Twelve years ago on twelfth day of the third month of the year I stepped off British Airways flight with two suitcases and an oversized carryon to be welcomed by my sister and cousin at Boston's Logan Airport.
Wow! Twelve years! Twelve tumultuous and terrific years! This calls for a celebration of some sorts and a recap of some sorts too.....
Twelve highlights for the twelve years (no particular order, except perhaps the 12th is exactly where I want it)......
- Completed Masters in Computer Science... resisted the urge to continue to do PhD.
- Travelled more in the last twelve, than the previous twelve years. Mostly within US, Asia and one in Europe.
- Held a job or two concurrently.
- Gained weight... lost weight... and finally learned live a healthy lifestyle.
- Made friends... lost friends... and finally learned to not get too close.
- Owned a house and a terrifically growing yard with flowers, fruits, vegetables and herbs. Shared it with two cats (literally).
- Killed one orchid... meticulously cared for seven others... and finally had three orchids rebloom.
- Owned a car... had some mishaps... one warning ticket... and several scratches and one bump on the car.
- Found a renewed passion for crafts like knitting, crocheting, stain glass, board games, movies and wine.
- Worked on varied technology platforms... and finally got sold on Microsoft technologies.
- Invested in the market, rode the wave of a successful IPO and its subsequent bust.
- and... finally... yes... lived my life my way!
As regards celebrations, I have not given it too much thought. But I am sure wine will be involved.