Musings (more like rants) - Random

*********************************************************************************

I have no idea why people (Indians) in the US crave for bigger and bigger homes. We live in a 4-bedroom, 6-room home with a backyard and front-yard. It's huge for me already. But so many Indians in our community have either sold their home or rented it out, and moved to a bigger home. Why this obsession?

*********************************************************************************

I have no idea why people these days put their personal goals and ambitions so high above their kids. A better job with a better pay (a CA state job with average pay but wonderful benefits, plus medical coverage and pension during retirement is looked down upon by MOST....my husband has a state job and I can't be more proud of him), a better/bigger house, a better education (= MBA), choosing to leave small towns (not due to employment reasons) because other places have better social events, better restaurant and food options - isn't it madness? These are all educated people with Masters' degrees or higher. Can't they prioritize better? After all, a child remains a child only for a few years....can't everything else wait?

I am in FULL support of women working (I do myself) but I try to get my work done in the minimum amount of hours possible, and we ensure one parent is with the child ALWAYS during non-work hours. We refuse work related travel (I have only traveled once in these last 5 years and my husband has traveled ZERO times). We may be one lucky and blessed couple, but I don't think people around me are less lucky.

*********************************************************************************

I have said this before on the blog, but I have to say it again. Personal conversations or phone calls take a lower priority compared to say, Facebook messages. I recently sent some pictures of my kids from a photo shoot to few friends and family via email. Even though every single person on the list saw them, not many emailed their response to me. The same people were active on FB commenting and liking others' pictures.

Phone calls are the same way. People just don't pick up the phone. Caller ID is a big curse, in my opinion. That feeling of just picking up the phone and hearing an unexpected voice on the other side of the line is priceless. I am grateful to experience that even now, when my relatives call me from India. If it's one of my aunts or uncles, I drop all my work and sit down on the couch to chat.

I sometimes cannot pick up calls too, but I'll usually call the person back. Especially if it's someone from out of town and not a colleague or neighbor who I would know does not have an urgent need to talk to me (if it was urgent, they would either text me or leave me a voicemail).

On the same lines, people living in the same town will ping each other, or call, or email, but not make time to drop by their friend's home. Why? And perhaps some don't like unplanned visits or unannounced visitors too.

*********************************************************************************

It boils down to this - as a parent, I find myself different from the crowd. My choices, my priorities and preferences, my way of living...it seems I don't always follow the general trend. And when I think some more, I realize that my choices heavily reflect how I was raised by my parents. And not that it should be any of my business how others live or raise their children, but I analyze, then rationalize. Then rant here, and then move on, thinking "To each one their own"! :)!

Trail Running

All my running so far has been on concrete. I needed a training program to get me going, and I stuck to the plan given to me. But I don't really enjoy running on the road. It is also harder on the body (especially the knees).

We have plenty of trails around here, and it was only a matter of time before I tried them out. Started trail running and it is simply amazing.

The best part about being on the trails is stepping away from all the noise we humans (and our vehicles) create...

To the sounds of birds and streams.
To the smell of moist earth.
To the fragrance of the Spring flowers.
To the trees, standing tall and always so grounded; their leaves, whispering secrets only they know.
To the train tracks and stations, unused today, but reminding us of the times they were bustling with activity.

This bench on the trail is so inviting, isn't it? It faces a stream as well :)!

An hour long run - or sometimes even a shorter 30 or 45 min run - squeezed into weekdays that are always busy managing work and family - completely relaxes and rejuvenates me.

Spring is a very pretty time around this area. Everything is still very green and fresh. The run warms you up quickly but the cool breeze continues to counter the heat generated by the body.

I always needed music during my road runs- they felt like drills - and I never seem to bother about music when I'm on the trail - there is so much to enjoy.

My runs become walks when something interesting comes along. Like this rowing race that my friend A and I watched one fine morning.

I always pause to listen to this as well:

I had this post in the drafts for a long long time - finally found the time to post it! 

Hope to be back to blogging more often :)!

Have a good weekend, celebrating BJP/Narendra Modi's emphatic victory in the Elections!!!!