I went hiding in my shell last week. It was a good week for the most part. But the ink dried up with my last post, and it took a little longer to recover. In between a trip to the Gurudwara last Sunday, and a drive to ocean this Sunday, I solemnly repeated the rituals I performed eight years ago.

This is really how I saw the sunset yesterday. It was all a blurr.

Today started with a lovely chat with a friend, coach, mentor, peer, I don’t know what to call him. He is a buddy who happens to be three decades older than me, and yet we have so much in common. We love the hows and whys of things, and we love travel. He came back from a sabbatical after a quarter, and we had to catch up on all that he was up to, and all that I was up to, all this while. I am so glad he is back. And so glad I was able to take the time to welcome him back.  It is so exciting that we are in the same building now 🙂

After some meetings and emails it was time to visit the Shorebird kitchen for a team event. I went back there after three years. I cannot believe it had been so long. It was a lot of fun learning how to fold pot stickers and wonton and mix dips and sauces that go along with them.

When I was new to Google, and missing Salesforce sorely, I signed up for a few cooking classes that helped me look beyond the Google I was offered in my role. I made friends with the chefs, we traded stories, tips, hacks and advice. And I learnt how to make a ton of new stuff – like salad dressings, dry rubs, wet rubs, and grilled meats. Dede’s classes opened up a whole new world of cooking for me. It was nice to chat with the new chef. She was right, I should write to Dede today. I hope she will remember me.

Finally, the day ended in nostalgia. ‘A’ came over to “check on me”.  And brought over a priceless gift. A copy of the first English book read by Haruki Murakami. It is out of print, and she bought it from ebay. Silly goose. Who does that? Only her. I share this strange relation with her – she is sometimes like a Mum, sometimes like a sis, and sometimes like a kid. And somehow we are never in conflict. Somehow we are always on the same page. It’s unreal.

She did not know that I am waiting for Killing Commendatore to release tomorrow. I plan to swing by Books Inc on my way home and pick up my copy. I did not pre-order it on Amazon this time. I have been waiting for this book for 18 months. It was released in Japan in the spring of 2017, while I was there. Apparently it takes that long to translate a book. Phew! I am so excited about reading it on a bus journey later this week 🙂

I almost broke down at dinner as I read, and re-read the pretty little card that ‘A’ wrote for me. People take so long to find the right team, the right tribe. I found mine, and to a large extent created it. And I then I abandoned it, in hope of an exciting unknown. I know that is who I am. But somehow this time it hurts a little more. I don’t even know why. It is futile to think this way. But at some point I need to give up and just settle. Good people are hard to find, if you find them, just keep them. And stay put.

Who on earth will go find out your favorite author’s first English book? Sigh! What have I done? Well, something that cannot be undone.

I often thank my stars for the amazing people I meet everyday. They give me so much energy, their love, and their trust. I don’t know what they get from me in return. If I knew it, I’d double it in a heart beat.