Saturday, August 22, 2009

Run for cure

It was last year when I saw a big crowds of people braving the rain and running/walking on the Yonge Street.As I watched them from my balcony dry and warm while they were out there in cold and rain for a cause they believed in,for a second I was ashamed that I wasn't there.I told myself next year I will be running with those people.Well, I probably can't run but for sure will walk :) . I have been bad at keeping my fitness goals and don't think my body can take the physical exertion of a run.But still I will walk and do my part in finding a cure for a disease no woman should ever get.

Yes I am talking about 'CIBC Run for Cure' . The money raised from this single day event is spent in various activities related to Breast Cancer.Finding a cure, awareness, and support.
Here are more details of this event here.

Fortunately cancer hasn't touched anyone in my family..(knock on wood).But I have seen both my parents undergo major surgeries, and know the pain the family members have to go through first hand. And if I can help several thousand families from that pain I would consider my life worth it.

I had made up my mind, but dint know where to start, where to enrol. At work while having lunch with my regular lunch group I mentioned I wanted to be part of the run this year and there you go they said many groups were formed at work and I could be part of any group. And in a few days, a religious runner from IT was starting a team like he did every year and sent me mail to join his team and voila there I was part of his team.

Now comes the money part. Either I could pay $40 registration or raise $150 . I told him I was gonna pay $40 and register coz I am not very good at soliciting donations. He said, "Give it a try..if you cant raise 150 you can still pay 40 and register".I reluctantly said OK.And another reason I said ok was , a part of $40 registration goes towards administration cost and a part of it goes to the research fund.Whereas any money raised as donation will mostly go towards research.

I have to admit, I suck at these things, cant ask anyone for money for any cause, lest they think of me as someone taking advantage of the friendship/acquaintance.But I still am doing it for a cause that is much above me.So, dear friends, please sponsor me for the run, here is where you can do it
https://www.cibcrunforthecure.com/html/p.asp?t=3401708&l=1

If you are wondering how much, any amount is fine $1 or $10 . Or the money you spend on a coffee, on a muffin or on a doughnut.Any amount is just fine. For what is worth your coffee/muffin/doughnut will probably find a cure for breast cancer, or provide support to someone already suffering or provide awareness that will help women being detected earlier.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Journey of Life - And the birdies flew away!!!!

If you have been reading my blog you already know that a pigeon decided to use a pot in my balcony to lay its eggs and the eggs have hatched too. Here are part 1 and part 2



After almost a week that the eggs hatched, the pigeon that wouldn't leave their side even for a second was gone. I hardly saw it then later realised it was out trying to find food. And I wonder how the pigeon survived for almost 3 weeks without food.It din't leave the eggs and the little ones even for a second.hmmm..I wont know if it went out at night though.Ha, I sometimes think its so hard in the pigeon world, almost every mom is a single-mom. I wonder where the dad of the little birdies is??? Maybe busy with another female pigeon ;o)

The pigeons were growing everyday and the pot was getting small for them.The little hairy birdies were now growing feathers.I have to say the two little pigeons are very different. One is brave, doesn't want to sit in the pot, is very eager to set out and venture the world on its own , while the other one, was cool, never tried to get out of the pot. The adventurous one did somehow jump off the pot and sat behind the pot .



A couple of days later I couldn't see it. I was so worried, wondered if in its strong urge to venture out, did it fell off the balcony, I looked around and peeked into neighbors balcony and lo it was taking a stroll in their balcony.The other one was still in the pot, dint bother to give its sibling company.



We were away for almost a week. First thing when we came back, I rushed to balcony to see how the little birdies were doing. I saw them both out of the pot.Wondered what made the adventurous one change its mind and come back into our balcony.I peeked in to see, the neighbors had removed all the storage boxes they had in their balcony behind which the little pigeon was hiding.For no lack of privacy, looks like it returned back to my balcony.


One thing I did notice is my balcony was now filled with pigeon poop. I have no idea if it was just those two young pigeons or they were having party while we were away!! The little birdies had grown quite a bit and gave me a dirty look every time I went to balcony as if I was walking into their home uninvited. Looks like mother pigeon forgot to tell that we decided to share the balcony, huh the younger generation!!

A few days later I saw the siblings fight, and there would be suddenly sound of chirping, and I rushed out to see, it was fight for food. the mom was there and both the little ones were fighting to getting bigger share of food.I once heard D talking in balcony and wondered if he was on phone.As I closely noticed, he was admonishing the little pigeons and was asking them not to fight with each other. I couldn't help smile. It is so true that if you live with someone long enough you will end up like them. D used to make fun of me every time I spoke to animals or plants , saying a screw in my top floor was a little loose and lo today he was doing just the same :)


I guess the sibling affection is the same in all species, through the fights, the two birdies would cuddle in the pot which is no longer big enough to hold them both.I couldnt help but smile as this reminded of my own siblings :)

A couple of days later, I went out in the balcony and saw 4 pigeons on the balcony partition, looks like the new pigeons did finally learn to fly. And looked like the older pigeons were assisting them in their flight lessons. This was the last pic I took of the pigeons and after this day I havent seen them again.



All that remains is a balcony filled with pigeon poop.At times I miss those fellas, miss talking to them. They must be some where in this big bad world following the unending life cycle. Now I know how our parents feel, when we move out and leave our rooms empty. However hard it is , it is fact of life, kids fly away to live their own life and all parents can do is let them go and wish they will do good for themselves.
And as I stand in the empty balcony I left like a parent whose kids had flew away.It was a short relationship but I missed them nonetheless, wonder what I would do when my own kids(when I have them!!!) will move out after a much longer time.Now I know what my parents must have felt when I argued with them to move out of the city to find my own path, now I feel what they must have gone through when they saw me off the first time I flew out of the country. Am I emotional that those pigeons flew away, maybe not,whats making me emotional is the realization of the fact that I did the same and my kids will do the same.But thats life I guess and it has go on...