Monday, November 10, 2008

Tagged in Silver

On the morning of 6th November, Anjali (a.k.a Silverine) left me a comment on my previous post saying that I have been tagged! I was pleasantly surprised but at the same time, being an old-dog (not quite versed with the ways of Blog Country yet), was thrown in a dilemma as to what this really was! My next pit stop was Anjali's blog, My Think Pad, which told me exactly what I needed to do.

The Tag

As part of this exercise, I am required to answer two questions from the past, present and future and conclude this post by tagging friends from Blog Country and subsequently let them know that they've been tagged! So here I go!

Yesterday

My oldest memories...

They date back to the year 1981, two years after I was born! Back then, in Ooty, we were a joint family and I was one among the five tots at home, the others being nephews and a niece, all but one, elder than me. Ooty was true paradise with lush green eucalyptus, oak, pine and fir trees lining the roads which were immaculate. There was a sense of order and cleanliness that cannot be seen today.

We kids were a well fed and well cared-for lot and that ensured that we were forever hyper-energetic much to the chagrin of our parents. Much of our play-area was the front courtyard of the large house we lived in. I vividly remember Dad bringing us scores of toys (even those failed to arrest our notoriety, particularly mine) which were soon dissected open and rendered useless even before their functionality was fully understood!

The following picture was taken sometime in 1981 at the entrance of the Ooty Lake and I still remember being called to look into the camera which I guess was too much of an effort (considering the lovely girls around). To date, this remains my most admired photograph and will continue to be so undoubtedly. Those indeed were the days! The best, the very best!



What was I doing ten years ago?

November 1998 was past of my last year in St. Aloysius College, Mangalore, where I had gone to study Business Management. Being my first stint out of home, I lived it up and did everything under the sun, but study! Already a music and a movie buff, I missed no opportunity to sample the latest movies in town at the many laser-disc theaters which were a hot favourite among the college crowd! Eat, sleep and make merry was all that I did, much to the contention of my parents. Only time would tell me how costly these mistakes proved, for I lost many a lucrative opportunity to shape up my career and steer it in the right stride and direction.
After the incident, even the fool is wise!

Today

The last few days have been rough and today will be no exception, considering it being the scary Monday! Mounting pressures as a result of creation of plans, white-papers, presentations and endless meetings have begun to take a toll on me but at the same time have been a learning experience like no other. I quite remember how smelting of Gold results in its purification. The ore-content of metal passes through a hell like furnace before it emerges in its final form that accentuates both its lustre and value. Our lives are no different!

Tomorrow

Just why don't Sundays repeat? Tomorrow will not be very different from the days that have come and gone! We are in the middle of many an 'engagement' and with the ongoing financial crisis, businesses are on the down-side! Consulting therefore is viewed as a luxury and a luxury it is!
I'm hoping for a quiet day, one that does not warrant the need for too many presentations, documents, road-maps and so on. I will be spending the day building documents on a line of business that has become my baby, and will see myself 'at-work' from day-break to well into the night!
On a lighter note, so much for the musing "Work is fine if it doesn't take too much of your time."

14 years from now

Speaking of 2022, my driving license is due to expire on 25-Feb-2021!
I'm not sure that at 43, the government will want me to drive!
Anyhow, I hope to end the charade [read: veil] of official life by 40 and dedicate whatever remains to savour life along with my family. I heard somewhere that life begins at 40!
I hope to visit many a place and indulge in an exchange of culture, thoughts and desires. Down the road, off in the country-side in Ooty, amidst the blue hills, after a tread down the beaten path, hopefully, I'll live to see the birds fly and the lone deer chew on fresh acacia shoots draped in the morning dew. With a loving family, a brilliant SLR Camera and this blog which is my virtual world, I will live a content man spending time watching his daughter take the first teen steps and thank God for her (I haven't yet told you about my Mom's wish, have I? Well, she wishes that I be blessed with a Son, just like me! A Son????? God... that gives me the jitters. I'm not too sure if Mom's wish is a blessing or a curse!)

If I build a time capsule what would it contain?

In the event of Stephen Hawking being proved wrong, which is highly unlikely, my time capsule will contain digital simulated holograms of all those people and blogs that I am (was) associated with. Needless to say, the capsule will hold terabytes of pictures and videos. An archival system to store the world's best ideas and processes will be incorporated along with a time manager than can display in motion, the significant events that shaped the world for the better!

