Slight DeTour

I was in the panel for Agile Iowa discussion last week and had to go to downtown for the meeting. I worked at downtown during 2005 and I used to travel by public transport mostly at that time. It had been so long and I had to go there last Thursday. Vijay offered me a ride, but I refused thinking that I could manage. I left work around 11:15 and went to the meeting. I reached downtown and found a parking space with the parking meter. I parked there, added some coins for 1.5 hours and went to the building for the meeting. Panel discussion went well until 12:30 and we had group discussions. I was in the Agile QA discussion and was answering people until 1:05 or so. I left the building, went to my parking spot. I saw an parking fine ticket in front of my SUV for $15. Bummer!

But actually you know what, that was just a start L. I took my SUV and started going in a direction where lot of cars were going. I thought I would surely see Freeway 235 board somewhere and I can take West on it. But I went towards South Des Moines and went for 4 to 5 miles and was very confused. I just pressed the navigation on the SUV and it started directing me some way and I thought it was instructing me to our home. So, I started following the directions and it ended up taking me to Des Moines Airport J. What a fun!

I am like Ok Whatever! At least I know this place and I can go back to West Des Moines from Airport as I travelled this way so many times. Vijay used to take Highway 5 to go to Airport. Once I pass the airport, I saw “Army Post Road” and I am like yes, I know how to go now. I took that road and went for few more miles & took a right turn even though I saw a board for 35 towards the left side. But I felt that I am not going in right direction. I tried calling Vijay couple of times, but he did not pick up the phone. Then I decided to take a U-turn and started going towards 35.

My adventure really didn’t end here too. I saw the junction for 35 North towards Minneapolis 35 South towards Kansas City. I took 35 S and I had to take a HUGE U turn to join the highway. I was concerned that something is not right as I am not seeing any buildings or correct exits. But I still drove for few miles. You know what? I really missed my route for the FOURTH time. I saw the “Cumming” exit and took it. That exit was really deserted and I did not see any cars and it was a country road. This time, I was really scared. I took a U turn again, came back to the same exit and took 35 N.

I could see the exits to West Des Moines finally and took Mills Civic and I took right instead of left (Again!!!!!????????). But since I was experienced enough, I found that out in one signal light and took a turn again. I finally finally reached my office at 1:45 PM. The place where I went for the meeting is actually around 9 miles from my office. But I took 35 miles and 40 minutes to reach back J. I knew I was not good at geography, but did not realize that I am this much geography-retarded J. Sodhappalo Sodhappal!

It was quite an DeTour J. But Something Fun to remember always!

Vattiyum Mudhalum (Interest & Principal)

I read an article “vattiyum mudhalum” in anandhavikatan through online subscription. Vatti means “Interest” and Mudhal means “Principal” in English. I initially thought it was about some finance stuff and I did not give much importance to it. I don’t like finance and accounts for some reason. It’s not that I hate it, hate it, but I don’t feel interested in it. So, I always ignored that article. Once on the “Neeya Naana” show in Vijay TV, anchor Gopinath introduced a guy “Raju Murugan” and he mentioned that he is directing a movie and he is the one who writes “Vattiyum Mudhalum” in Anandhavikatan. Raju Murugan spoke very well in that programme and he talked about “home”, his perception was that home – place where we lived – history and it is not just the building. I really liked the way he spoke. So, I went to anandhavikatan and read his article “vattiyum mudhalum”. Oh Man! It touches your HEART & SOUL. 

I really really loved it! It was around 26^th or 28^th weekly edition. I literally went back to all the editions and read through them. Now it is in 65^th weekly edition. He writes about the things which we forgot to think through (but the things which we keep in our hearts forever). For example, he wrote about deepavali this week. It talks about his childhood deepavali, experiences of other people etc. I don’t know whether I am expressing it well enough. But when you read his article, it really touches your HEART & SOUL. I could connect to most of his articles. Very rarely I feel like he is repeating something, but that can be forgiven J. 

I really think we need to go through those emotions sometime. We are very far from lots of feelings/emotions these days and I feel like everything is being calculated or measured or justified by profit or money. And that’s not good. We have lot of good memories and incidents which we went through in our childhood, do we ever think of them for few minutes? Do we ever share them with someone? Do we even care to share? 

If I think about Deepavali, I remember the way we buy clothes. Its like a huge deal going to shop and buy new clothes. We plan for it, have a budget and don’t stick to it J. My sister used to try her new outfit in front of mirror at least 5 to 10 times before the festival. We talk about clothes and crackers all the time. My sister and I would open our new clothes and see it almost every day until the Deepavali day. My brother, sister and I make a big plan about who is taking what crackers and how much. My mom starts making “deepavali patchanam” a week before. She tries lot of new things with our neighbors. I still remember that she made “Badusha” sweet one time at home. It was really fun. Once we all grew up and settled in different places, even my mom stopped making “deepavali patchanam” for the last few years. Her health is one of the reason, but the main reason is, she misses all of us and making “deepavali patchanam” does not make sense to her any more. We don’t talk about it, but I know what she feels L. Look, I started remembering all my Deepavali days. 

Also for some reason, when people say “Diwali”, I don’t feel connected to it and I always liked saying it “Deepavali” J.

I am really worried about our future generation. We had so much of memories, but now we do not have time to think about or share with others. What will our future generation do? Will they even experience those memories? I don’t think my kids are going to experience these things at any time. They grow up here, no chance of celebrating real Deepavali. Are they even learning to share? Do they even know that if we ask for something, we need to wait to get it? It creates hundreds of questions in my mind.

Anyways, coming back to the point, please read “Vattiyum Mudhalum” in Anandhavikatan if you could. And if you read it, share your feedback in the comments section. I would love to hear from someone who reads that J.