Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Am knee deep in numbers

And after a managerial day (people management is for the Buddha alone!), it is such a relief. I am an accidental finance type. Even here, the less literal aspects of numbers interest me - like the underpinnings of why numbers end up the way they do AND the interconnection. The world of finance is still one where you can predict something and get the thrill of good deduction when you do see that result - like a low repaying capacity remains that despite how it is cut, diced and distributed, you math/derivative/investment banker types!

Quite a switch this, from a childhood that had a consistent calling. I was one of those kids who never changed their mind on what I wanted to be. Was the one child who stood up last, among the 'other miscellaneous' category in class, when the teacher asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. Can you believe they did that?! Do they still do that in schools? I hope not.

But my mind was super made up - a Vet....not the vietnam variety but an animal doctor. I devoured James Herriot and to date, can happily curl up with old friends from those stories.....have to visit his Yorkshire and I am sure I will go nuts in a way only Herriot fans will understand. I was devastated when he died in 1995 - have written him fan email, hoping to get a response as a teenager. Yes, Hannah Montana pales before my teenage crush! :-D

Life happened and it was not the done thing for women to become vets in Trichy. Fought the good fight and lost....shall always be an animal rights person to death, even if not a qualified vet. Who knows, in today's times, I could go back to school at 50 (30 years from now, wink, wink!) and become one in my second career!

The numbers substitute somewhat. One of my favourite (if immature) lines was "Can't stand people, animals don't need to talk to communicate beautifully!" I can stand people better now...some days, my tolerance levels amaze me (and the people around me!). So after a tough people management day, am immersed in numbers, rupee anna paisa and LOVING the non-attention grabbing nature of the exercise. My boss's eyes will bug out to see these but hey, that is another week! The three day weekend and fun visit coming up with friends from out of town shall take care of me before that!

Signing off in spreadsheet heaven....g'night!

2 comments:

starry-eyed said...

have fun over the wkend:)

Never knew that abt you...that you wanted to be a vet. I was one of the oddities who never knew what I wanted to be...still don't! Except for an exhibition essay in third grade, where I wrote about wanting to be an actress. A horrified teacher made me rub it out and write doctor!!!

Have been a number of things so far, enjoyed each role and avatar, and look forward to many more. Maybe it's better this way,lol!

Anonymous said...

It is useful to try everything in practise anyway and I like that here it's always possible to find something new. :)