Rekha's Ramblings

Last Christmas, I was in Jacksonville, Florida, attending my kids’ marching band event. What made the trip even more special was that some of our longtime friends live there. Life has a funny way of keeping us busy. Though we were only ever a phone call away, somehow months — sometimes years — slipped by between meaningful conversations. Children, jobs, responsibilities, schedules… life kept moving. So when we finally sat down together and started chatting and catching up, it felt comforting, familiar, and almost therapeutic. At one point, my friend asked me, “So what are you up to these days now that you’re an empty nester? What do you like to do?” I laughed and replied, “I gave up my job completely. Now I walk and watch TV.” Simple answer. But honestly, there was a lot hidden in those few words. Walking has kept me going. What actually brought this entire conversation back to my mind recently was my brother-in-law visiting us. During his stay, he became completely fascinated with the...

A friend recently brought me a box full of lilies from their yard. What a lovely gift. Yesterday, my firstborn helped me plant them in the backyard. We spent some time digging, planting, and imagining the beautiful blooms that will hopefully greet us in the seasons to come. After we finished, he carried the empty boxes into the garage. "Why did you put those in here?" I asked. "They belong in the recycling bin." Without missing a beat, he replied, "Have you taken a look at your garage? You guys"—referring to his parents—"are hoarders who never discard anything, so I assumed you'd want to keep these boxes as well." Hmmmmm... Guilty as charged. His comment made me laugh, but it also made me think. As an immigrant from the Indian subcontinent, I arrived in this country over three decades ago with just two suitcases. Two suitcases contained everything I owned and everything I thought I might need for my new life. Today, if you were to peek into m...

  Nurturing and nourishing my soul. How? By walking, wandering, and wondering. Some people find therapy in a quiet room.  Others find it in a good book, a heartfelt conversation, or a favorite song.  I find mine outdoors, surrounded by nature. There is something incredibly healing about stepping outside and allowing my feet to lead the way.  Nature has a way of slowing me down. It reminds me that not everything needs to be rushed.  In a world that constantly demands more, faster, and better, nature simply exists—and somehow that is enough. And when I am wandering, I often find myself wondering, about the powers that be,    the politicians, the leaders, the decision-makers whose choices affect billions of lives, w ho decide the fate of the billions of us.  Do they ever stop to smell the flowers? Do they pause to admire the colors of a sunset? Do they notice the little things? I sometimes think that if they did, perhaps the world would be a...