One of the most memorable days

Sunday the 16th of december 2007 will be cherished in my boring life as one of the most memorable days. It was on this day that I had my first experience of carol singing, and the joy and happiness I got on that day makes me feel that life is indeed worth living.

It had been a while( about a month or so) since I had last attended the youth groups meeting. So I thought I'd just make a courtesy visit and show my face. For the past couple of weeks while I had intentionally kept away, the youth group members had been going house to house, singing carols. So when I miraculously showed up that day, I happened to get a seat beside Larrissa. Customary hi's were exchanged and then larry asks me " why weren't you coming for carol singing?". I gave a sheepish smile and told her that i was no singer. But i mumbled that I such a low voice that even I had some trouble in deciphering what was just said. Nevertheless, that days meeting was devoted to practicing some of the carols. Dennis gets a confirmation from me that this time I'm going to come along. I had nothing better to do that evening.

So all this said and done, I arrive at St. Peters at bang 17:00 hrs and lo!!! I was just the third person there. Shweta and her friend had arrived a bit earlier. It was a little hard for me to strike a conversation, as they were just acquaitances. However a clumsy effort on my part resulted in the very cliched conversation of when is it going to start, what is the time, etc etc. Larry and sherwyn turn up after a couple of minutes and that was a relief, coz i thought i could get acquainted with both of them and get a few tips from sherwyn on how to play some pieces on the guitar( shery is an exceptional guitarist). Larry, being her friendly self, again comes and strikes a very casual and light hearted conversation. After chatting with her for a bit I go to sherry and again pass some time there till the rest of the gang pours in. We would then leave for carol singing after having tea in the manipal canteen.
During the time I was having tea with the others, I was just the silent observer, enjoying the sarcastic and light hearted conversation the other people were having. I did not feel like pitching in because I felt that I am still a stranger, and that it would be out of place to poke fun at anybody there.
We then went back to church and were trying to figure out who goes in whose bike or car. I was felix's backseat driver for the rest of the evening. Even felix seems to be a very quiet person, and so our time both on the bike and off it seemed to be like a story of friendship blossoming in a silent movie.
The carol singing began at about 6 in the evening. Visited lots of houses. However, with all the fun and excitement around, I somehow felt left out and, like in the canteen, was just listening and enjoying the light humour that was going around. At this point, Larry comes up to me and asks " Why are you so quiet? Are you feeling alone? Maybe its because you are new." And then proceeded with some kind of conversation.
To me it was a really touching gesture. something which no one in my entire life has done before. It made me feel that love does exist in this crazy world. Thanks larry...thanks a lot.
Another event which i really liked that day was dennis' doggie samantha. She was so charged up to see so many people around, she just kept jumping and rubbing and playing and wagging all around, more often than not, spilling the eats and drinks on us.
It was 11.30 by the time we finished. I returned home and had a very good sleep. I just loved the enthu and bonding between dennis, roger, sherry, larry, sujay and vivian. They sure are a very very special group and true friends.
Cheers.

Phase II

On the IT boat did I start sailing
Happy and boisterous about the new beginning
But alas, these ghosts, they keep haunting
Keeping me neither awake nor sleeping.
Yet the battle continues, never ceasing
At every fall, my resilience increasing
This is phase two, will it have an ending?

Me and You

You give me your humanity, I will give you my divinity
You give me your time, I will give you my eternity
You give me your bonds, I will give you my omnipotence
You give me your slavery, I will give you my freedom
You give me your death, I will give you my life
You give me your nothingness, I will give you my all

What next?

Dad keeps telling me about the potential dangers of being in the IT industry. So commonplace are ailments like lack of sleep, bone problems, eye problems blah blah and blah, that most often that not these perils do not figure in the course of discussion. His main contention is what if there is an IT meltdown? What if some lunatic plants a bomb in any of the major financial and IT capitals? Where will you be. Seems to be a pretty valid argument, and it got me thinking.
While coming back after a nice dinner last Saturday, ayyo sumik had mentioned something which about the entire booming economy tied up with IT. When one examines todays economic scene more closely we would find that most if not all of them have had a resurgence because of the IT industry. For example, the high prices quoted for drinks and food in various pubs in the city still does not see them suffering from any losses. The reason is because people have amassed a lot of disposable income. A vast majority of people visiting restaurants and pubs are IT professionals. With this, comes a greater demand for bouncers, DJ's, waiters, card reading machines, power and a lot more. In other words, when people spend money, they propel they economy skywards. The more money people have, the more they are likely to spend. The middle and upper middle class section today has been to a very large extent, the fruits of the IT revolution.
Now, should I decide that I quit IT and join some other industry, say the automobile industry, then how secure would my job be? The answer is, I'm afraid, about just as secure as my current job.
The differences though, would be of salary hikes and promotions and job satisfaction.(Let us ignore those health effects from now.) That is something for people who seriously know what they want to do in life to worry about. For us ordinary mortals, I guess we should be happy about the relatively easy money we get. Let us take it and pursue our hobbies with content.