My New Year's resolutions are like Mom's dressing downs - in one (y)ear, out the other.

Lessons learnt from 2008 :
- Anumeha and I are more scared of our parents than of the terrorists of 26 /11.
This realization dawned in the course of a telephone conversation detailing our activities at the time of the attack. I, of course, was describing that night's dream in great detail since I had no idea of 26/11 till the next morning (So I sometimes conk out at 7:00 pm, sue me!!! )
Anumeha, however, was with a friend in a train pulling into Vile Parle. The friend misheard VT as Vile Parle. Apparently, the first thought that flashed through Meha's mind was that her Dad was going to kill her if she was in the midst of any such incident. Mortal harm from terrorists was, however, paltry in comparison.
I fully agree. I would have been grounded for life (or at least till I start working) if I was in a 10 Km radius of any such incident, even it was only a coincidence.

- While we're on the topic, it's interesting to see how people's squeamishness with regard to torture has waned after last month.
Reports / rumours from Nair Hospital (where the lone, surviving terrorist was initially taken) have trickled down that a suturing of his injuries was done without the benefit of local anaesthesia.
The reactions most commonly heard , "Good, very good." , "I'm very glad" and "He deserves worse.".
'Tis a reaction that cuts across gender (in fact the women say it with so much venom, it's hilarious), age (teenagers or 40+) and professions (college professor or maid).


- Getting your groove back ( preferably before 40, I'm not Stella) and telling those who can't take it to go take a running jump into the nearest water body is the most fun ever.

- Silence is golden. But, when taken to extremes, it's just plain dumb.

- Good friends will act like brats every once in a while. Since I can be quite pratty myself, I take it, to a point.(Please refer to the groovy post for details)

- My best friends can surprise me with bombshells like a masculine presence in their respective lives. While I'm thrilled because I finally get to live vicariously through them, I'm a teeny bit miffed that I didn't have the faintest inkling of what they were up to.
Then, of course, that just proves I should probably call them up more (Read, more than once a month).
Unfortunately, the only thing that I excel at lately is procrastination.

- The end of an era can be a good thing depending on how you swing it. (No, not the Me Tarzan, you Jane type swinging)... all you need is a (spin) Doctor Right. (Hint, hint )

- Taking the Hippocratic oath does make a difference, does reinforce your commitment.
In related narratives, not all your non medico friends will feel the same way and relating the story (and attendant emotions) again and again is a big no - no and the equivalent of barbiturates for those unfortunates.

- A ventricular tap is amazing, getting to assist on one is sublime.
All right, all right, that was 2007, but I've replayed it in my head enough of times for it to have been this year.
After all, 'twas me, not my friend, the budding surgeon/ future neurosurgeon who got to do it (Yes, Om, I will never let you forget that, at least until you get into Neurosurgery, which means I get to do this for three whole years more). :P

- I'm old now, really, really old.
I realized what a sea change has come about in my attitude when a query about whether I was a schoolgirl, produced happiness instead of the erstwhile irritation.
I shall take my soda bottle glasses and dentures and sulk in the corner now. After all this is the year when I hit my quarter life crisis.


Seriously, though, 2008, has beem a fun year. I've laughed, cried, fought, made up, fooled around, studied (alright, maybe not so much the last) in equal measure.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o' lang syne ?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp !
And surely I’ll be mine !
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pu’d the gowans fine ;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot,
Sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !
And gie's a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,
For auld lang syne.

But all good things must come to an end.
Goodbye, 2008, you were fun while you lasted.

And yes, a very Happy New Year to the poor, misguided souls who patiently read my ramblings.