Whats up with that?

So a few cities in Dallas have been installing these red light cameras to take pictures of violators and sending them tickets. As a matter of fact, I recieved one such ticket myself and have been super careful ever since, not only @ the red lights where they have these cameras installed but all red lights. But interestingly, they are now considering to ban these cameras. Apparently there are not enough violations to cover the cost of the installation & maintenance of these cameras. Well maybe people got the message (like I did). Isn't that the reason why they came up with the idea in the first place? Whats up with that?????

Slow Fade

Burgers, Frowns, Rage and Cheeks!

I am sure each one of us have been a victim of terrible service in a restaurant or a mall or even at the check-out counter in a grocery store. Well, I have been a recipient of such rude behaviour one too many times. And I have always given the person the benefit of the doubt, although it was a very unpleasant experience for me. I understand the person could be having a bad moment, a bad day or just a bad life. So even when I am treated with such in despicable rudeness, I would smile at the person hoping I could somehow steal a smile or two from their grim and emotionless face. And I need to admit I have even been successful a few times. But most of the times, it is a vain effort. But being the nice person I am :-), I just walk away with a troubled heart which lingers on for hours or even days. So my question is how long can you wait before you lose it? Is it even worth it to do so? Well let me tell you about the first time in my life that I ever lost it.

So this past weekend, we decided to go dine in a fast food restaurant in our neighbourhood. Bad idea! When we walked in, there was nobody ready to take out order, but there were a bunch of people walking around very busy. After waiting for a lil' bit, one gentleman decided to take our order. He didn't start with a "Hello, How are you doing?" or with a "Welcome to xxxx, what can I get you?". Nope, nothing close to that. He started with a scornful "Yes?". Startled by the peculiar query hurled at me, I started to order. And even before I could say "I'll take 1....", the gentleman interrupted me with a deafening "What???". So I repeated again. And this happened for everything I ordered. And all this with a big frown on his face. At one point I was ready to ask him, "Is there anything else you want us to order sir?". And after all this condescending behaviour, he gave us nuggets instead of a cheese burger on the kids meal. And that's it, that was the last straw for me. I lost it. I went crazy. I was like "What the heck dude? Are you offering me a service or am I?". And I went on to say things I don't remember. Apparently I must have said something about him not being friendly, because when I stopped guess what he said. "How are you doing sir???". Then I turned to see the shocked face of my sweet wife. She was like, "Where did that come from?".

Now back to my question. Is it worth it? If you ask me it would be a "Hell NO". That meal was the worst for me in years. I felt terrible. The apology from the manager and a free coupon for a sandwich didn't help much. I felt a little better, when I went over to the obviously shaken up gentleman (don't think he has ever had an Indian dude yell at him before) and apologized to him and wished him a Happy New Year. (Yeah, right!!!). But I was still miserable for a very long time. Longer than the times I felt miserable for rude service and walked out quietly.

So ladies and gentleman, is it worth yelling at people who have been mean to you? No sir! No ma'am! No wonder our good Lord asked us to turn the other cheek!

Peace!

2009

Last night for the first time in many years we decided to spend New Years eve @ home. As we watched the clock ticking away anticipating the birth of the New Year, my son was on my mind. He was all tucked in bed, sleeping without a care in the world. The dawn of a New Year meant nothing to him. And if you think about it, nothing really changes except for the few checks we will waste when filling in the date. Nothing really changes! People go to bed on December 31st and wake up with the same ol' problems. The birth of the New Year hasn't changed your bank balance, hasn't changed broken relationships, hasn't healed diseases. But we still wait in sheer excitement has a New Year passes by year after year.

So what makes it special? Well, I think it is you & I, we make the difference. The birth of a New Year along with hope and an unending resolve to make changes makes it a beautiful thing. Without these, it is as good as a Monday night in March. The New Year is certainly not going to miraculously change things around, but it does open up a new chapter in a life. I pray the good Lord will give us the strength and wisdom as we write the pages of this chapter. So when the next year comes along, we don't write words of despair, but words of hope and joy!

Happy New Year!

Five Years!

Five Years! Wow! I can't believe I have been married to my wife for 5 years now! And I have known her for almost a decade now. I am not going to say it has been a very smooth one, nor am I going to say it has been a very rough one. Like any relationships, we had our ups and downs, our highs and lows. But for some odd reason, in retrospect, I do not remember the downs and the lows. Just the ups and the highs.
I remember the eve of our wedding day. My Dad had arranged this party for friends and family. And I remember, he suddenly made a request to all the guests which was not part of the agenda. He asked everybody to give one piece of advice about marriage to me. Slowly advices started pouring in. Wives and husbands used this opportunity to point out the flaws of their spouses. It was hilarious. Not much of those advice stuck to me that day, except one! I think it did because it was not a cheap attempt to demean a spouse, but a real genuine advice. This was from one my uncles and what he said not only stuck to me till now, but it would be the motto of our marriage. He said "On your wedding night, tell your wife that she is your best friend, and make sure she remains your best friend". It was amazing! Mind boggling. And honestly unexpected from an Indian man. So I heard him that day and buried that one deep in my heart, and till date my wife has been my greatest friend. I hope and pray that the good Lord will give us the strength to remain best friends forever!

Five years have gone by,
Quick, but yet so slow,
Until, the day to heaven we fly,
I pray our love will ever grow.
Deepak Benjamin

Keeping up with the Joneses!

I am sure you have seen the new Ford F-150 commercials with Jerry Jones in it. I like those commercials, although Jerry Jones has not exactly been on my favorite persons list lately. But anyways it talks about how, "to keep up with the Joneses" you may not be able to buy The Dallas Cowboys or afford your own football stadium, but you can start by driving the truck he drives in the first place. I think it is a brilliant commercial, because each one of us are guilty of trying "to keep up with the Joneses". True, most of us are smart enough to not even think about keepin up with Jerry Jones, but there are The Smiths next door or the Kumars at work or the Browns at church. I understand that it is an inherent nature of man/woman to always want what he/she can't afford/don't have, but where do you draw the line between passion and obsession. It is very hard and the line is very thin. First there will be Jones1, then Jones2 and soon there will be so many Joneses that keeping up the Joneses would have somehow become your sole reason for existence. And that my friend is a bad place to be in!

So the word to keep in mind is "content". If we are content with what we have, I tell you life will be so much more simpler and not to mention happier! Think about it! :-)

Peace!

Poem

Bumped into this poem today! Seemed very interesting and true!

First Dentistry was painless
Then bicycles were chainless
And carriages were horseless
And many laws enforce-less

Next cookery was fireless
Telegraphy was wireless
Cigars were nicotine-less
And coffee caffeine-less

Soon oranges were seedless
The putting green was weedless
The college boy was hatless
The proper diet fatless

New motor roads are dustless
The latest steel is rustless
Our tennis courts are sodless
Our new religion Godless

Peace!