Letter to KParthasarathi

Treasures

Treasures

By Rachel Israel

Have you ever had a collection or treasure; something that was not sumptuous in value but had a very sentimental meaning? Well when I was little I used to love collections. I thought they were the coolest things ever. I had many collections, but today I will just tell you about my favorite three.

One of my favorite collections were beads. I loved how you could basically make any accessory you wanted to with them. I had a small musical box full of them. I put beads into the wooden box whenever one of my bracelets or necklaces broke. With those beads I could make another bracelet and replace it. I loved how each bead was unique. I never actually made any bracelets with these unique beads; so my box is still full of them!

Another one of my collections were snow globes. My mom got me many from gift shops in special places or different states that we visited. My snow globes are arranged from biggest to smallest on my dresser. Many of my snow globes have intricately designed pedestals that tie into the miniature theme of the globe. They also played calming melodies when you twist a little knob underneath it.

My most colorful collection was octopi. They were made with beads and melted to perfection with an ironer. Well actually, I wouldn’t say “to perfection”. Many of them, although pretty, were demented. Some of the legs have fallen off and have been glued and ironed back to the octopus in the wrong direction. Actually, I think that’s why I like them even more. They are special to me and every time I look at them hanging on my mirror; I remember the sentimental story behind it.

These are things that many people wouldn’t care for, but to me they mean a lot. These are my collections!

P.S: Found it in my computer, an article by Rachel written for school this year. Thought I'll save it by posting it on the blog...

A crying soul

It is lunch time now; but my mind keeps going back to this morning.

I was busy reading my book (Open by Agassi). Suddenly I hear this voice, "I want to sit". She is a lady. Neatly dressed in a hospital attire, may be a nurse or attendant or janitor I can't tell. African American. About fifty years young.

Being Friday there are plenty of empty seats in the train; but she seems lost and repeats, "I want to sit". A good soul across from me braves to help her, "Here", she says pointing to the seat next to her, "You can sit here". She takes the offered seat thanking her.

She starts a conversation, "I am tired you know. Kind of giddy. I worked all night!" The good soul acknowledges her with her "mhm"s and "ahang"s.

Then suddenly she asks, as if waking up from her sleep, "What time is it anyway? Is it morning or evening?"

"Morning! Almost nine!", comes the response.Good soul gets down in the next station.

As the train starts to move she is getting panicked, "Is this train going Uptown or Downtown?"

Someone answers, "Downtown"

Moments later she asks, "Which station is this?" I answer, "14th Street". She asks me to repeat. "14th Street!" She thanks me.

And then suddenly she starts to cry. It is audible in spite of the noise of the train. I take a side way glance at her. She is searching frantically in her bag, tears rolling down, crying - audibly.

"What is it? Are you okay? You lost something? Are you lost?" I think of different ways I could reach out to her; but I remain silent like the rest of the New Yorkers.

The train comes to a halt. It's my stop. 8th Street. I get down. Walk away.

She lingers on... still crying...

Thumbelina and family

Had a rare sighting of Thumbelina and her adorable family this afternoon and couldn't resist sharing the pictures with you...

When was it?

Where was it?



Israel, Sharon, Rachel & Joshua!



Who was it?

Them all!

Now freeze that smile! It looks great on you!

What have you got?

Nine years ago on my birthday (August 10th) I'd spoken to my Papa last. Four days later Papa passed away.

Life has lost it's luster since then. The sky appears a shade greyer the grass a tint paler, my heart somewhat harder and my head a bit heavier (I guess it is a byproduct of the harder heart).

Overall life as I knew it is sadly changing.

Living, loving and laughing came natural to me then; now it takes effort. To draw comparison from Winnie-the-Pooh it's like going from a jumpy jolly care free Tigger to a grumpy, moody Eeyore is how it is trending.

Pause, clarify, repeat was how our conversations went then unlike the hurried to-the-point "conversations" of now...

I feel stranded at times with everyone rushing around me, in their own course of life, with less time to talk, lesser still to listen and none at all for the details.

Often times I find myself rushing too, rushing thru' the day's events, rushing thru' traffic, rushing thru' conversations...Why such a hurry? Where am I going? No clue.

Then I was a child, now I have grown; that's the only reasoning I could think of.

So today for a change I am going to kick back - all the way back - and relax. So, tell me what have you got? Whatever I missed please bring it on!

Fondly,
~ NRIGirl

Fit for a King!

Great morning everyone! This post is more for my Mom than others. Just to let her know I am on a good start... Returning home tonight!

~ NRIGirl

Breakfast in bed!

Greetings from Melrose of Dallas, Texas! Considered a luxury hotel but everything is to be paid for. No free WiFi or movies or any of those cool stuff. For a bottle of water they charge $7; for 24 hours Internet service it's about $12!

All my complaints vanished however, when I was woke up with the most delicious breakfast ever! Breakfast in bed! The highlight was the fresh flowers; how very thoughtful. It made my day!

Couldn't help but share the joy with you...

 Promise to write a nice long post when I am back. Till then, be good! :)

~ NRIGirl

Dear Sakha!

Dear Sakha! How are you? Fine and wish the same.

I am so sorry I missed your call the other day. Even more sorry for having not returned your call or at least write an email or as much as an FB message. Today I have kind of forced myself to respond to you and hence this mail - blog!

So, how are you? How is the family? Job? Abu Dhabi? Along those lines, let me answer too: Fine. Well. Busy. Humid and scorching!

