An Year of Chaos, Calamity & Credit

Yes, November is too early to be summing up the year gone by. So that's not what you're about to read. This is about my 40th year gone by! A year that I had hyped and anticipated half a decade ago to be the 'best time of my life'. It was anything but...

2020 was chaotic with the calamity of Covid hitting everyone hard. I entered my 40th, 3 shy of my travel target and hoping that I will still succeed in the next 12 months before I turn 41. But life always has its own plans. A month long engagement with Covid in April/May taught me to slow down and give credit to what is there. Covid hit me hard with my entire family bearing the brunt. We all fell like domino's once the husband started showing symptoms on April 20th. The younger one's birthday on 8th May was spent quietly at home as we nursed each other. High fever, aches and pains, multiple doctor prescriptions, struggle to find medications, stress of SPO2, sleepless nights on one side and home cooked food by family, oxygen cans from friends, cakes, gifts, cards, umpteen calls and messages on another! The latter prevailed for us and we survived as a family and a unit! 

In those days of suffering, in a drugged state one night, I pledged to give up alcohol. It was one of those weak moments where I felt I was a goner and had an awakening. I have kept my promise so far and not touched anything boozy ever since. I hope I let my liver gain its health back before I succumb to the social pressure. BTW, it does feel good not having a hangover after a late night of party!

My child hood bestie moved closer to home and suddenly Gurugram(with all its dust clouds) became brighter. In other news, I had my second rebirth of 2021(first was post covid) when I found myself stuck in another natural calamity. This time it was the Uttarakhand floods when me and my family found ourselves holidaying in an area which had landslides after incessant rains. I re-affirmed my pledge towards giving up alcohol in bargain for my family's life. Well, we did get back safely after a week long adventure and learnings. 

To sum this up, I am because of You. Each one of you who is reading this now has contributed to me surviving the harshness of the year. Each one of you who has kept me and my family in your prayers when we had covid- this is a late but big gratitude letter to you. The credit of bringing smiles and good health back belongs to you. All of you, known or unknown, made the chaos seem charismatic once it was over. The calamity has brought me closer to so many of you out there. It's given life lessons that made me weep and friends who are for keeps!

And now, While Johnny may not walk and Gin may not hit the rock for sometime, life will go on...

It may be too early or too financially stressful but here is to a new target in life

Century before 50?

P.S Did I forget to mention that I visited Goa twice this year?