'CRY' to Kilimanjaro

Why do people trek to mountain peaks or to frozen poles for charity sake? Is it the call of the adrenalin or the affinity to a cause thats instrumental to do the unusual one fine day. Am not too sure what was the real reason for of a group of NRI bankers from across the middle east to group under the banner of 'CRY' to trek to Kilimanjaro. 

Its not something you would decide on a weekend friday morning out of the blue. My friend Vems who is part of this group, who has christened themselves as GMI - Group of Middle East Indians, has given up elevator months back. He climbs full six floors... a small change in routine as a first time trekker. I was a bit apprehensive that his veggie fed body pampered in the arabian sedentary life would commit to this 'call'. But then he seems to have taken it as a challenge.  

At the office, we had a laugh on dragging 'CRY' to this event. The general mood was, you publicity mongers! But seems like its been a tried and tested combo. It adds a purpose to the trek eventhough it may not have been an important thought at the planning stage. But eventually the purpose intertwines with the trek like two river-lets converging and flowing inseparable touching a lot of lives.

Wish all of them a once in a life time experience that they will cherish for a long long time. For some this may be a start for more trekking. For some this may unleash a blast of high altitude cold fresh air giving a whole new outlook to life. Among other things the experience may also prompt one of them to document the life changing moments and hit the print soon.

But then a lot of young lives will be touched by this experience. A 'CRY' from the peak.

How are you?

'How are you? ' comes so naturally to us to greet a stranger or to start a conversation. It must be the most abused 3 word phrase, only second to 'OMG' in the history of human speech.

On an average an office goer would utter the supposedly caring question with stoic siberian frostiness to a co passenger on the metro or while bumping on to colleagues in the elevator or as an opening line while placing an order at a cafe.

Each time one thing is common. Nobody expects an honest answer for the simple reason that people do not expect to hear anything other than 'FINE'. Or may be nobody expects one to confide in the environs of a metro, elevator or a cafe.

Just imagine the plight of a cafe steward. Hundreds of coffee freaks throw this line at him. He thinks: Damn, I have a low paid job which requires me to take orders for more than 10 different drink variants with 15 different flavours, where the milk could be skimmed, low fat or soya with the option to be served with or without froth or cream in different sizes further confused as Tall, Picolo, Primo & Masimo in take away cups or china. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Next time wish him a good day and save your 'how are you's' for a meaningful moment to express your love and concern for the special someones in your life.

Lost in thirties

A feeling usually referred to as midlife crisis. Its been starring at me from a few early mornings when one such morning I woke up from a dream with the urge to quit my job, count the things I want to do, the places I want to be and the people for whom I want to spend more time with.

Its not easy if you have a mortgage, dependents and not so an account brimming with liquidity. But that's not an excuse to stop living the life you want to. There are no easy answers, else it would not have been termed as a 'crisis'.

My colleague was at a saloon for a haricut and wanted a different look. The stylist ran his fingers though his thin short unruly hair, half of which have switched their loyalties to the silver shade. The stylist figured it all; 'oh midlife crisis sir'. Its so easily defined these days and people spot it with a glee.

Life is precious and you dont want to wait to recover from an illness or tragedy to wake up and take notice of life. I still stare at the walls with lazy eyes these winter mornings...whats next? I think I know.