Taking Stock

Here I am, on the brink of 2008, trying to reflect on my progress over the last 12 months: It has been good year in general for me personally; and except for some disturbing incidents here and there, it has not been terribly bad for us all. It was productive creatively, though if I had more time on my hand and the will to push myself to get more results, I could have done better. But what I could do given my drawbacks, it was not bad. All this is said, of course, in comparison to earlier year or two, which were less productive creatively. Two plays were produced this year: Hamlet and The King Stag; a certain definition was found to my painting activity, I managed to make contacts with several of my friends who I had lost contact with over all these years. That has been satisfying. In July I visited the place of my birth, met surviving members of family-that again has given me focus-and that has cleared certain long nursed conflicts within. On the home front my spouse has been the ever wonderful woman that she is, very understanding and supportive. (Towards the fag end of this year though, we did have some issues, but one hopes that this too will pass and things will be mended). My son, Mir has grown by yet another year ! He has been a source of wonder, the fundamental reason why I feel this satisfaction on a deeper, a more immediate level, although I admit that on that level reason is hardly necessary. January 2007, from the day Mr & Mrs Thomas Chase came calling, things have looked up. Considering that a bumpkin like me should deserve much less, all in all, powers that govern our lives have been benevolent , kind and generous this year. In deep gratitude then, I turn from this little time spent in reflecting on the year just gone by and look towards the future - Welcome 2009!