There is nothing like a free breakfast

I found this out for myself the hard way though!! I am wearing a cast due to a ligament problem in my leg. So am tottering unsteadily from a second floor house towards a campus bus stop.

Now I guess the biggest disadvantage of studying in a small school(Very very beautiful though) would be, it is located on a totally uneven topography and the locomotive system of the university does not provide for the largely Natraja service populace.

This time, though I usually foot my distances anywhere on campus within a radius of 6 miles. I was totally left bereft and am discovering(Very painfully) the discomforts of being disabled.

There hasn't been a single day since I took to crutches, I am feeling sorry for the girl or guy I have ever seen limping around the campus and how much they would have hated to see my sprinting past them.

The bus that leaves every half an hour(UT Austin has one that leaves every 15 minutes) does not cover all parts of campus. You have to changed buses at proper locations. The Bus does NOT stop whatever the reason maybe. The drivers are personifications of clemency iand racism themselves.

If Moses came down with a million commandments and waved his hand to separate the traffic, He would still have to wait for the CAT's bus to roll on. No. No. Not for handicapped. Not for disabled. Not even for The Lord.

Let's come back to what happened this morning. I hopped unsteadily out of the AAM. Then 2 storeys down. Hanging on for dear life to the railings. Terra firma again. Nice guy with glasses stops to let me pass. Wishes me luck.

Have to cross again. Screeccccccchhhhhhhhhh. A horrible driver(obviously lady!!!!) comes and halts halfway into the crossings. I am halted. Cant pass. on one leg and suffering. Five minutes pass.

Hey Hey Hey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My bus. I just missed it by a minute. I just did not get killed standing in the middle of the road!!!!!!!No. No. No. Not for the Indian hobbler. never!!!

Becos of this lady.! I sigh resignedly. She rolled down the window and said," Why don't I drop you off at the clinic?"

I did not even pause to think about this lady kidnapping me or doing anything else that's horrible. I was numbed to the heart with cold and my foot was paining terribly. Just got in and she being a horrible driver as usual took the wrong lane. Left me a mile off..

Hopped on my crutches like a huge grasshopper on a sidewheel drive. Collapsed on to the X-Ray and panted, "Dr.Lawrence, X-Ray.."

""Oh No Dearie.. get approval letter..next office. Right round the red door."" I HATE RECEPTIONISTS. They convey more worse news with sweeter smiles than the docs themselves. For example : Bill!!

In Vaishnava temples, there is a concept of Shri Vaikuntam and on Vaikunta Ekadesi, the eleventh day on the Lunar calendar in the month of Marghazhi(I think so), you pass through a set of Mammoth doors which are I guess indicative of the fact that is Vaikuntam itself. If you pass through those doors, you have gotten rid of all your sins and have entered Vaikuntam..so they say. Parole day mathri nu vechukonga.

That red door now seemed to be Heaven. If reaching Heaven was this difficult, Man!! Collapsed on the door. "X-Ray..recommendation \... letter"

Nejamave sathiyama Jeans padathula vanthathu ellam total udans nu nenachen. Illa Machi Illa..


Right foot la cast eruku. Left ankle X RAY nu refer pannanga. Eruntha mayakathula na pakkave illa. Operation theatre kku pona. Oh sorry. Konjam over..

X Ray eduka vanthavar nalla erukara kala oru mathri patha appove santhegam vanthuthu. Aiyo! ""Right sir Right.""-- Me bleating like a goat.

""Is it right? oh okay. Let me continue with the procedure.."- doc..

"No it is my right leg" me..

''something is not right here..."

ennum rendu nadaikku appuram vaazhkai veruthu, ara mayakathula poi ukkanthen doctor munnala. No X Ray. ''Vendave vendam ma thaye poi ukkaru'' nu soltan.

Ennomo panni enna deposit pannanga velila.

Nadakarthungarthu out of koshtin agave poten en friendkku oru kaala. VJ, please..

Ana. ennoda breakfast double rate.

Freeze agi vandi start agalayo. Illa traffic la matinaro theriyala. Vanthu sernthar 23 minutes kazhithu.

Na athu kulla snow woman agiten."" Ondra kal la nillu. Ondra kal la nillu"" nu mama sonnathu nenachengoi.! Ninnnen ondra kal la. Athuvum endra kal la.

Proceeded to vj's house and had hot hot hot dosas with chutney. Hmmm. moonu dosai koduthatha over scene pottu vendam nu solli, romba varuthathoda rende dosai sapten..

Ana.. realise pannen.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A FREE BREAKFAST..Maybe you can fast free but you can never break it free.

Have fun and a wonderful evening to come...

My five minute sithantham

Just had five minutes before I got on to my job at the Mathskeller's
today.

Thought about what I would say if this was the five minutes of my life.

THE FIVE MINUTES OF MY LIFE.

I have had a great childhood. I was extremely happy in my teens
till I met suda. Then I had a roller coaster ride that ended
a few months ago.

Then I met some people I would cherish being with for the rest
of my life.

This is the most exciting time of my life.

I am working with physical difficulties..torn ligaments in both feet.

I am finishing up my masters. Looking for a job. Meeting
new people..Planning to bring amma and appa to the US. Anna is getting married.

Going home for the engagement. Getting married..Getting closer to God.

I am looking forward to life...There has not been a better moment in my life.

That I have looked forward more to life than this...:))

Thanks Lord.

Amen

Sakkarapongal and Virumandi

It's been a fortnight into the New Year. I have already had a preview of what lies ahead. This is gonna be a turbulent ride on to the jet stream that's just blowing out of the economy. Well. I guess I will take the lee side into it and bother not.

Yesterday was pongal. Dreamed about awesome Sakkarapongal amma would have made. Loads of ghee, tons of love..Thought about what I would have done in Austin. Hmm..

Did not even think that I would get to eat any sakkarapongal yesterday. If you are asking why I did not make some, I had personal reasons. But was hoping I would get invited. But no avail.

Vivaram Ketta Virumandi veeram pongi kondu ezuthane.
Kanni ponnu katha kettu kannu kalangida ezuthane.
Petha pulla thuyaram kettu pethavanga thudipathupol,

Sakkara pongaludan veetukul ajar. :)))

Actually he did not know of any vivarams..Anantha the guy who lives downstairs had just learnt that I had some ''personal'' reasons for not being able to make sakkarapongal.. He had just tried out it and got me a bowl fullllllllllllllll of yuummmmmmmmmmmyyyyy sakkarpongal soaked in ghee, cashews and raisinssssssssss. Hmmmmm..

You know this melt in the mouth, wowwwwwwww kinda of food. I almost thought I was back home. Haven't thanked him though. Gotta do it today.

I guess when you are away from home these kinda of small gestures go a long way in making you feel that you really have someone close by you can turn to.

Also. I truly believe that these people are God. I was kinda feeling bad that I did not have anyone to get me SP. I was thinking about the delicious SP in Triplicane Parthasarathy Perumal temple. I was just praying to God for a sample of His love.

I did not believe my eyes (or ears) when Anantha came in with SP. I was like shell shocked. I did not even thank him.

There are friends and then there are some. You never know when these some turn into God. I believe these are what I would name God of small things.

I know I am drooling too much about a SP. But this SP will be the best I have ever ever had in my life and I shall remember it for a lonnnnnnnggg time.

I guess Navy would never understand. But this is where I see God and he sees coincidence, good gestures and affection.

But he is on the right track... Hope I am toooo..

To all of you

Happiest of Pongals. I had a great one. Did you too?