“You guys go ahead in the car. We are walking !!”
The announcement from my niece and her husband was made just as we were nearing Tirupathi.
“Yeah. We prefer to walk..” drawled my other niece .
We were together in one vehicle . and the thought that had been at the back of my mind from the time the Tirupathi trip was planned surfaced again. Do I dare to do something which in all these years I didn’t dare to attempt ? With acute arthritis in both legs, was it even possible that I could atlast do it ? or was I taking up something which I wouldn’t be able to fulfil? Can I make it this time ?
I don’t exactly remember when I made that ‘deal’ with God. Probably should have been when my nephew fell ill when he was in 10th standard.. so that makes it 23 years !! Twenty three long years gone by and I haven’t fulfilled my vow made to the Lord ? Shame on me. But then again there was a period when I was not on “talking terms with Him”!! but as time flew by and wounds healed , I made my Peace with Him!
We were dropped off at the base with shouts of “you guys take care of Chithi’, don’t climb too many steps at one stretch, buy soft drinks on the way, take it easy..
We four ( myself, my niece Sumita, my niece Uma and her husband Pushkar) started our climb. On any normal day to climb the two floors to my residence I huff and puff sometimes. Would I be able to do it ?
The climb started off exactly at 5.30 p.m. The first hundred steps were not so difficult . What with the kids constantly encouraging me … “we will stop after 25 steps chithi,” “ our next stop will be at the red pole there “ ,” have a drink chithi” After half an hour, I was panting and panicking. Would I be able to do it ? . There were so many people walking .. young boys and girls, newly married couples, old people. I was telling to myself that I should reduce my weight ( for the nth time) .
A man in his early forties (probably) who was walking along side us made a comment ( ofcourse in good intention ) ….” At this age madam, you should take it easy. Don’t try to compete with your children in climbing at one stretch !! “ I gave him a withering look and continued my climb.
The view as we inched our way to the top was absolutely breathtaking . We would stop every twenty minutes or so to enquire at one of those shops selling soft drinks and water, how many steps more !!
Atlast we were near the top but surprisingly my knees hadn’t given away by then. The last stretch of climb was the most difficult for me but then I made it
The others in the family were waiting for us when we reached the temple at 9.45 p.m. It was another long wait before we could finally have a darshan of the Lord. It was wonderful .
We were famished by then and managed to gulp down some dinner at midnight . We had to be up again at 3 in the morning for the morning darshan.
It was a truly wonderful experience .. the climb especially .
Was it my imagination that I felt the Lord smiling at me when I finally could have his darshan?
On my return to the hotel after the next days’ darshan I triumphantly shot off sms’ to my friends …" I DID IT. Many of them responded back - “ we didn’t know you had suicidal tendencies “!!
But I am happy I did it and am already planning my next trip!!!
Cheers
Bhooma
Have posted a couple of pictures in my private album.
The announcement from my niece and her husband was made just as we were nearing Tirupathi.
“Yeah. We prefer to walk..” drawled my other niece .
We were together in one vehicle . and the thought that had been at the back of my mind from the time the Tirupathi trip was planned surfaced again. Do I dare to do something which in all these years I didn’t dare to attempt ? With acute arthritis in both legs, was it even possible that I could atlast do it ? or was I taking up something which I wouldn’t be able to fulfil? Can I make it this time ?
I don’t exactly remember when I made that ‘deal’ with God. Probably should have been when my nephew fell ill when he was in 10th standard.. so that makes it 23 years !! Twenty three long years gone by and I haven’t fulfilled my vow made to the Lord ? Shame on me. But then again there was a period when I was not on “talking terms with Him”!! but as time flew by and wounds healed , I made my Peace with Him!
We were dropped off at the base with shouts of “you guys take care of Chithi’, don’t climb too many steps at one stretch, buy soft drinks on the way, take it easy..
We four ( myself, my niece Sumita, my niece Uma and her husband Pushkar) started our climb. On any normal day to climb the two floors to my residence I huff and puff sometimes. Would I be able to do it ?
The climb started off exactly at 5.30 p.m. The first hundred steps were not so difficult . What with the kids constantly encouraging me … “we will stop after 25 steps chithi,” “ our next stop will be at the red pole there “ ,” have a drink chithi” After half an hour, I was panting and panicking. Would I be able to do it ? . There were so many people walking .. young boys and girls, newly married couples, old people. I was telling to myself that I should reduce my weight ( for the nth time) .
A man in his early forties (probably) who was walking along side us made a comment ( ofcourse in good intention ) ….” At this age madam, you should take it easy. Don’t try to compete with your children in climbing at one stretch !! “ I gave him a withering look and continued my climb.
The view as we inched our way to the top was absolutely breathtaking . We would stop every twenty minutes or so to enquire at one of those shops selling soft drinks and water, how many steps more !!
Atlast we were near the top but surprisingly my knees hadn’t given away by then. The last stretch of climb was the most difficult for me but then I made it
The others in the family were waiting for us when we reached the temple at 9.45 p.m. It was another long wait before we could finally have a darshan of the Lord. It was wonderful .
