D1 to H8

No, I'm not trying to make illegal chess moves. I'm referring to the move we (parents and I) made from our old apartment (Flat no. D-1) to a new one (Flat no. H-8) on 27th October. The place is in the same apartment complex but in a different block. All of last week was spent first packing and then later unpacking into the new house. The new place is bigger and is on the second floor (yes I get some much needed exercise climbing up and down the stairs!).

When something new comes into one's life, one tends to view with a certain amount of anticipation and excitement. Whether this be a new house, a new piece of equipment, a new person and so on. You tend to associate new entries into your life with new beginnings - a chance to do things differently. A new entry brings with it renewed hope (one is like "Hey, see this new --- is now in my life. I know things will be ok now.") and enthusiasm ("Hey, I have this new ---. Its so cool I can't stop talking about it.").

I think everyone, once in a while, needs something completely new to remind us to shake off the mundane routine.

When it rains it pours. Chennai has been the focus of the Gods for about a week (or more). Rains going on and off every half hour. Rains, according to me, are a "speed-breaker" to life. Last week while driving to office, I was observing the rains and the people all around me. It was as though the world was moving in slow motion. I watched a bus take a slow turn into the nearby street. I watched a man walk in the rain with a basket hanging on to the hook of his umbrella. I watched a poor guy, both legs paralyzed, crawl along the water filled roads...

That brings me to another thought. What is it in a person that gives them the urge to live, to fight and to survive? I know this has been debated several million times, but I still can't figure out the "real answer". Perhaps you could post your thoughts here or send me an email.

Check mate? :-)