God Bless You Abundantly  Dr. M. Junior

The “Me” I wish I were

The “Me” I really am

The “Me” I try to project

The “Me” others perceive

The “Me” I used to be

The “Me” others try to make me

- Anon

To my cousins who now live away from our city like me, rest of our family in the city and all fellow Coimbatoreans, HURRAY!

March madness included not only the hot-cold-hot weather but also the news of my friend Fay’s sudden stroke. I am so thankful she survived and when my son and I visited her family on Christmas eve, the joy in that house was almost palpable, even amidst the longing that she will only day walk/talk/work, if not completely as before but at least to some extent. TDPP will have that family always in our thoughts and prayers.

April-May brought lots of spring showers torrents and a new friend: Dr. Ars and family from Dubai. The delightful young family also welcomed a ‘highly learned’ one this October. TDPP wishes them great joy and some well deserved ‘full-night-sleep’ too. April also ushered in a new job opportunity for me at my office and May turned out to be the longest and peaceful transition period thus far in my entire career. I usually get the mandatory 2 weeks or even less time to prepare for the next opportunity. Umm, Feng Shui is working….

June-July summer months were great for my gardening. Enjoyed my tomatoes, peppers and herbs this season along with some bountiful flowers. At office, peace reigned: loved every day at work, so looked forward to the next day and the opportunities it would bring me. 

August was time well spent with my son who was again preparing to leave home briefly to take up residence closer to his University. Made so many loving memories with him. Had to buy twice as much hair colour that month too, but hey, what are few full grey hairs compared to the joys of motherhood? Right?

Sweet September saw me taking the plunge literally into the waters. Oh yes, I signed up for my long-awaited swimming-classes. I didn’t sink and didn’t drown my instructor either. That should count for something? Right, Mary/Janice/Brenda? Thanks to you all for declaring me a champion, if not for excelling at least for showing up for each and every day of the training.

October was fabulous, visited the city that had been long eluding me. Enjoyed good time with my friends. Will be visiting again for sure, as AT and I have tons more to do there. Diwali and a visit from a young friend of TDPP, KT from California were added joys at home. My brave mom, my role model, sailed through total knee replacement in both legs and has now resumed her morning walks. Tons of loving care from my father, brother, sil and my nephew was just what the Dr ordered. Proud of my mom and so very thankful for my loving family!

November ushered in the extended company of our house guest. Both my son and I took the opportunity to enjoy every moment. Almost every evening I grilled my house guest professionally/academically and in the process found a new avenue for me to pursue in the near future. Talk about never missing a knock on the door. Also thankful for the company of RK who was visiting her sons at US via Skype.

December: milder weather than usual, X-mas eve with Fay’s family, X-mas dinner with CI and family, wrapped up project work at office on time, got some good opportunities lined up for the NEW YEAR, boy oh boy, so many blessings in so many different ways.

PS: My heartfelt thanks to all of you, ever supporting friends of TDPP: AT,Ars,BS, CI, G3,GB,J, JK, JMS, MCT, Mary for your unwavering support and love that encouraged me to achieve my 550 posts and counting. To my parents, nephew, my son and my sweet little Joshua: lots of kisses and wishes. 

I am so very blessed by you all! May I have an encore please?

]]> http://thedailypingpong.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/thankful-for-2011-encore-puhleasssseeee/feed/ 4 thedailypingpong http://thedailypingpong.wordpress.com/2011/12/25/peace-joy-to/ http://thedailypingpong.wordpress.com/2011/12/25/peace-joy-to/#comments Sun, 25 Dec 2011 21:35:10 +0000 Malkan http://thedailypingpong.wordpress.com/?p=4266 ]]> ………the dearest friends (et les families) of TDPP: JMS, AT, CI, MCT from Auz, Mary, Margaret, Janice, Brenda, Fay, Abi and the girls and to all out there who rejoice in the season and in the festivities with their loved ones, from my heart to yours………

MERRY X-MAS

H/T: The Obamas and bonus wishes from the Elves.

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/nuRUCHwnHu6vXBDe7YHk

America’s war with Iraq is officially over, after eight years.

The end’s being marked today with the US flag being lowered in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

All US troops leave the Middle Eastern nation by the end of the year and Iraq will look after its own security.

Promise made, promise kept. Well done Mr. President. Now how about that other pending troops Mr. President?

Dear all,

On Saturday 8th October 2011 our daughter Rebekah was married to Warren at Ikatan Day Spa in Doonan QLD.

They have a house in Sunshine beach and it is where they go to relax and have fun, so it was the ideal place to be married.

People asked me as the FOB (father of the bride) if i was sad and emotional. I’ll return to that question, but firstly i want to say how beautiful my daughter looked (goddess was the term most people used), and how privileged i was to walk her down the long and winding path through the garden where they were married.

I want to thank Warren for allowing Rebekah to have a Minister of the Anglican Church marry them (Roger Featherstone was amazing). It was very important to her, and to us, to have a minister marry them and not only a legal representative. As you know we believe that God is real and true.

And so as the FOB I was asked if I was sad giving my daughter away.

I love Rebekah, I remember placing her in our bed the first night that Chrissie was in hospital delivering Renton and she was not yet 12 months old. Would I roll over and crush her? What was the best thing to do? Should I just bring her cot into our room?

Rebekah grew tall and strong as though she didn’t need me and I think in retrospect I stayed away too much waiting for her to ask rather than intruding

Parenthood is so complex. Are we friends? Are we lawyers? Do we provide boundaries or leave it to society?

In her teens, Rebekah broke a school rule and the School said they would deal with it. I was relieved. They were the bad guys and I could be the good guy. But then i remembered what Jesus said: a father who truly loves his child will reprimand and correct. It is an act of love.

It was the hardest thing i have ever done. I so loved Rebekah that i wanted to avoid any form of reprimand but i knew that if I really loved her beyond my own insecurity i would have to act. And so i did.

I used to do a lot of work with the Salvos. One time I was being the speaker and i said that the problem with wild children was that they didn’t know the difference between right and wrong. Later a lovely Minister (Officer) who had been working with street kids his whole life pointed out that I was wrong: everyone knows the difference between right and wrong, he said.

The problem for street kids is that their parents don’t love them enough to correct them. So they push harder at boundaries hoping for a reaction, and when it doesn’t come they get into trouble. We only experience love when we experience someone caring enough for us that they tell us we are wrong.

At Rebekah’s wedding we met Jimmy. Jimmy runs Koto which is a school / restraunt / family in Vietnam that allows street kids to learn a skill, graduate with a recognised certificate, and get a real job. As I asked lots of questions he said that the kids need love, need to experience love for perhaps the first time in their lives.

Was I emotional about giving my daughter away?

No.

I know that I love Rebekah and that she loves me. I know that getting married wont interfere with our love for each other. I hope to show my love to Warren also.

Jesus teaches me that love never ends. Love is patient and kind. Love corrects and counsels. Love is transportable.

My faith in Jesus is complete. We gave Rebekah to Jesus when she was born (we call it baptism). I did not give her to Warren last Saturday, we already gave her to Christ.

May Peace be with you,
MCT

I wonder what Jesus wants for his birthday?