The colorful and cheerful nature,
With birds chirping, ducklings playing
Geese's honk and the buzzing bees
The citrous flowers and their scent
Spreading freshness in the air
Giving the feel of spring
That nature shares with all
I happen to witness all these and
More with children's art work around
My happy place in the arms of nature!
~ Dawn
Every person grieves in their own way and yes, we as a family did too. It was during that time when one of my blog friend Keithkenny , who's comment in my previous post made me think.
"At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer, we remember them." ~ Sylvan Kamens and Rabbi Jack Reimer
I must say, Thank You Keithkenny for your kind words of wisdom. We started thinking about rescuing another one just for our Reyna's sake and then we started looking online shelters to rescue with an open mind.
We made an appointment on a weekend to visit Humane Society Silicon Valley and here we are looking at all the animals that were brought in here one or the other way. l mean, somewhere brought from another shelter because it was a small place and they couldn't accommodate or somewhere just stray in the Central Valley and they were brought in. I have been to this shelter in the past as a volunteer and all I felt was there's so much cruelty around and as much we humans are intelligent animal, we tend to think we can do anything and to prove that power sometimes some harm others and that can be their own family members and, or their pets.
"All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on." ~ Henry Havelock Ellis
My heartaches always when I go to a shelter because I read their eyes and I feel each one of them are talking to me. Why I feel they are screaming through their eyes, please take me home!!!!!!!!
I never like to go in when it comes to choose one over the other, hence I told my family you all decide because for me, I am okay to rescue any. I remember when I was a high-schooler, I used to say I want to adopt all the animals, stray and the ones in the zoo and take care of them.
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." ~ Anatole France
We saw there were so many puppies this time and when we asked, we were told during covid lot of people got the pets but returned it because they felt they cannot take care of them.
"Should you shield the valleys from the windstorms, you would never see the beauty of their canyons." ~ Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
Such a sad thing. Well, we looked at some who were in the room but people visiting them so finally we got to meet Ginger a border Collie and German Shepard puppy who was that time ten weeks. Ginger was with her sibling Sue and the way she was sleeping on Sue ( a complete black in color with white fur on the paws as if wearing socks), made us feel that it was a stuff toy until we entered the room.
Ginger was very social, as soon we got in the room she came running to us and started kissing and she won everyone's heart. Sue, was not interested and she was sleeping. We discussed among ourselves and decided to get Ginger home.
Today Ginger is eleven weeks and happily adapting us as much as we have made her part of our family.
I often accidentally call Ginger, Reyna but then quickly correct it as I tell my kids that no one can replace Reyna and Ginger is not a replacement for Reyna. We are very thankful for Ginger to help us through this time as these days our world revolves around her.
Her schedules, her food, her toys and trainings and in all her cute gestures, her puppy barks and playfulness.
Life moves on while we create more and more beautiful memories which we cherish until we live.
"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December." ~ J.M. Barrie
~ Dawn
This is my first post of this year. New Year twenty twenty two as much I thought is exciting and hopeful, it just went exactly opposite and it's only the first week of the New Year and I am terrified and sad because we had to put our dear and loving furry baby Reyna down yesterday (January fifth).
We rescued a five year old Cocker Spaniel female dog who comes from a puppy mill. As much we loved her, she also adopted us dearly. Slowly our life started revolving around her and we lived happily ever after until this New Year when she started having diarrhea and the Vets couldn't figure out what it was as all the blood reports came normal and x-rays didn't show anything concerning and in days she lost so much fluid from her body that we had to take her to emergency.
We tried our best to get her cured but in the ultrasound the Vets found gut disease which is incurable and hence surgeries would not help either and hence putting her down in sleep peacefully was a decision that probably I have taken in my life for the first time.
Yes, tough decisions sometimes bring the results immediately and may be good in the long run but probably has a bigger impact.
Life will go on but it will never be the same without Reyna the queen of our family.
"But nothing makes a room feel emptier than wanting someone in it." ~ Calla Quinn
I am hoping time will heal my family and we will rebound back.
Let's see what else is stored in twenty twenty two!!!
I hope the world becomes safer for everyone around.
