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Showing posts with the label dad

Scent of spring: Songbirds, cherry blossoms, and warmer days

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    Spring, perhaps the most awaited season of the year, is about to grace this region of the world with its presence. I know spring is about to arrive in Delaware because after a series of unusually frigid mornings, which lasted from December through February, cheerful chirping of red-breasted robins, blue jays, and chickadees has now filled the morning air. In contrast to spring mornings, winter mornings are so hushed and uneventful that one may even question if birds exist in this land at all. To me, birdsongs are the harbinger of spring.  With the first sight of a bluejay perched on the backyard fence or a cardinal dancing on a leafless cherry branch, I know that my wait for spring is almost over, for I’ve learned from past experiences that an increase in bird activity signifies the approach of spring!  In this part of the world, during spring, nature comes alive with an abundance of activity. Everywhere I look, I witness signs of life. I witness new life in the ...

My Father

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When I was young, I did not know how important it was to stick to one’s long-standing values and principles. But I saw my dad do it. I will not go into detail but let’s just say, the lives of the four of us (my parents, me and my brother) changed overnight. All of a sudden, it meant making adjustments to many things - little adjustments and big adjustments. It meant getting used to taking an auto-rickshaw to college instead of a car and it meant not getting to eat chicken every day. I used to be angry with my father because I believed he was the reason my comfortable life was suddenly lost. We paid a high price for his honesty, so did he. But those events and changes in my life made me what I was to become. Today, when I look back in time, my heart fills with respect and gratitude for my father, who never budged an inch from his values, principles and what he thought was morally correct. Today, when I think of those days, I feel that I would have done the same, if I were in his pl...