Bohemian Raspy

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What is the one thing you want to change in your anatomy or physiology? If this question was asked a decade ago I would answered 'my voice' without batting an eye. I've a vocal with perpetual hoarseness. I may even sound manly over the telephone. However, nobody has addressed me as 'Sir' or 'Mister' yet. I lived blissfully happy life for two decades without realizing how terrible my voice is. To boot I considered myself a good singer with right knowledge of notes. None of the family members or friends dared to contradict this facade. Until Hubby arrived.

He was the first to mention my voice does not compliment my personality. Well, not that I know what my personality is. Still it made me to ponder over the matter. I recorded my voice and played it on loop for several times. And I was heartbroken to know I ain't the proverbial nightingale. The new found observation has not made any difference in my life per se. I was not trained to be a professional singer anyhow.

For the uninitiated I was a choir singer in my secondary school to sing the State song and National anthem every single day for entire three years. Don't ask me how I landed there. Either it must be my overenthusiastic young self that wanted to be everywhere or some naive teacher who delegated the task to me as none of the other students were forthcoming. As it happens I was part of a singing team that went on to perform in Akashavani (Radio), Mangalore. However, I don't remember being it relayed on the station or I would have missed on tuning the channel. So, I was not totally delusional when I said I considered myself a good singer. The whole universe had conspired along with me to believe it.

I squarely put the blame on my father for the terrible voice that I genetically inherit. Yet, he was the one who introduced me to the world of music which is still one of the greatest blessings in my life. Has the dreadful voice stopped me from singling? No Sire. I still sing my heart out to the only audience, dear Hubby. Now he is sweet enough to say I've the most unique voice. Ahem! What I would have done without this wife promoting partner of mine! 

The Month That Was January-2021

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Curfew from evening 6 to morning 6 on New Year Eve in Bengaluru. We never made any plans to head out. The logic behind night time curfew baffles me. some gentle souls say it is the scare of new strain of coronavirus that has emerged in UK. Okay, understandable.  People are roaming the city during the day without social distancing, their masks below the chin. And COVID is not a monster that crawls out only in the night.

We welcomed new year snuggled inside the quill, guzzling beer, gobbling pizzas, watching 'Soul' and of course midnight kiss. I made many number of resolutions wherein hubby did none. I honestly do not understand the man I'm married to. He is the quintessential list maker of the family. His belief is more time you take in planning less time goes for execution. And he is both great planner and executioner. I, on the other is opposite, unrealistic planning and terrible executing. Still everybody need to have new year resolution.

A health scare in the family. Uncle D had been complaining of giddiness and physicians at Manipal did TMT. He was asked to admit to hospital for angiography. As much as we hoped not to find any blockage our worse fear turned out to be true. He was advised to undergo coronary bypass. Guiding other people about a surgery is easy, but when it is your near and dear ones even I was hesitant. After taking second opinion from cardiologist classmate we decided to go ahead with the operation. The first 3 days were very stressful. After visiting him we sighed with relief. He is recovering well and fast. Cousin M1 handled everything on her own. Cousin M2 could only be there for 3 days as she had her finals. Altogether they shared responsibilities meticulously easing stress off aunt P. And I'm one proud elder sister.

I've read two very beautiful books, The Vanishing Half-Brit Bennett and The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue-V.E.Schawb. As I've decided to take part in #readchristie challenge I picked 'The Hollow' for the month and it was okay. Because of that I'm reconsidering whether I've to continue with this. If I've to continue 12 books will be of her, which will leave me 38 books to pick from the lot. When in doubt stall the decision is the mantra to go. Another book was 'The Switch'-Beth O'Leary, a contemporary romance/chick-lit, it is the genre I try to avoid these days. The reading will be fun, no doubt. As I wanted to move to different genres probably this was not the best pick.

The movies were Soul (English), AK vs AK (Hindi), Double Jeopardy (English), The General's Daughter (English), and Paava Kadhaigal (Tamil).

Among Web Series the best was The Queen's Gambit (English/Netflix). Others are Tandav (Hindi/Prime), Bridgerton (English/Netflix) and The Undoing (English/Hotstar).

The highlight is yet to come. Our short four-day Goan holiday. If having beer for breakfast, lunch and dinner is sin then we've sinned. Beach hopping, lounging on beach chair, soaking up the vitamin sea. I'm sure I had generous dose of vitamin D as well. We swam in the sea (that is untrue because I can't swim, but you get the drift), gazing at sunsets, strolling on the beach late nights, and kissing in the moonlight. None of the city in India has the vibe like Goa. Needless to say we had an amazing time. And in Goa nobody wears masks or follows social distancing. When people were staring at me I was all hoity-toity thinking it was directed at my skimpy clothes only to realize later that I was the only person wearing mask on the entire beach.

 January was good. February be kind