HandaPalooza

Forecasting

I like to follow Nouriel Roubini. I've watched him since..well, since he had hair. That worries me a bit since cousin Charles told me that he personally decided on bald when he found he coudn't both think and grow hair- ) And, we know that Roubini thinks a lot about the economy.....

Anyway, Roubini seems most right most often- Even tho the joke about economists is a bit true- they would be more valuable if they only had one hand- Cause they're always saying on the one hand....but on the other hand...

http://www.businessinsider.com/roubini-2010-8

And I agree with him that govt regulation is necessary to curtail personal greed- That is unless/until greed becomes less of a cultural value

http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2010/08/roubini-gordon-gekko-reborn.html

The Ice Man Cometh

An update: Eric called us Saturday night to say that he had a broken collarbone_the unexpected result of tackling a snowman that turned out to be solid ice. Who would have thought? Anyway, the x-rays showed a big displacement of the bone so the doctor recommended surgery, and Eric was in enough pain not to argue. That got his parents headed back to Ohio.

We arrived in Columbus on Tuesday-altho  it might have been mistaken for Fargo, North Dakota. Columbus is not supposed to have real winter snow-just a token dusting. But the day we arrived Columbus had had a couple of days of near blizzard snows. It  was/is cold, and the highway north of Columbus was closed after a 40 car pile-up-

We were relieved to see that Eric was pale but (carefully) ambulatory. We got better drugs for the pain and he slept. The surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday and Eric's profs have allowed him to complete midterms on a flexible schedule. So- I think we all feel better!

And, we have met some of his friends who have been keeping an eye on him and helping a bit when needed.   Reminds me of that Beatles song......

Christmas 2009

This is a quiet Christmas which followed a hectic fall season. This year we took Sara to college in September, then visited Ma in Delhi in November, and Pawan has been on several business trips. Both Eric and Sara are here with us in Lux and we had originally thought of taking a road trip- but the weather's been terrible, arctic cold, with lots of snow, shutting airports and making even walking outside not much fun. So......imagine.

We have had a quiet Christmas.   Nice.

Had Christmas cookies with neighbors, played Scrabble, talked to our juniors. Talked to our brothers and sisters. Sang christmas eve carols at our church.

I am reading a book by Christina Baldwin-Storycatcher- The premise is that we all have stories to tell- but in this digital world of constant connection, we seldom take the time to intentionally tell our story and listen to those of others. And that that prevents us from recognizing/acknowledging the meaning of our experience. 

She may be right. I am fascinated by good storytelling. And whether it is family tales, biblical history, or just a good heart to heart, a narrative does seem to help me find my way-

Wishing you all a meaningful holiday season- and as the bible says Peace on Earth to Men of Goodwill.

India new and old

Recently back from a visit to Pawans neighbor hood and family home in Delhi- and feeling well, the American Indians would call it 'somehow'.

Nostalgic for the time when I first visited and we would sit on rope cots in front of the house and visit with neighbors passing by.For the evenings when neighborhood children would play cricket in the alley-and if the ball ended up on someone's roof- a kid was welcome to go get it. Nostalgic for the pleasure of opening the gate at the back of the tiny patio-and finding a cow patiently waiting for Ma to provide leftovers . For the garlands of jasmine that ladies put in their hair on special occasions,for the bullock carts on the main street which would process unhurriedly despite the horns of buses.I am nostalgic for the stray marigold garland draped on any imposing tree-in recognition of the sacred. I am even nostalgic for a certain acceptance of imperfection- of evolution.

BUT---for sure the India which our newest family member inherits is going to be different-

Delhis streets are filled with cars, a few scooters, buses, and bicycle rickshaws- not bullock carts. The best transportation option in town is the overhead Metro- very comparable to the London Metro. (1 billion riders since its inception) A thirty year project memorializing Hindu culture has been completed on the outskirts of Delhi. It is thoroughly beautiful and sometimes compared to the TajMahal. The city is engaged in determined effort to clean-up litter and greenlandscape before the Asian games in 2010.