Finally the Pièce de résistance, where I am to tag friends of mine!

I tag;

Devika Jyothi (A Certain Kind of Woman)
Swati (Escapades)
Keshi (Viva forever)
Man in Painting
Bharath (Musings)
Vibu (The Gemini Mind)

32 comments:

  1. aww touching tag!

    That pic of u with dad is soooo cute! And it brought back memories of me and my dad...torn, tattered, black n white memories of a time I want to go back to...



    **Speaking of 2022, my driving license is due to expire on 25-Feb-2021! I'm not sure that at 43, the government will want me to drive!


    LOL Rakesh cmon u wont be 103 then, just 43. Here in Aus ppl drive even at the age of 80 and above. As long as u hv good eye-sight and r not ill, ur ok to drive :)




    **my time capsule will contain digital simulated holograms of all those people and blogs that I am (was) associated with. Needless to say, the capsule will hold terabytes of pictures and videos. An archival system to store the world's best ideas and processes will be incorporated along with a time manager than can display in motion, the significant events that shaped the world for the better!


    wow now thats a very neat idea!! brilliant! wut more does the world need ha?


    u tagged me haha! I'm usually slow with tags so bear with me ok. I'll do it but it'll take time. Im sure u'd u'stand. :) This is a good one tho!

    tnxx Rakesh!


    Keshi.

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  2. Excellent post...MAN!!..I didnt know that tagging had a foreplay... :P

    peace...

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  3. So thats what tagging is all about!! I finally figured it out :)
    Nice tag. Touchy :)

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  4. Nice reading! I like to read when people have been tagged, but I'm far from happy when people tag me!

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  5. I like the almost focus 70's looking shot...

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  6. i agree a 1000 times, thats an once in a lifetime snap..and I was surprised to see lot of match in our future plans..yes, even I did this tag..hehe...quitting at 40 is certainly one on top of my list..and then that SLR cam..:D

    and present..yes, these are hard times. then, each phase has its own problems..as you said its like purification of Gold..enjoy the journey while it lasts

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  7. life doesn't end at 40, you know ;)))
    i have enjoyed this meme, thank you

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  8. Heyy, nicely done tag. Dont know how you look now, but you were cute as a kid ! Ok, ok, you are welcome, stop blushing :D

    and dont you think 40 is too young to stop working ???

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  9. i loved to the read the post...and your mind, and its thoughts...

    no wonder you call me Ma'm ;-) infact Rak many a time i wanted to tell you to avoid calling me that..especially the day i said i'll call you Rak, than Rakesh..

    but then -- when i have these young little 'gals' and 'guys' coming an calling me "yaar" "dude"...et al - i get my nerves struck in a wrong way..my fault, basically -- so thought if someone popular among them call me M'am -- they wont do it to me!! ;-)

    now you may call me - whatever you choose :-))))

    btw, what's this Polona saying - life ending at 40??

    very special friends i have, my Lord !! :-)

    Thanks Rak, andthis tag i'll do may be sometime by weekend..or next weekend..veetilum natillum etta paniyonnum kurachi naalayi nadakkunnnilla :-)

    wishes!
    devika

    yesterday, i read this; but forgot to comment :-)

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  10. i loved to the read the post...and your mind, and its thoughts...

    no wonder you call me Ma'm ;-) infact Rak many a time i wanted to tell you to avoid calling me that..especially the day i said i'll call you Rak, than Rakesh..

    but then -- when i have these young little 'gals' and 'guys' coming an calling me "yaar" "dude"...et al - i get my nerves struck in a wrong way..my fault, basically -- so thought if someone popular among them call me M'am -- they wont do it to me!! ;-)

    now you may call me - whatever you choose :-))))

    btw, what's this Polona saying - life ending at 40??

    very special friends i have, my Lord !! :-)

    Thanks Rak, andthis tag i'll do may be sometime by weekend..or next weekend..veetilum natillum etta paniyonnum kurachi naalayi nadakkunnnilla :-)

    wishes!
    devika

    yesterday, i read this; but forgot to comment :-)

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  11. This tag tells some more about u buddy. Must be fantastic living in ooty, the heavenly place for summery people like us and I love to explore more than destinations in Nilgiris. For everyone there childhood pictures are indeed, so innocence and fresh! Loved this pic :)

    Tomorrow is hope we extend our lives, and interest is what your plans tells me. I wish you all the best for ur future savor :)

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  12. Keshi girl

    Thanks very much for calling me "cute" ;) I'm blushing ;))
    Like I said, that pic is my most admired!

