A Quick Review of a Quite Historic 2008 ...

Well we are now striding boldly into 2009, but such was the rip-roaring action of 2008, we thought it could never be too late to look back and reminisce.

In many ways, we were glad to put the year behind us. But since a New Year is always a time of joy and hope, we have to drink to everything that was wonderful in the year gone (and there were many memorable moments); and to good health and happiness for all of you and to our wonderful kids, Shobhita and Sarvesh who never fail to bring a smile to our face, and the occasional groan to our lips!

Can so much have happened in 1 year? We had Sarvesh proudly striding forward into kindergarten while Shobhita soared to the dizzy heights of 3rd grade. Shobhi is writing stories, essays and poetry with aplomb (while devouring book after book (we are not sure if the world's authors are writing new novels fast enough for her!). While Sarvesh learnt to read this year (see photo left) and is ready to conquer the literary world himself. Then there are extracurricular activities of all shapes and forms. Shobhita alternates between her dextrous fingers on the violin, her slick wristwork with the tennis racquet and her lustrous voice as she learns the finer points of Indian Carnatic Music. While Sarvesh also started the violin and is bowing with aplomb, while also learning several Hindu slokams which he recited at Navarathri and various other occasions.

And for Chitra and Vijay, it was a red letter year as they both became citizens of the US (aka taxpayers for life to Uncle Sam). Having got over that pecuniary shock, we were thrust into a historic election season and we both exercised our civic duties and we like to think our vote counted in a very tight congressional race for Connecticut's 4th district! But our fervour was way surpassed by Shobhita and Sarvesh who both declared their allegiances with a vengeance. Shobhi, forever the schemer, had it all figured out. John McCain would keep taxes low, which meant her parents would have more money ... with which they could buy more toys for her. Simple, right? Such was her conviction that she penned a letter to the Arizona Senator and was thrilled to get a response from him! Sarvesh saw things differently, perhaps wooed (along with millions of others) by the oration and suaveness of our now-President elect. It all made it a campaign like never before chez Sundaram!

But none of this could top the forever visible black clouds of the financial crisis with both of us enjoying(?) a ringside seat as we braved one storm surge after another. And as Summer drew to a close, the Category 5 Hurricane Lehman rampaged into town and the financial world as we know it was turned on its head. Several sleepless weeks later, we were still coming to terms with what it all meant! Well come year end, we are still both on our feet, if a tad weather-beaten!

The amazing thing is amidst this strange amalgam of chaos and creativity, we actually took 2 vacations during 2008. Firstly, our April venture to Costa Rica, that nature-lovers' paradise. For 11 days, we basked in the glory of active volcanoes, rain forests and cloud forests to die for, wildlife as varied as any place on earth, and pure white sand beaches flanked by thick jungle. Our summer venture was not quite so off the beaten path, but we had plenty more visual feasts as we trekked around the gorges and pristine lakes of Upstate New York. Shobhita and Sarvesh were at their world-beating best, scaling numerous peaks with alacrity including the sharp gorges of Ithaca, the eye-popping Letchworth State Park (known as "the Grand Canyon of the East" and the Rivendell-esque Watkins Glen, while admiring the "Finger Lakes" of Skaneatles, Seneca and Cayuga, and marauding intepidly into the ferocity of the Niagara Falls and its nearby Whirlpool (as you can see from the photo to the left!).

Such was the heart-stopping action of 2008, one could almost forget our usual festivities of Navarathri and Deepavali in the Fall, the July 4 beach-side firework fiesta, and the Stamford town parades of Thanksgiving and St. Patrick's Day.

So here we stand with 2009 stretching out ahead of us. Can it possibly top 2008?

So are you ready for some photographic fun? Check this out ...
http://picasaweb.google.com/chitra0828/2H08#slideshow

And if you're ready for more, check us out in super-motion ...