Long Walks On Leafy Streets |
11/10/24 |
Kamala Harris, The Yard at Howard University, Nov 6, 2024 |
What a year!
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McMillan Reservoir, Washington, DC |
I prefer to live a simple life, as much as I can. As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:25-26). |
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Bay St, Nassau, Bahamas |
So here I was, admirer of Gandhi, Tolstoy, and Ramana Maharshi, on a vacation in the Bahamas at a resort. We went there in June because Nicole wanted to something very special for her mother on her 70th birthday. Since we didn't know anything about the place, she booked with a travel agent who recommended a resort. We stayed in "resorts" when we went to India in 2010 on a late honeymoon but this was a real resort, with many swimming pools, restaurants, casino, tennis courts, an actual golf course suited for professionals, etc., It was the most lavish and expensive place I have ever been in and took some adjusting. For example I figured out a way to limit expenses by eating a big buffet meal in the morning and eating lighter meals or surviving on snacks the rest of the day. |
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Cable Beach, Nassau, Bahamas |
The best part of the trip, was of course, being on the beach. Everyone enjoyed that part, especially Prashant. He was able to see sea turtles and schools of fish from close quarters in the clear water. They had a portion of the beach for the resort guests and chairs all over the place. We spent a lot of time just lounging. I think the reason the beach has such a hold on all of us is because the vastness of the ocean beckons of something beyond ourselves. Especially during twilight hours and at sunrise when it was mostly empty one felt a great sense of peace. |
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Derwood, Maryland |
I also watched some of the Euro 24 soccer games during the week we were in the Bahamas. Prashant is starting to enjoy playing soccer and he is playing with a team at school. He also enjoys playing with his cousin brothers. One of the games we watched was the Italy - Croatia game in which Italy scored a last minute goal to win. I was rooting for Croatia in that game and Prashant was able to see how much passion goes into a soccer game. At the same time, it is a lesson in life as well, where you learn to take the wins and the losses with equanimity while striving passionately.
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2024 Anacostia trail, Bladensburg, MD |
Apart from our trip to Bahamas it was a wonderful summer in many ways. The highlight was Prashant and I going on a camping trip to the Assateague Islands and a trip to the Shenandoah mountains to watch the Perseid meteor shower. We were able to get up early and watch the sunrise, go biking on the Island, play minigolf and visit Ocean city. It was our first camping trip. Sleeping by the ocean, listening to the hum of the ocean and the crashing of the waves, I was overwhelmed at the same time as inspired by this vast boundless energy of the ocean. Then looking at the stars in the pre-Dawn darkness I was again inspired by the vastness of the universe that inspired generations of our ancestors to think of what lies beyond our mortal bounds. Sometimes one needs this kind of inspiration in addition to meditating, etc. |
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2024 Marine Corps Marathon, Turnaround at Rock Creek and Shoreham Drive, Washington, DC |
Running has been, and continues to be, an integral part of my life. I run the Marine Corps Marathon every year. Not only it helps with fitness and health, it also helps keep the mind calm, develop resilience as well as a connection to the road and the trees and the earth in general.
Every year I train for 11 months in all kinds of weather. It all comes down to one late October morning and every year I hope to improve on my time.
Heading to the last week, I was a little bit queasy in the stomach as usual, but I was able to stay much calmer this year due to my mindfulness practice although it was probably not helped by the anxiety surrounding the election. The night before I woke up at 2:20 AM but couldn’t go back to sleep. But I meditated and watched my breath and eventually got to a stage where I could see myself sleeping from above as if I was out of my body. I realized that’s how you feel when you are sleeping, so it was close to sleep and maybe I only slept for a few minutes here and there, but it was good to know that this is possible. |
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Queens Chapel, Washington, DC |
Unfortunately the drink had too much sugar and my legs started cramping up in the end, and ended up slowing down considerably. Nevertheless I was able to stay calm, and was happy about that. The marathon is as much about planning and staying calm in the moment and staying in the moment as it is about eating the right food, training properly, and sleeping well and all that. Being able to finish, seeing the crowds, and the support of my family made it a joyous occasion. |
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The Yard, Howard University, Nov 1 2024 |
So then, we were finally here, election day was almost upon us. We both had voted early. Nicole went to Sterling, VA on election protection duty. Being a lawyer, she thought that was the best way for her to contribute. I stayed home with Prashant and made some calls to voters in Pennsylvania. We were all hopeful, yet nervous. I couldn't watch the news at all, and slept fitfully. Finally around 6 am Nicole broke the news and we were both crestfallen. But we had to stay strong for the sake of Prashant. As I told my grieving nephew Pranav, shit happens but life goes on. We had to get him ready to go to school. I was very proud of my family as well as that of my sisters for being such passionate supporters of Kamala and caring about the country. |
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