    Regarding the driving part, I was only kidding......but I guess its hard to accept being 43, let alone driving!

    So when do I see your response to the tag?

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  13. Hi Nishanth

    Thanks for coming and leaving me a comment!

    Lol..... foreplay to tagging!!!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  14. Vibu

    Yes, this is what tagging is all about! Thanks indeed for a very quick response and as always for your kind comments!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  15. Peter

    I guess, its fun to do a tag! I will give you a heads-up well before I tag you ;)

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  16. Hi Tr3nta

    Thanks very much! This picture is very dear to me! It is 27 years old!

    Thanks for coming!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  17. Praveen

    Am happy that there are so many similarities! Living is about living well and not merely existing after all, correct?

    I somehow wanna free myself from this myred world of corporatedom which only takes a toll and leaves inhumanity in man!

    40, it is then!!!!!

    Rock n Roll Rocker!

    Rakesh

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  18. Polona

    Yes indeed, life does not end at 40, on the contrary it begins then!

    Its gonna be quite a something to begin a different kind of a life then..... watching the birds fly, watching the sunset, the dew on the morning grass and so many things while also assured that one doesn't have to meet stiff deadlines and add to the list of many more woes!

    Thanks very much for your kind words!

    Warm Regards

    Rakesh

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  19. vimmuuu, my friend!

    Thanks for calling me "cute".... I did blush, ear to ear ;) And I've got this funny smile on my face as I write this comment out! ;)

    Well, these days, I look more like a geek, a lost geek ;)

    And nope, 40 isn't too young to call off working..... It is rather the right time! Life begins at 40 after all! ;)

    Btw, I will be responding to your tag by the end of this week!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  20. Devika Ma'am

    And I will call you just that!!!
    I certainly will not address you by name as I do to my colleagues, peers, bosses and friends because you are much more!!

    Thanks very much for your comments on the tag "i loved to the read the post...and your mind, and its thoughts" I am very glad that you did!

    Do respond to the tag at leisure!

    Warm Regards and Wishes

    Rakesh

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  21. Karthik

    Welcome here! Thanks for coming and leaving me your comment!

    Thankfully I got a 20 year license made! ;) 2021 is a while away!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  22. Jeevan

    Thanks very much for your kind words! I appreciate it!

    It was indeed a lot of fun living in Ooty, but since work calls, I'm away from home for a long time now. Although I stay in Pune, I feel happy to get back to Ooty for vacations and happier that my Parents call the place home-for-ever! I will, post retirement, settle down in Ooty (hopefully).

    Yes, that picture is very close to me and remains my most cherished!

    Thanks very much

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  23. yeah even I tell my mum that I'd wanna die when I turn 40. lol no offence to anyone.

    Keshi.

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  24. btw I'll do the tag as soon as I get some time ok? :) ty Rakesh!

    Keshi.

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  25. I suffer from a chronic case of jealousy with anyone who has lived or lives in Ooty. Currently scouting for a small house there. I will not rest till that is done. Used to be and is my regular haunt. I just love the place! Nice tag.

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  26. Keshi

    Lol! Life begins at 40, so they say! Take your time and respond to the tag at your convenience!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  27. Anjali

    Lol! So I'm part of the envied lot! ;)

    Sadly, I have long left Ooty and go there only on vacation! Thankfully my folks are around and I can still call Ooty home!

    It is very different from the magnificient place it once used to be!

    Finally, thanks for tagging me!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  28. That is a nice picture, Rakesh :) And yes, all that you have shared too!
    I got here, from the newest tag you've done, and this is really more in depth, showing facets of you and making the virtual more tangible perhaps :)

    Have been tagged too, so this is something for me to learn from as well.. :)

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  29. that pic is good one bro.... the father and son...

    timecapsule... id probably keep those memories too....


    past...dude... mistakes... u reminded me of my own days..really a fool is wise after the incident...at that time it seems so fun and now if u think about it...damn....

    oh forgot to add in my comment to the first post...me to hate getting clicked... but i love clicking pics..!

    salutes!

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  30. Usha

    Thanks very much! This picture, as I have said in the post, is very dear to me and forms part of my oldest memories!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  31. ArmyGuy

    Thanks for your comments! This picture is very close to me and among my firsts!

    Warm Regards

    Rakesh

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