Relationships that are sacrosanct

And I am not talking the obvious here - husband, family, children, friends, maids/driver/home helpers of all kinds...of course people come first! I am talking of the daily/monthly/yearly other relationships that add meaning to my life.

My library - online, well-stocked, owner of the same wave length who is angel enough to get books delivered home (and picked up!) for close to free. The library is set up to ask for recommendations and then when they procure the book, to give it to the recommender first. Can this get any cooler? Way to go, Easy Library.

Satish, the Pest Control guy - because without his monthly herbal intervention, my quality of life would equal cowering on top of surfaces, terrified of cockroaches. I can stand and walk because of you - thank you!

The neighbourhood store that delivers - Cannot say more than THANK YOU....you know what you mean to me. Mere words can't do justice!

My neighbour as day care supporter - my neighbour rocks in general. She especially rocks as my pillar of day care, when I am running that 10 minutes late. Our kids are good friends and I will never forget her coming up with a cup of tea the day I was sick, husband was in hospital, maid was on leave, it was son's birthday and I had no day care for him (my closest day care option here starts at 1 year and 1 day) and it was still only morning. I burst out crying because something nice had happened! I said people come first but people cum carpoolers/daycarers come before that! :-D

My car pool - the reason I can work and remain sane without worrying about my kids' safety. And my constant source of fun early in the morning and the stress buster after a morning's worth of work. The kids rock and their parents rock more! :-D

The internet connection - I will be of no use without that. And will know nothing, see nothing, do nothing....'no use' summarizes me quite nicely without the internet.

My garden - This list is in no particular order of preference. Because my garden cannot be categorized. To me, it is part kitchen and all wellness. I get excited by the little birds that come and bathe in my lotus pot (yes, it is a terrace garden, so lotus pot has to do the work of a lotus pond!), the pomegranate fruit that is uneaten by the squirrels in its pot (the 10th one from that plant and the only one to get to any level of fruithood), the rain lillies (I knew it was going to rain two days before it did, people!), my frangipani flowers competing with the scent of the Raat ki Rani...no I am not talking of myself here...I have the whole blog for THAT!

My work - again, in no order of preference, it gives my time and life meaning. It is non-corporate in look and friendliness and corporate in feel (professional and wonderful to work in, most days!). I quit work when I left the US 7 years ago. Meaning corporate, well paying, over worked, under excited career. To be fair, all the companies helped make me who I am and I do appreciate that. Just not enough to keep at those jobs for life. Then a few doors shut on me....I groped, diaper changed and struggled to stay sane. Began volunteering with an NGO, found there were options for me.....got the CFO-on-wheels idea, kicked myself for waiting for a thunderbolt like that and began working. Part-time and a consultant at first and then part-time in name, full time in nature. I struggle all days to keep the balance going, miss my trips to bookstores in the middle of the week day (that is when you can browse in peace....no kids, no crowds) and meeting friends for lunch at a whim. Would not change it for anything in the whole wide world. It is better to wish for a month of nothing to do than to get it! :-D

My organic veggie person - who takes me whether I am regular or not, refuses to sell me palak every week ('too much uric acid is not good for you!'), who works directly with farmers and helps them help themselves, gets me organic atta enriched with soya and fibre, patiently holds my hand when I rant about the lack of good lavender plants and ask for parsley seeds (I found both!) and gives me all kind of information just because. I love you man!

Life in India rocks, with all its downs and mostly ups. Keeps life interesting at all times....Namaskara and g'night!