~ Dawn
Dear friends, my inspiration and my go to people,
I would like to thank you all for being in my life one way or the other. Whenever I have opened my heart here, you all have encouraged and inspired me through your beautiful comments, likes or sometimes by just visiting my page.
Thank You.
"Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses." ~ Alphonse Karr
This post is my last post of this year and I want to finish telling everything that kept me away from you all for few weeks.
My new beginnings started for me in September 2020. Yes, I wasn't even expecting as my life was moving on peacefully. But if you ask me, was I happy? You may not get the answer in yes, but it didn't do any harm to me and it did keep me and my family happy.
But tell me when you think of Your happiness, what You want in life, there has to be something that should keep you sane and happy because that is what is going to keep your mental health stable and your inner-self peaceful. Believe me its not money that is going to give you that but if that comes along too, then no harm.
"The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you're not going to stay where you are." ~ J.P. Morgan
I was working in this company but I always felt my potentials, my experience was not fully being utilized though I am getting paid well but is that what we all want? No, at least not me. I want to learn new technology that is going to be our future and be part of programs that will make the world a better place through the products, process and engagements.
A scientist reached out to me in mid-September after reviewing my profile on LinkedIn. As I said above I was not looking for any opportunity outside but I was open for all possibilities and hence I responded to her message and we decided to talk on the phone for thirty minutes.
That thirty minutes of my meeting took me through an entire loop of interviews. Did I try my best? Oh heck yeah! I studied hard for this and all other interviews.
"Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." ~ Warren Buffett
By the time it was result time, I got a phone call saying everyone liked me and wanted to offer but the position itself doesn't exist anymore. C'mon!!! I tried to get the real answer but that was the real answer and guess what I was so good that they asked me to pick positions within that company so that they can hire me.
I felt this is blessing in disguise. Indeed something new was waiting for me and it had to come through. Finally, with everything going I accepted the offer and joined this amazing company on December twentieth of this year.
I hope you understand why I was away and was not regular. But, yes you all are always in my heart and mind.
Thank You All.
"For the yesterdays and today's, and the tomorrows I can hardly wait for - Thank You" ~ Cecelia Ahern
We all know 2020 was a chaos monkey and 2021 was literally like this squirrel - we were trying to balance life through out one way or the other. Vaccines and Boosters were giving hope, people were getting out meeting family and friends, partying for the time that we lost in 2020 and what not. We were balancing life by wearing mask and yet do everything that we did pre-covid.
Yes, it has been tough and I believe together we all can bring it a bit easier for all of us by taking the vaccinations, the booster and by wearing mask all the time when we go out. We all are responsible and we must take that seriously because here it's not about who is strong it's about who is ready to be a human.
"Celebrate endings, for they precede new beginnings." ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Dear friends for me when I think of 2021, my best times was when I was with nature. I still feel my Half Dome hike is still the best highlight for me from 2021.
My best wishes to all of you in this 2022 New Year, may you all be happy, healthy and peaceful with your loved ones.
Think of the under privileged ones and help wherever you can because we only become successful when we take everyone along with us.
Happy Healthy New Year 2022
"No matter how hard the past is, you can always begin again." ~ Buddha
with love
Dawn
Note: Now you can listen to the audio version of my blogs in Hindi on the UshaDawn Hindi Podcast on Google, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Check it out and new episodes uploaded every day 3 AM Pacific Standard Time.
This year has been a bit different than last year for sure. Because last year we were all 'stay at home' and some countries were in lockdown situation. This year at least we got a breather with vaccination doses and then the booster shot.
I hope you all have taken the right precaution for your and your loved one's health sake. Only we can bring that change by practicing it and that means everyone must take the vaccination as covid variants are getting tougher on us.
"Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today." ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
SO, this year it was all about meet and greet friends and family. I think this year after my two doses of vaccination I am partying all the way till now. It's wonderful time of the year but with proper care and precautions!
Yes just after Halloween, I got busy with Thanksgiving celebration with friends and in no time the plans for Sagittarius birthday celebrations and then Christmas.
It feels good when every day is a celebration day and its true. We often forget all our miseries when we see others happiness and be part of the celebration.
