This year, on April 9th 2010, I am taking part in an all-night event on Brown University's campus for a great cause - the fight against cancer.
You might have heard of Relay For Life - the largest cancer-fighting movement in the world. More than 230 Relays will be happening throughout New England this year, and more than 5,000 nationwide in the USA.
My team and I will be cheering the cancer survivors who kick off the event by taking the first lap around the track. Then, everyone else will join in and the goal is to keep at least one member of our team on the track all night. Lighting the way will be hundreds of luminarias - lighted bags bearing the names of loved ones who have faced a cancer diagnosis, including our beloved Radha.
Relay is a time of reflection, a time to celebrate survivorship, and a time to pledge to take some kind of action to fight a disease that roughly 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with in their lifetime. It might be a pledge to wear sunscreen, avoid tanning beds, volunteer with the American Cancer Society to drive patients to and from lifesaving treatments, or remind my mom to get her annual mammogram.
As a Relay participant, I am committed to raising as much money as I can to help ensure that the American Cancer Society can continue to meet the demand for its programs and services for cancer patients and their caregivers - help finding clinical trials and health insurance, temporary lodging during treatment far from home, summer camps for children and teens with cancer, and much more.
I am proud to be part of Relay, and I'm hoping you find the cause to be as worthy as I do. If so, please make a donation today on my personal Web page. I would be so appreciative. Any amount helps.
Thank you for taking time to read this. Have a great day.
Click here to visit my personal page.
-Minoo
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thursday, December 17, 2009
My 2009 Summer
I planned a surprise visit home this summer and we were all excited to see mom's reaction and to celebrate their silver anniversary. But little did we all know that there was a big shock waiting for us.
June 19th - You and uncle were in Erode, and I woke you both early in the morning asking you if it was alright to make a surprise visit without telling mommy. You were hesitant in the beginning and with uncle's coaxing you agreed. We spent hours laying out a plan and discussing the possible ways to get Mommy to Chennai. Finally, a plan was laid out and arrangements made.
June 22nd - I landed in Chennai and Dad picked me up from the airport. We sneaked in silently and surprised Mummy and Veena as planned. We spent the whole day talking and laughing about their reactions and about how Uma aunty was so bad at keeping secrets and how to do a better job next time.
June 24th - The big day we were all waiting for. You, uncle, babuji, uma aunty and thatha came to Chennai. We spent the evening blowing balloons and decorating the house. We had a gala time and went to GRT for dinner. After a good satisfying meal we spent so much time taking photos in the hotel lobby. Little did we all know that this happiness was to end soon and this would be the last occasion we would celebrate together.
June 27th - We went to Kebab Court for dinner. This is a day to remember because this was the last day we took photos together.
July 3rd - We went out to a couple of places and finally I dropped you off at SMF to meet the ENT surgeon. I said I would come along with you inside to meet the doctor but as always you didn't want me to wait and sent me home. Till date I regret not having accompanied you aunty.
July 4th - The day hell broke loose in our house. The very first time I saw our family break down. We've been through tough times before but never have I seen our folks so upset. In fact, all we knew that day was that you had to go for a biopsy. You were scared that it was malignant and broke down and it was a chain reaction after that.
July 14th - The day of your open biopsy. I visited you in the hospital that evening and it was so painful to see you lying down there so dull. I've always seen you lively and enthusiastic and it hurt to see you in that condition.
July 16th - The morning you were discharged from the hospital after the open biopsy. I drove you back home carefully and slowly trying to avoid the bumps on the road. I don't remember having driven so cautiously before.
July 17th - The fatal day I collected the report from apollo. The day I drove back home with tearful eyes. The day I started praying earnestly and childishly wished that the lab technicians had made a mistake in your report.
July 20th - I left home to the airport late that night after getting your blessings and telling you to be bold. I never ever thought that I wouldn't see you again.
Your absence is felt day in and day out aunty. You are missed and you will be missed for eternity. Everyone says that when you were born God bestowed upon you a short life but I say, when we were all born he said that our happiness will be short-lived. That's why he's left us with this unbearable pain and suffering by separating you from us.
-Vidhya
June 19th - You and uncle were in Erode, and I woke you both early in the morning asking you if it was alright to make a surprise visit without telling mommy. You were hesitant in the beginning and with uncle's coaxing you agreed. We spent hours laying out a plan and discussing the possible ways to get Mommy to Chennai. Finally, a plan was laid out and arrangements made.
June 22nd - I landed in Chennai and Dad picked me up from the airport. We sneaked in silently and surprised Mummy and Veena as planned. We spent the whole day talking and laughing about their reactions and about how Uma aunty was so bad at keeping secrets and how to do a better job next time.
June 24th - The big day we were all waiting for. You, uncle, babuji, uma aunty and thatha came to Chennai. We spent the evening blowing balloons and decorating the house. We had a gala time and went to GRT for dinner. After a good satisfying meal we spent so much time taking photos in the hotel lobby. Little did we all know that this happiness was to end soon and this would be the last occasion we would celebrate together.
June 27th - We went to Kebab Court for dinner. This is a day to remember because this was the last day we took photos together.
July 3rd - We went out to a couple of places and finally I dropped you off at SMF to meet the ENT surgeon. I said I would come along with you inside to meet the doctor but as always you didn't want me to wait and sent me home. Till date I regret not having accompanied you aunty.
