Completed another 26 today

I am not talking about completing another marathon...but about turning 26. Yes, 23rd Oct is my "Happy Birthday" and this time I have turned 26. In running terms, I have completed a marathon getting here. I can claim I have done two twenty-sixes back to back.

It has taken me a long time getting here ;)

Quick summary of the last 26 years
Year 1 : part of it in Calcutta and part of it in Bangalore as a crying kid
Year 2-3 : cute pre-schooler ;)
Year 4-25 : schooling in Bangalore, engineering in Pilani, masters in the US
Year 25-26 : working, running and volunteering with Asha Austin

I think the last year and a half I have volunteered with Asha Austin have been very interesting. Before that I was in school studying something or the other, writing exams, and in general busy working for a career for myself. I never stopped to think or question what was happening around me, why it was happening or anything that did not concern my immediate needs/future. Once I started working, I found more time to think. My association with the volunteers at Asha Austin has been a channel for me to learn about some of the issues and problems being faced by a majority of people in our country. It has been a good learning experience so far and I hope I continue to learn. I think this is a very interesting article to read - A critique on the modern education system.

I did like running before but it was 2-3 miles at the most. With the marathon program I got the chance to raise money for projects we supported. All my posts till now speak only about running and the training involved, but in all this, I should not forget why I am running. I liked this post by Santhosh which puts things into perspective. You could learn about the various projects that would be supported through this fundraising. Please email me if you want more information.

Back to the present day -

Spent the morning flying from Chicago to Austin. Was quite tired because of the previous day but had to go straight to work from the Airport. It was a slow day at work and I just wanted to get home and relax for a while.

I felt that people were not very enthued about the birthday though they did remember it :( Its not like I wasnt super excited about my birthday but I was sure hoping to do something, but there was no mention of any plans from anyone...that was quite depressing.

At work, I knew a bunch of people knew of my birthday, but strangely no one wished me. Thats when the Sherlock Holmes in me woke up :D This all must be part of some surprise plan. Slept in the evening for a while and then Ani came over to give me some company. I was sure she was planning the surprise party, so I kept bugging her and asking her all about it. She pleaded innocence, and said that I was going to be very disappointed that evening for she had planned no such thing. In fact she was apologetic for not having planned anything and said that we could go for dinner. But I was quite certain that she was upto something. Later she tried to take me to her apartment on a flimsy excuse, and then I pounced on her and asked her if the party was at her place. After two hours of constant badgering, she was unable to keep a straight face and I knew I had gotten the secret out.

We walk into her apartment and as expected there were a bunch of people all there to surprise me. I am sorry for spoiling the surprise but it was good fun. It would have been such a disaster if there was no party in reality but I was counting on Ani and her enthu for organising parties. We open the cake and it is this huge chocolate cake from mom, dad and sis.


Awesome cake it was!!

Now that was a big surprise!! How did they manage that? And then it all came together. Just the week before mom had asked me for Ani's number so that she could talk to me in Chicago, in case my phone did not work. I did not expect mom to plan all this and it was an awesome awesome surprise. My Sherlock Holmes' skills totally failed me in front of mom, dad and sis. This was so much fun. For food there was pudina chutney sandwiches and pizzas. It was a lot of fun and thanks to all who made the day so memorable.

Check out the photos from the party.