I personally have so many reasons this year to be thankful and show my gratitude.
I lived in Canada for almost ten years and being a big fan of ice hockey team #Mapleleafs from Toronto, I never had a chance to watch this game live, sitting in the stadium because of expensive tickets and those struggling days as an immigrant, I was only able to enjoy the game by watching it on television. This year I had the opportunity to watch the game live in SAP Center in San Jose California.
When my daughter said can we go? She also knew the answer before even I responded to her. I cannot tell you my emotions and frankly speaking how can one even write about emotions? Those are different for every individual and so is for me.
"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." ~ Mae West
As we were walking towards the stadium everyone was wearing Shark jersey and me and my daughter were in Maple leaf jersey and imagine how we must have walked from parking lot to the stadium which was full of Shark fans and few here and there Canadians who were supporting by wearing the jersey of their team.
I remember when we were just getting into the stadium one guy drove yelling F*** Maple Leafs and I only said in my mind, I hope we win this game and guess what ? After all that humiliation from guys sitting at the back who were talking loudly bad about Maple Leaf teams and how they will cry and go after losing to Shark, team actually won the game. That day Shark didn't play good.
I was cool, I think life has taught many things and one of them is not to get too excited even when things are going well for you and believe me I am not saying not to be happy if your team is winning but I am saying, don't degrade your opponents ever.
Its like that turtle who focussed on his pace and won the race against the bunny.
"When someone disrespects you, beware the impulse to win their respect. For disrespect is not a valuation of your worth but a signal of their character." ~ Brendon Burchard
Life teaches us to be humble and calm in so many ways as while all this was happening around the world due to climatic conditions. So many families were suffering either losing someone or losing everything in flood, volcanic eruptions, and of course covid cases to be frank, is on the rise but we hardly get to see the true numbers these days.
It's small things that we see to embrace and be happy. Imagine last year we were not even able to shake hands with friends or families who are not living with you. And now we are not loosing any moment that gets us to be together to laugh and be merry.
"Keep the ones that heard you when you never said a word"
These are all small blessings telling us be humble, be considerate, help others wherever and whenever you can. What I love about this season is that there are so many voluntary effort taking place either it is for the homeless people, or orphan people or cancer research and cure related charity programs - all this is to help those who are in need at such time when everyone is having their holiday times with family.
Life can be sometimes full of surprises and some of them can be wonderful too.
~ Dawn
Note: Now you can listen to the audio version of my blogs in Hindi on the UshaDawn Hindi Podcast on Google, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Check it out and new episodes uploaded every day 3 AM Pacific Standard Time
It's been a while since my last post on Halloween. I can say I was busy but I was busy mentally too. There were lot of things that were going on and even though I wanted to come and share here, it kept slipping to tomorrow and then you know how things happen.
While all this was happening, I was making plans to go watch Bryan Adams who was performing live in Las Vegas. This was a dream come true for me as I grew up listening to Bryan Adam's music and it was such a nostalgic moment when I heard him live in that same manner how I have heard his voice in cassettes those days.
One thing that people were talking about is that Bryan is sixty two years old and don't know if we will get to see him performing again - I have only one thing to say to them, he will sing even next year and next to that too. His voice, his energy everything was just like how it was when I was growing up listening to him. It was amazing to get a hi-fi from Bryan and then sliding away the hand saying see you inside the auditorium. I can't say anything about that experience and happiness that I got from this legend.
When I was taking off for Vegas, I had so many things in mind, my emotions were gushing and rushing and after watching Bryan Adam performing live, I thought I have so many things to express and here I am so full of him that I am unable to put anything in words that will do justice to my emotions and feelings for re-living my childhood moments.
"Somethings are better when you experience it "~ Dawn
After I came back from Vegas, it was thanksgiving dinner at our friends place and my gratitude has no limits. I take this opportunity to thank each one of my friends, family and my friends here.
Thank You, for the love.
"I have a lot to be thanksful for. I am healthy, happy, and I am loved." ~ Reba McEntire
~ Dawn
Meeting the celebrated Malayalam author Paul Zacharia last weekend was nothing short of déjà vu. It took me straight back to my school...
