Dear all-weather friends, Hope you are all doing well, rain or shine, wherever you are. Please do write when you can. Here in Washington the skies just emptied themselves after a week of dry air and parched soil. The wiry leaves of the juniper by my window are specked with raindrops and the sky in front of it is grey and grumbling with thunder. Looks like it is going to be back to the usual weather now. Those people picnicking in the mall to watch the fireworks will be dealing with some very slushy grounds. The summer has been good to us, and I have had a lot of time to be outdoors and just relax. I am also working on mathematics, and although progress is slow, I enjoy it and find that tinkering with numbers and algebra is as pleasant and calming as looking after the little plants that are sprouting in the backyard. This collection of random thoughts, in the form of a conversation with my imaginary friend, takes place in Mason Neck park which my parents and I enjoyed visiting recently. Hope you enjoy reading it. Sankar Random thoughts (34) -- conversation 7/4/04 It was one of those days that you feel grateful to God for just being alive. We have had more than our share of such days during this summer. It is such a pleasure when it happens here, that I don't know how anyone could stay indoors. For me there was the additional rare pleasure of having my friend to be in Washington after a long period of being away. She agreed to take the day off and so here we were, walking the beach trail in Mason Neck park, amid the tall poplars and oaks, through swamps that were being carefully nurtured back to life. The "beach" itself is just a very thin stretch of sand that has been eroded and denuded of aquatic life, and the park rangers are trying to restore it. "You are very quiet, Sankar. What are you thinking about?" "Sorry. I wasn't really thinking about anything. Just soaking in the view of the bay, enjoying your company. What a great day. Such days are rare, you know." "Yes. It is true. Wish we could do this more often," she said wistfully, her long wavy hair flowing in the breeze. "Isn't life so full of wishing? At times even our thinking is little more than dreaming...We even tend to act as if reality will arrange itself to suit our dreams..." "Without dreams where would we be?" "True, true...But we should stop deluding ourselves, and not let our dreams interfere with reality. It is wonderful to have goals, to have our eye on something that we dream of. But everything should be based on reality." "Surely you are saying something more than what I am hearing, but it is not clear to me." "Okay, I'll try to be more specific. Regarding dreams interfering with the thought process, here is an example. I hate to bring up politics or to sound judgemental, but I think I am basically talking about facts here. The whole campaign in Iraq has not been planned well, I think, because the planners let their dreams dictate their thought process. They had a vision of how the war and its aftermath would and should work out. All of their actions were based on this vision, and it cost them several months and thousands of lives to come to grips with reality and change their approach." "Some say it was pure arrogance and ideological stubbornness that prevented them from doing that. But I see your point - often our thinking is influenced by dreams rather than reality, and just as often we are not even aware of it." "The other thing I was saying is that, while it is good to have dreams and goals, one's actions and thoughts should always be guided by reality. It is something I have been doing for a while, but just this week did I realize why it was a good thing to do. I work with the situation I find myself in, and use the opportunities that present themselves to me, rather than try to mold my circumstances to suit my ambitions. It is more of a preference, based on philosophical and spiritual considerations. But now I realize that even as a practical matter it is the best approach." "I am not sure I agree with you on this, Sankar. I have been going to this "Milestone" program where they show you how to set goals and then do things in your life everyday that will change your circumstances and help you achieve your goals in a step by step fashion." "Well, perhaps there is bit of a difference. But I think everyone will agree that the only thing that you have control over is what you do right now, in your own life. As for the goal-oriented approach, isn't it so much more interesting to take what life gives you and go from there? You know, play with the hand you are dealt with? I am not saying one shouldn't have goals or dreams, just that the game is more interesting when you are not wearing blinders on that restrict you from seeing anything other than your goals and dreams." "I think it is complicated. Perhaps it really depends on the situation and the person." "Of course. I am sorry if I sounded like my approach was the best." I hated it when we differed. Of course it made things interesting but it also made me nervous. I didn't want anything to create distance between us. Luckily a flock of Canada geese flew by. "Look at them! I think geese are the most amazing creatures of all. They can fly long distances, float on water, and also walk on land," I said. "Yeah. Migratory birds are so fascinating," she said, watching them with a child-like excitement. "Have you noticed how the number three is so essential to our lives?" She laughed. "I thought the number twenty nine was the most essential." "Look, just now, I mentioned three things that the migratory birds can do. Most land animals, including yours truly, can only do one thing well. Amphibians can do two things. But geese are great because they can do three things." "Also, you need atleast three people to have a party. A couple is intimate while three is a crowd. Great discovery, huh?" she said, self-mockingly. "The thing is, three is the first number that can qualify as many. Two is just two. But three is many. You know there were some tribes which could count only upto two? Anything more than two was just 'many'." "That sounds silly. Are you sure that is true? Anyway, I think it goes deeper than that. There is the "three strikes and you are out" rule, "third time lucky" etc., etc., When something happens three times it really creates a deep impression in us, as if it has crossed the threshold for familiarity." I wanted to bring up the topic of kissing on the third date but wasn't sure it was a good idea. (to be continued)