Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men

This Thanksgiving was unusual than before! Family was the theme!

“I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich.” ~Dan Wilcox

We drove around 180 miles and stayed at a hotel room facing right to the ocean at Pismo beach. Sun was at the right moment to set when my camera clicked it all!
The redness with a touch of orange in color brings all the excitement even though it was sun-set time.

“Color possesses me. I don't have to pursue it. It will possess me always, I know it. That is the meaning of this happy hour: Color and I are one. I am a painter.” ~ Paul Klee

The best part was the Hearst Castle which is near San Simeon beach. I mean we all have heard these fairy tales and stories of kings and queens who had this big palace or castle where they lived happily ever after. Such palaces, castles which we had only seen in story books and in granny’s stories and yet with the imaginary tales we used to feel so happy and content that we used to go to bed peacefully.

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” ~ Dr Seuss

This castle is something which was built by a gentleman at the age of 56…can you believe this that dreams can come true and you can make it happen and age is not a hurdle to this? William Randolph Hearst who always loved big castle as a kid and was able to fulfill his dream when he reached the age of 56. This palace faces the Pacific Ocean from top of a hill and is halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
It’s quite interesting to see the view and everything captured as a movie right from when the castle was getting build.

“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens” ~ Carl Jung

It’s so amazing to know Mr. Hearst built it and he shared it too but I often had this question bothering, why he always invited all the celebrities and not common people :D!

Because any how celebrities will definitely go to places where they are treated like guests, isn’t it? And they always get treated well everywhere but what about the common people or say poor people?

How often such things take us towards the reality of life?
I kept hearing kids saying ‘oh! He was rich! Well, I felt like saying his father did all the hard work to bring that richness he just utilized it when he was able to.

I only took the positive aspect out of this was that there is no age limit to fulfill your dreams. It’s all in your determination to make that change.

Altogether it was a good get away from real busy life to a dream story land

“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.” ~ Gail Devers

“Faith is the daring of the soul to go farther than it can see”

I heard a sad news about my dear friend Zainab in Pakistan that she lost her mother!
It was recently when Pak declared emergency...I asked her while chatting if everything is okay and she said so far it is there is no impact!!! When I asked about her Mom and Dad ...she said Mom is doing great...and so now all of a sudden when Manish gave me this message to me...I just don't feel like believing him! I wish it was a joke...as I just cannot see my dear friend who has all the aspiring ambitions to get into University to fulfill them she lost her mother leaving her, twin sisters, a younger brother and Dad and a elder sister who is married.

May Allah give all the peace to the departed soul and give strength to the family to bear this pain and a great loss - ameen!

I still remember her mom talking to me on the phone saying "Zainab keeps talking about you and I always thought its a myth :) now I feel so better after hearing your voice....!" I think am so unlucky that now I will never hear her voice!

“A sad thing in life is that sometimes you meet someone who means a lot to you only to find out in the end that it was never bound to be and you just have to let go.”

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice

"Happy Thanksgiving to My entire Dear and Near Ones" ~ Dawn

Let’s make the title of this post true! I am sure my few friends have plans on this day and for the holidays that comes along with it. I wish them a safe trip and enjoy their turkey dinner with friends and family.

"Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day". ~Robert Caspar Lintner

When I was in Canada, my first Thanksgiving dinner was with Carol and Stuart and believe me since then I always know the traditional Thanksgiving dinner and no one can fool me there .. lol!
As I move to US, I see there is slight difference in tradition and the concept too; though it means all the same.

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

For my friends who always wonder what is this ‘Thanksgiving’ all about here is the answer to that:

http://www.crewsnest.vispa.com/thanksgivingusa.htm

http://www.crewsnest.vispa.com/thanksgivingcanada.htm

http://www.crewsnest.vispa.com/thanksgivingUK.htm

Thanks to crewnest :)

But I have to admit this its only in US that one gets such a long weekend on a Thanksgiving day but I don’t blame for this as there aren’t much of holidays anyway here.

So I hope this is the beginning of the holiday season and to the festivity, everyone have a safe one

"Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude". ~E.P. Powell

“My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.”

It was the afternoon on the weekend; weather was quite sunny yet cold! A very good time to cuddle up in your comforter and have a nap – yes! I was having my afternoon nap!!!

“Spend the afternoon. You can't take it with you.” ~ Annie Dillard

Suddenly my sleep was disturbed by two ladies in the neighborhood talking and I remember by paying attention to there chat, I heard something like this –
“I wanted to clarify since the name of Pakistani people is so ruined, I want to tell you that we are not like that, and we are nice people!”

“Be nice to people on your way up because you’ll meet them on your way down.” ~ Jimmy Durante

This sentence made me curious and I went to my front door when I heard a knock on my door. Looking at the perfect opportunity, I opened the door and I saw my neighbor wishing me for Diwali and then I see this lady – who smiled at me and said – ‘Hi, am Nadia. I just live near by and new to US. I thought I might introduce myself to you all and make some friends.”

I felt very nice and felt it was very nice of her to take that initial step, when she mentioned its only been 3 months that we have come here from Pakistan, (while she was saying the country name she had a slight fear on her face as well…wondering about my reaction)! As usual my curiosity, I asked her where in Pakistan and she said Islamabad!
And then she started on and on about her, her stay in Pakistan and how her children are happy to find friends around here!

“The best vitamin for making friends: B1”

The lady seemed educated and well versed but the fear with which she is living that she is from Pakistan and people think all Pakistanis are bad, was something which was bothering me! I told her – “I happen to have some of best friends from Pakistan and believe me, I don’t know about Pakistan and India but I do know that in this part of the world we don’t make any discrimination about people and the country they belong!!!”

I was glad I was able to give her that comfort level but the whole evening went in the thought of – why she had to give explanation on how she and her family is? Why?

Isn’t it’s the person who can be good or bad and that can be of any country, religion, caste or gender!!!?

“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible” ~ St. Thomas Aquinas

I felt bad for the lady and wanted her to think positive and need not raise her kids with these thoughts as the kids will also think and react in the similar manner when they deal with there friends in the school!

I personally feel it’s the people themselves who represent their individual characteristics and not any country!

I can see a friend in Nadia already and hence I look for opportunity to talk to her and be friends with her.

“In order to get beyond racism, we must first take account of race. There is no other way. And in order to treat some persons equally, we must treat them differently.” ~ Harry A. Blackmun

“Life is a festival only to the wise.”

Happy Diwali To All Of You...

“You are invited to the festival of this world and your life is blessed” ~ Rabindranath Tagore

Probably thats why I always celebrate my birthday with the same enthusiasm as I used to when I was a kid ;)

Have a safe one