What could possibly be the best way to start the NEW YEAR? Wine could be one, of course. But I decided to go with a list. So with a good amount of Vino in me, I made a list of things I learned in 2023

I learned…

23. That my mum still believes I can produce a grandchild at 44. “Miracles Happen!” She said.

22. That I am a compulsive diary abuser. “You use a page each in every diary and then you move on,” said Udit as we fought over a brand new diary, again.

21. That patience and perseverance are virtues required to deal with the carpenter. Threat is counterproductive.

20. That I can get tired of flying and lugging my luggage around. Especially when it isn’t for work.

19. That good things do come to an end. They might not necessarily die of natural causes. They could be gassed out. Oxfam is case in point!

18. That people in power are inherently selfish and hypocrites. Beware, their bite is worse than their bark!

17. That subtitles do not automatically float in front of my eyes when I hear Malayalam.

16. That Ochre Sky Writing Workshop and Writing Circle exists. And what a find it has been!

15. That I am finding my Nirmal Anand—writing for pleasure, writing for oneself.

14. That (Chilean/Australian/Spanish) red wine is better than cosmopolitan!

13. That there is a joy in meeting school friends who have more or less remained the same. I set some sort of a record meeting classmates in different cities!

12. It is easy to let go if you have set your eyes on that one thing that is non-negotiable. Do I want that lamp or is this moment with Udit important? Simple.

11. That getting a health insurance and becoming EMI-free is important for inner peace.

10. That I can FINALLY drive the proactive, too-smart-for-me Tiago.

9. That working for a good boss is more important that working in high-paying job. The pay is an added bonus, of course!

8. That grief resurfaces every now and then; sometimes at the most unexpected times. The choice is then to remember the good things and feel proud or feel sad and sulk. With my dad I am simply unable to do the latter!

7. That dad is our guardian angel.

6. That I am not the best caregiver. But I can try.

5. That in the song “Mile sur mera tumharaa, to sur bane hamaraa….” The word “behke” in the line “Sur kee nadhiyaan har disha se behke saagar mein milay”…meant that the river flowed into the sea and not that the river flowed into the intoxicated sea. Every few years I have these eye opening revelations!

4. That I am not the nurturing types. So I have done away with the plants. The pots remain.

3. That I have good friends — big and little — and I will hold on to that.

2. That slow is a good pace to have.

1. That I love Udit a lot.

Not The Wife Material is now live. The story behind the name will be out soon. Until then… CHEERS & A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!