Sky Vodka

Twice a week, I take a flight, to work and back. These are the other reasons for which I've used the airlines.

For work (consulting)
For an event (wedding)
For holiday with family (Diwali)
For unexpected events (Sick parent)
For new baby in the family (Rakesh)
For vacation (Italy)
For a marriage prospect (Insert name of failed prospect)
For the hell of it (Los Angeles)

For my friends' weddings

For his friend's wedding

For the love of ancient monuments that I hope to see someday

Now this list just fades into wishes

Unna

New DNA

My nephew arrived yesterday weighing 6.4 lbs screaming and kicking as he took his first breath. I wasn't there where I should have been. I was 1000 miles away at an airport walking to the security line to reach the gate, while he squirmed in the hands that first held him and welcomed him into the world. When I landed and walked to the next gate, my brother held the phone to his tiny son and told me to hear his tender cry. I don't know what happened after that. As my ears pulled in the voice, my mind became untangled and flew away like a dragon fly, like a massive dust of jasmine petals busting through the air. All the cells of my being, said, "hello".

If my emotions went to outer space at the sound of his minor voice, I can't imagine what I'll go through when I hold him for the first time. Will it suddenly rain in the drought stricken parts of the world? Will the galaxy fly further away? Will new stars and constellations adorn the sky? Will the laughter of billions of chlidren magnify? Will all the paintings on all the world's walls become more beautiful? Will all the ice in the polor caps melt away?

Is this how it feels to have to wait to see the new human being who parallels my DNA?

Loser

I wear some silver rings that no one in particular gifted to me. I've had them for two years. They never slip off and fall into any drain. I take them off at night. I place them anywhere, and yet I never lose them.

Here are a the things I have lost though:

I've lost my iPhone three times
I've lost a beautiful magenta scarf at an airport
I've lost many earrings as a child
I've lost loved ones

Here are the things I almost lost:

I almost lost a good college friend over money
I almost lost my best friend over suspicions
I almost lost my brother to suicide, but he survived
I almost lost my mother after my sister's birth

Here are the things I will never lose:

I'll never lose my mother's unconditional love
I'll never lose my father's trust and respect
I'll never lose my love for laughter

Here are some things I want to lose:

I want to lose the pessimism
I want to lose myself to music
I want to lose the belly

Here are the things I know I will lose:

I'll lose my life some 50 years from now
I'll lose my step along the way

The losses in our lives trail behind us like a line of crumbs. Each is a little bit of food that feeds us life's lessons for the short term and the long.