FRIENDS

There is feeling of something missing. I think I know and therefore the Friends pic on the blog.

Looking back over a decade, and where I am now, I simply can't find my close pals aka best friends along with me...the gals who I always used to run to when I needed someone to talk to, those only from whom I take an advice, those on whom I used to depend without any sort of give-take pressures.

I can't believe it has happened, quietly though, days and months have passed since I have had my heart to heart talks with my close friends (I can count them on my fingers, but of course, a person needs only one and not too many). Where are those pals who you want to share your joy, happiness and life's best moments with. When have we started to become so materialistic that the very event that should give happiness seems so shallow and unreal.

Social networking has helped us to be in contact with numerous people who have passed through our life's journey but this has not helped to maintain the sanctity of old friendships. There used to be days in my teenage years where I used the pen and paper to write multiple page letters to my close friends (that helped me with my hobby of stamp collecting). It did change in a few years when I started using the email to send and receive instant notes. Wow it was a great feeling to be connected, almost real time. Then came the group mails and social networking - daily we find ourselves inundated with numerous messages and posts that we barely find the time to skim them over. Now I find myself guilty when I think about my close pals (I still hope they do not berate my for my tardiness) - I end up thinking twice before I send them a message or pick the phone to call them.

I am not sure if this is some mid life crisis that is causing me to be so emotional. I do not know....I just know that I miss my friends and I need them back as a constant part of my life. Best friends, parents, siblings and so on, in that order !!!

Miami Heat

Hey to all of you who really thought I might start spouting quotes and thoughts about the NBA championships and the teams with huge amounts of adrenaline in their bodies.

To be more precise about my title, it is just an after effect of my recent visit to Miami and its hot spots :). But it is true, the place has a steamy effect of a sauna room along with a muggy wind in mornings and soothing breeze in the evenings.

There have been numerous visits to all the main sightseeing places in US but to be frank, the Miami visit was the best of all. It is not about the number of tourist spots or anything - I just feel that we just let go of our daily stress and routine when we stepped on the flight to Fort Lauderdale. And that really helped us to take each day as it came. We did not have a set plan or itinerary. Just knew the cities we wanted to visit in South Florida and during the waking minute of each day, we would just pick up a place we would visit that day.

Near and dear friends :) said why plan five vacation days in Miami - what is in Miami!?! Now after coming back knowing that five days was not enough, I have a reply to all of them. Enjoy every moment of your life without stress. When under stress, stop for a minute, step back and think about a lovely moment in life. Then proceed to do what you were supposed to do, at that point you will feel refreshed and surprisingly lighter. You may even finish your task in hand without even fussing about it.

The vacation was a wonderful stress buster....had to lug my laptop around but happy that I did not use it for checking my office mails. Lets vote for a stress free world :)