We were famished by then and managed to gulp down some dinner at midnight . We had to be up again at 3 in the morning for the morning darshan.
It was a truly wonderful experience .. the climb especially .
Was it my imagination that I felt the Lord smiling at me when I finally could have his darshan?
On my return to the hotel after the next days’ darshan I triumphantly shot off sms’ to my friends …" I DID IT. Many of them responded back - “ we didn’t know you had suicidal tendencies “!!
But I am happy I did it and am already planning my next trip!!!
Cheers
Bhooma
Have posted a couple of pictures in my private album.
Deepavali - and a day well spent .
Posted 19th October 2009 at 06:04 AM by Bhooma
I had been wanting to do it since ages but kept procrastinating . So finally on Deepavali day, I decided that I would visit the Good Life Orphanage at Tambaram.
After our last Anniversary visit to the orphanage, I never made it.. though I had resolved that I would make a visit atleast once a month.
This year I decided I would try and spend sometime with the children at the orphanage.
The orphanage has now moved to new premises , a very airy clean building and the number of inmates has risen to 130.
They are looking for funds to help them run it better. It does appear that they do get funds , but it may not suffice .
But more than the monetary part, what tugged at my heart was how lonely the children looked and how much they look forward to someone visit them .
When I asked Mr Bhaskar what the children did for entertainment, he said , they watch TV sometimes . The girls who are employed there may not be necessarily inclined to play with the children or spend quality time with them.
When I asked him if I could get some games for them to play, he gave a sad smile and responded back – “provided you are willing to come and play with them.”
I have made up my mind that I would visit the orphanage and spend time with the children. But from this large IL group, I also need like minded volunteers who will come with me .
I know everybody is busy, all of us have our busy lives, but would there be atleast a couple of them who would be willing t make some sacrifice and accompany me ? atleast twice a month ?
When I go with requests for donations to many people, I hear them say .. “thanakku minjithaan dharmam”… Pray tell me – what is enough ? if you wait for the day when you will give away only what is surplus (in your opinion) that may never come. Instead , why don’t you just give up something now and see how much pleasure it gives you ?
Anybody out there who is willing to walk that mile with me on this ?
Cheers
bhooma
After our last Anniversary visit to the orphanage, I never made it.. though I had resolved that I would make a visit atleast once a month.
This year I decided I would try and spend sometime with the children at the orphanage.
The orphanage has now moved to new premises , a very airy clean building and the number of inmates has risen to 130.
They are looking for funds to help them run it better. It does appear that they do get funds , but it may not suffice .
But more than the monetary part, what tugged at my heart was how lonely the children looked and how much they look forward to someone visit them .
When I asked Mr Bhaskar what the children did for entertainment, he said , they watch TV sometimes . The girls who are employed there may not be necessarily inclined to play with the children or spend quality time with them.
When I asked him if I could get some games for them to play, he gave a sad smile and responded back – “provided you are willing to come and play with them.”
I have made up my mind that I would visit the orphanage and spend time with the children. But from this large IL group, I also need like minded volunteers who will come with me .
I know everybody is busy, all of us have our busy lives, but would there be atleast a couple of them who would be willing t make some sacrifice and accompany me ? atleast twice a month ?
When I go with requests for donations to many people, I hear them say .. “thanakku minjithaan dharmam”… Pray tell me – what is enough ? if you wait for the day when you will give away only what is surplus (in your opinion) that may never come. Instead , why don’t you just give up something now and see how much pleasure it gives you ?
Anybody out there who is willing to walk that mile with me on this ?
Cheers
bhooma
Total Comments 14
Comments
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Dear Deepa
Thank you so much for your quick response . I am so heartened by so many responses .
I too cried Deepa after I returned .. especially the image of the single eyed child who told me he would like to paint and the dumb child who gestured to me that I should bring him painting books . Thats what made me to write this blog and throw aside some of my selfishness and wanting to go and spend some quality time with these kids . Please give me a weeks' time. I will coordinate with then orphanage and get back to you
God Bless
BhoomaPosted 20th October 2009 at 05:13 AM by Bhooma
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Definitely will wait for you to come back so that i can be of little help to those in need.
Thanks a ton.
With Regards
DeepaPosted 20th October 2009 at 06:40 AM by deraj -
Dear Bhooma aunty,
I sincerely appreciate the efforts and the enthusiasm you take in giving these children the happiness the deserve, on each of your visit. It is very painful to see their suffering and there is this element that keeps drawing you back to them.Posted 20th October 2009 at 08:51 AM by sigmabeta -
Dear Bhooma aunty,
Its such a noble thought of spending some quality time with the children.
I would also love to join you for the Orphanage visit and also contribute financially for the same. I will be coming to Chennai by Dec so hopefully will join you in your visits
Regards,
PremsudhaPosted 21st October 2009 at 04:16 AM by Prem.S