July 4th - The day hell broke loose in our house. The very first time I saw our family break down. We've been through tough times before but never have I seen our folks so upset. In fact, all we knew that day was that you had to go for a biopsy. You were scared that it was malignant and broke down and it was a chain reaction after that.
July 14th - The day of your open biopsy. I visited you in the hospital that evening and it was so painful to see you lying down there so dull. I've always seen you lively and enthusiastic and it hurt to see you in that condition.
July 16th - The morning you were discharged from the hospital after the open biopsy. I drove you back home carefully and slowly trying to avoid the bumps on the road. I don't remember having driven so cautiously before.
July 17th - The fatal day I collected the report from apollo. The day I drove back home with tearful eyes. The day I started praying earnestly and childishly wished that the lab technicians had made a mistake in your report.
July 20th - I left home to the airport late that night after getting your blessings and telling you to be bold. I never ever thought that I wouldn't see you again.
Your absence is felt day in and day out aunty. You are missed and you will be missed for eternity. Everyone says that when you were born God bestowed upon you a short life but I say, when we were all born he said that our happiness will be short-lived. That's why he's left us with this unbearable pain and suffering by separating you from us.
-Vidhya
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
சமர்ப்பணம்
அன்பும், அறிவும், அழகும்
கொடுத்த ஆண்டவன்
அக்கா உங்களின் ஆயுளை
நீட்டிக்க மறந்ததேன்
மரணத்தின் வலி எங்களில்
மறக்க முடியாததாய் ஆகட்டும்
பொருளையும், மனிதர்களையும்
சொந்தம் கொண்டாடியது போகட்டும்
பற்றும் பயமும் எங்களை விட்டு அழியட்டும்
பக்தியே வாழ்வின்
பரிமாணமாகட்டும்
- உமா
கொடுத்த ஆண்டவன்
அக்கா உங்களின் ஆயுளை
நீட்டிக்க மறந்ததேன்
மரணத்தின் வலி எங்களில்
மறக்க முடியாததாய் ஆகட்டும்
பொருளையும், மனிதர்களையும்
சொந்தம் கொண்டாடியது போகட்டும்
பற்றும் பயமும் எங்களை விட்டு அழியட்டும்
பக்தியே வாழ்வின்
பரிமாணமாகட்டும்
- உமா
உதிர்ந்த முத்து
அம்மா எனும் அற்புத ஆபரணத்தில்
ஆண்டவன் பதித்த நல் முத்துக்கள்
நான்கில்
உதிர்ந்திட்ட அழகிய நல் முத்தை
மூழ்கிக் தேடுகின்றோம்
துயரக்கடலில்
- சுசீலா
ஆண்டவன் பதித்த நல் முத்துக்கள்
நான்கில்
உதிர்ந்திட்ட அழகிய நல் முத்தை
மூழ்கிக் தேடுகின்றோம்
துயரக்கடலில்
- சுசீலா
பாசப்பறவைகள்
அன்பெனும் பாசக்கூட்டில்
அதிசய அம்மாவின் அரவணைப்பில்
பிறந்து வளர்ந்த பாசப்பறவைகள் நான்கு.
சிறகு முளைத்து தனித்தனி கூடு தேடிச்
சென்றாலும் , பாசமெனும் வலைபின்னி
அதில் மகிழ்ந்தன.
அண்டமெல்லாம் சுற்றினாலும்
அம்மாவின் அரவணைப்புக்காக
ஆண்டுதோறும் வந்திடும்
எங்கள் அக்கா பறவை.
இந்த ஆண்டும் அப்படி வந்திட்ட
அந்த நேசமிகு பறவை
தொலைந்த தன்சிறகைத் தேடி
எங்கோ சென்றது.
திரும்பி வரவேயில்லை. கண்டீரோ அதை ?
- சுசீலா
அதிசய அம்மாவின் அரவணைப்பில்
பிறந்து வளர்ந்த பாசப்பறவைகள் நான்கு.
சிறகு முளைத்து தனித்தனி கூடு தேடிச்
சென்றாலும் , பாசமெனும் வலைபின்னி
அதில் மகிழ்ந்தன.
அண்டமெல்லாம் சுற்றினாலும்
அம்மாவின் அரவணைப்புக்காக
ஆண்டுதோறும் வந்திடும்
எங்கள் அக்கா பறவை.
இந்த ஆண்டும் அப்படி வந்திட்ட
அந்த நேசமிகு பறவை
தொலைந்த தன்சிறகைத் தேடி
எங்கோ சென்றது.
திரும்பி வரவேயில்லை. கண்டீரோ அதை ?
- சுசீலா
அன்பு
அன்பு என்ன செய்யும் ?
ஆசை வைக்கும்.
இனிக்கும்.
அதிரவும் வைக்கவும்.
அனைத்துக்கும் மேலே எங்களை
அழவைத்தது - ஆயுள் மட்டும்
- சுசீலா
ஆசை வைக்கும்.
இனிக்கும்.
அதிரவும் வைக்கவும்.
அனைத்துக்கும் மேலே எங்களை
அழவைத்தது - ஆயுள் மட்டும்
- சுசீலா
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