One notices many fewer homeless on the streets- the govt has issued ration cards for food to many.Nope,India is nothing like your neighborhood-yet. The sidewalks are still rough,street signs rare, the traffic 'laws'  mere suggestions,in our neighborhood water is only on in the pipes for 3 hours a day, and for many entrepreneurs their shop is still carried entirely on their bicycle.

But,I have heard that by 2030 India's GDP is forecast to equal that of the USA! Welcome to the new world Darsh!

Love

The signs of love

should be as clear

As when you look

into a mirror.

And, as an image,

Come to you

Because you're

merely being you.

courtesy of LovePoems.com

Truth

It takes two to speak the truth_

One to speak_ and another to hear.   

Henry Thoreau

Odds and Ends

It is well and truly fall now. Sara is at Ohio State University for her freshman year. I have pulled this years geraniums from the beds after a heavy frost last week,neighbor children are confining their biking/skating to after school hours. And the grocery store has had its annual wine fair-so we could all stock up our cellars. So....I must say goodbye to another season.But not before adding a few memories to those of the summer.

Lux Animations is a part of the Summer in the City events sponsored by the Lux government. It is a particular delight-of street muscians, puppeteers, and the most remarkable stilt-walkers I have ever imagined. see the album on the right.

Then we had the pleasure of two groups of friends visiting-three of Eric's friends from Ohio via Hungary,and three of Pawans cousins from Vancouver and London. Eric's friends were here in time for the Schuberfoire- carnival. Sara had a great time with them at the 'fun house'_ and show them some of the nightlife downtown.(I suggested she take them to a club- but she said the dress code  was dress and heels and the 'boys' said unfortunately they had brought neither;-)  We enjoyed their visit-however brief.They left with an exceptionally lovely Luxembourg bouquet -see above.

birthdays

Happy Birthday 57

This year has seemed a bit slow- perhaps a necessary foot surgery set the pace. In any case, I was prepared to let this birthday go by unremarked.But, I found that I was surprised by a number of birthday greetings from friends and family - and that is tooo nice to forgo.
A birthday is really a chance for a 'shout out' that "I see you_ And I'm glad you're in my world"
Dear Ones_ The feeling is mutual. Thanks

Ladies get-away

I went with a couple of friends to visit Nancy, France in August. The destination was close enough to do in a day- and far enough that none of us had visited before. Such a lovely day! The main square in Nancy was originally built in the 17and 18th century by a Duke who had aspirations to the throne of France.He did not succeed, but his aspirations leave an extrordinarily beautiful city- which also is a center of the beau arts and art deco. We took the tourist train around the city, followed by lunch, and a little window shopping. I would love to go again and take a boat on the river. see Nancy photoalbum

Welcome back to the Handa blog...

To those who ocassionally follow the Handa's ramblings, I apologize for the long delay in posting.
A glitch in communication had prevented new posts to this blog-However we have now worked through the problem and are delighted to be able to update some of the events in our lives over the spring.

 This has been Sara's year- or at least her spring. Her varsity basketball team went to the NECIS championship playoffs and brought back second place. Sara has always been good under the basket and with outside shots- but she has not been a confident ball handler. So Pawan and I really had to grin when in one of the tight games, she came pounding down the floor with a pack of opponents after the ball, and executed a great lay-up! We tell her that she can't anymore say 'but I can't dribble'_

She made it through the dreaded International Baccalaureate finals too.-Quite respectably,actually. 32. Once again she had some doubts_ I think she is still wondering how she got a 5 in math and chemistry....

     Finals were followed immediately by prom.Don't ask why prom got stuffed into the same 3 weeks as finals,Ireland with girlfriends,senior trip and graduation. This group of seniors seems to enjoy cliffhangers- But Prom did actually occur- and was enjoyed by parents who shared a bottle of cremant  while previewing and congratulating each other on the group we sponsored.
SARA.............................................................................................

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Happy Trails- We will miss you next year-

but we're pretty sure OSU will enjoy its newest Handa buckeye.

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