Children are midway through their summer break, which explains why the house is upside down and downside up! This is one main reason why I can't function as "normal". Knowing me you would understand how very important it is for me to keep my surrounding in order. When it gets out of control I fail to function in my cheerful mode. (Sigh!)

Finding the time to bring it back under control seems to be ever evading, especially with my long hours away from home and the never ending shopping sessions in the evenings.

We are invited for a wedding (American) this Saturday. Picking the right dresses for girls proved to be more challenging than I had thought. I have scored the aisles of Macy's, JC Penney, J-Crew, New York and Company, Dress Barn, Forever21  and countless other boutique shops in the mall but haven't found the right ones yet. For now we have settled for a red wrap dress for Ray and a golden polka dot one for Sharon. One can't be too sure till the very last minute in our household. (more sigh!)

Okay dear, enough of grumbling I guess. Tell me about your girls? How do they like the new school year? How is the weather like in Abu Dhabi? How is Mom? Is P behaving? :) Israel is! :)) Regards to all.

With that I will wind up for now. Ping me your number; I'll call.

Take care.

P.S: Just for a perspecitive I googled us up, where you are (B) vs. where I am(A); picture enclosed.It seems almost virtual Sakha, don't you think? Yet, across the miles (6842 to be exact!) we will carry it on. Stay in touch!

Friend always,
~ Queen

Window

It's hailing outside with peeling thunder and lightening. From my tenth story office it looks pretty amazing. The sky scrapers look so dim as if in a dream of sort. Yes, this time I tried my hand at the black berry camera so that I can share it with you.

I have been extremely busy at work and almost exhausted at home which explains why I haven't been writing as much as I would like to. To tell you the truth a lot of "writing" has been happening in my mind but then either the subjects are out of date (such as the Quebec trip) or I myself have lost interest and scrubbed it off. Is that someone's sigh of relief I hear? Oh well!

It is only 4:19 PM and I have few minutes left in the day that I decided to write to you folks... Sorry it took me a few days to post this though.
 
Hope all is well at your end. Take care!
 
~ NRIGirl

Pride came tumbling down

Remember my boastful posts on how I was the "only one" out there when it came to lending a hand to the less fortunate in NY trains and streets? Not any more! Let me explain.

Not too long ago something unique happened. In my morning rush I encountered this voice, "Can someone buy me breakfast?" No, I could not ignore that.

First someone was hungry. Next I was hungry myself, so I knew exactly what it felt like. (I was hungry because they had promised us breakfast at office that morning).

So, I stopped on my track and said, "Sure, what can I get for you?" He said, "Anything". We were right in front of a deli/donut shop. It was a breeze I thought. Give some money and move on. Unfortunately though when I fetched for cash didn't find anything! Just that morning I had switched bags and had only grabbed my cards and no cash. Alas!

What am I to do?! Can I possibly walk away? I looked at him again, he really truly seemed hungry and I couldn't excuse myself. The only way out was to go and buy the breakfast myself paying by credit card - which I did. Thankful him and relieved me went different ways.

The same evening on my return I saw a police man giving a ticket to a very pregnant beggar who was claiming she had lost her job. Since then I see her in different locations with the same hand written board.

These incidents caused a stir in me. First my pride came tumbling down! Second, I have learnt to walk past most of these pleas - just like most. When I did that I can see so many other hands reaching out; I was not the "only one" out there after all... 

All aboard the chu chu train!

Happy July 4th to all my fellow citizens.

Greetings from Adriondack, destination Montreal. It is said to be a scenic route and sure it lives up to the expectations running alongside the Hudson river with the Adriondack ranges to one side.

When we boarded we were little diappointed that we all couldn't sit together. But soon we found an alternate solution. We decided to occupy the cafe car where we are free to enjoy the wifi.

We are only about two hours into the journey and have finished most of our food! Why, were we starving? Hardly... we are traveling with the Edwards and the Mrs. is a great cook and we couldn't hold our temptation to share in her delicacies.

Children tried their hand at a card game and soon settled for their handhelds. In order to keep them involved in the journey we are coming up with a quiz for the kids. At the end of the journey we are to pick a winner for $20! But the first thing is to come up with the quiz. Not sure what will motivate us parents to work on that...

The journey continues; will share whenever possible...

My python print hobo

Few days ago I bought my first ever Coach bag! Never before. Never after. The first. Will also be the last! A beautiful python print hobo with leather handles. Absolutely adorable. The price? Don't even ask! Not a single soul knew - except of course you all now...

Having had no inkling towards the brand, I'd never even cared to glance in that direction in the past. Lately however, I have shown some interest in the collection at the local stores but would soon walk away calling those "sour grapes". No amount of justification would ever truly justify my purchase if there was one.

So it came as a surprise even to me when I fell in prey this time for the python print hobo! Why, am I a fan of pythons? Not at all! Hobos? Sure! Coach? Sort of... It was at the full retail price and without any second thought I bought it. Only to be tormented over the next few hours of "owning" it, with so much guilt leading upto a nightmare of not pythons but frogs!

With the new day came a new resolve. I would return it! Realized I could not possibly live with that kind of guilt rest of my life. Also, definitely would not stop with just this one, if at all I give in. The only right decision was to go without it!

Trust me, it was a HUGE relief when I got the whole amount credited back! I sleep so much better now and feel that much lighter... which is of course priceless!

Happy July everyone!