice and enjoy her sense of humour.

The text below is a funny excerpt from her book mentioned above, in which she talks in exasperation about examinations and what she goes through every time she has to give an exam.

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But the examinations are the chief bugbears of my college life. Although I have faced them many times and cast them down and made them bite the dust, yet they rise again and menace me with pale looks, until like Bob Acres I feel my courage oozing out at my finger ends. The days before these ordeals take place are spent in cramming your mind with mystic formulae and indigestible dates--unpalatable diets, until you wish that books and science and you were buried in the depths of the sea.

At last the dreaded hour arrives, and you are a favoured being indeed if you feel prepared, and are able at the right time to call to your standard thoughts that will aid you in that supreme effort. It happens too often that your trumpet call is unheeded. It is most perplexing and exasperating that just at the moment when you need your memory and a nice sense of discrimination, these faculties take to themselves wings and fly away. The facts you have garnered with such infinite trouble invariably fail you at a pinch.

"Give a brief account of Huss and his work." Huss? Who was he and what did he do? The name looks strangely familiar. You ransack your budget of historic facts much as you would hunt for a bit of silk in a rag-bag. You are sure it is somewhere in your mind near the top--you saw it there the other day when you were looking up the beginnings of the Reformation. But where is it now? You fish out all manner of odds and ends of knowledge--revolutions, schisms, massacres, systems of government; but Huss--where is he? You are amazed at all the things you know which are not on the examination paper. In desperation you seize the budget and dump everything out, and there in a corner is your man, serenely brooding on his own private thought, unconscious of the catastrophe which he has brought upon you.

Just then the proctor informs you that the time is up. With a feeling of intense disgust you kick the mass of rubbish into a corner and go home, your head full of revolutionary schemes to abolish the divine right of professors to ask questions without the consent of the questioned.

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*Helen Keller was born in 1880 and at nineteen months lost her sight and hearing owing to an illness. Thereafter she was tutored, guided and taught by a wonderful teacher named Anne Sullivan to read, write and communicate. Helen went on to complete graduation and become an activist and one of the most prominent personalities of the 19th century. She had met all the US presidents of her age, and knew famous personalities like Alexander Graham Bell personally.

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