Many use paper planner or e-calendar to manage their daily schedule. These planners or calendars show every day with the same height and width. For the past few years, January feels longer than December; even the short month of February seems longer than November. A year feels more like a downhill slope, as the year progresses, it progresses faster. Such is my sentiment as I realize it is already November and people start talking about year-end already. As we mature, we think of time differently.
We think of many things differently over the years. Recently, I watched the live concert of Richard Clayderman. I love his “Ballade pour adeline” which has been the opening theme of a few of my favorite radio programs in my childhood. I relish the opportunity to watch him live and fulfill one of the bucket lists. But seeing him, as an old man with skills far from his peak, cracks my childhood memory of his perfect image of a handsome, quiet and talented pianist.
Some empty nesters ditch their home to travel around the world. We are not there yet, instead, we spent a few days in Maui. The resort gave the two of us a two-suite bedroom with a full kitchen, a bathtub, a shower, and a freestanding tub. Our initial reaction was to call our friends and our children; that of course did not happen. We had a great time in beach hopping, in snorkelling, in shopping and in meals.
The sunrise at Haleakala summit was otherworldly beautiful. We were there an hour before sunrise, when the sky was dark and full of stars. It was cold; and was much colder with the windchill. The crater and an ocean of clouds stood between us and the horizon. We could not quite make them out as it was so dark. On the horizon, there was that strange combination of greenish, reddish, orange and yellow color, not dissimilar to Aurora. At that moment of sunrise, it was surreal and it was beautiful as the native started singing Hawaiian songs, then we gradually saw the crater and the cloud in between us and the sunrise.
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Gandhi
An Autobiography: The story of my experiments with Truth
I found this book in a used book sale. Autobiography is not among my favorite genre. Gandhi was on the headline often in my childhood, I don’tquite remember the headlines, but it was quite miraculous how he led India to be independent from the then British Empire without a bloody battle.
Many remember his Satyagraha (active nonviolent resistance) . This autobiography does not cover much his political journey. He recounts his younger days, his family, his early marriage, his relationship with his wife, his study in London, his experiment with his diet, his experience with different religions, his experience in South Africa fighting against discrimination and fighting for the indentured Indians.
Albert Einstein said of Mahatma Gandhi “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked up on this earth”. How true!
In as much as I admire his achievement, I am even more inspired by his persistence to the goodness, his experiment with truth, his respect and love of all the people around him, his uncompromised level of ethics and integrity as he fought for the justice of the poor,
It has been such a treat to read a few pages every night, and see the world in his eyes. It is absolutely humbling and inspiring.
Had he worn a different body?
By Brad Ashmore
I am so happy that my ex-worker published his first book. He used to live within walking distance and we ran into each other in the neighborhood, including one time we ran into each other at Stanford Shopping Mall busy shopping on Christmas Eve. He retired early and we met up one time, he had a lot of ideas and projects.
His first book made up of 21 tales, each of healthy themes. He wrote with creativity and originality; and the tale often has unexpected endings. I enjoyed reading each story.
oliviatamccue 
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