Strangers -> Friends -> Strangers

Friends are the family you create for yourself, but unlike family they never always last forever. We meet as strangers turn into friends and somewhere along life's path, before you realize it you have turned strangers again. I am an introvert and not a great talker, so I really need some time before i can connect with anybody as a friend. I was pleasantly surprised when this belief was made false in my 12th standard.

I am going to refer to her as AB. She came in my class in the 11th and for 1 year i never really talked to her. She was among the rankers of the class, miss-goody-two-shoes is what i thought about her. I never imagined that being friends with her would be so much fun and that i could connect with her on so many levels. We got our seats assigned next to each other and then i realized once she got talking it was so difficult to stop her. :)
We became best friends in less than a week. I could tell her anything and know she would be my side supporting me.

We went to different college and even though we were miles apart, we were never really that far. A phone call is all we needed. We've been through each other's heartaches and fights. Even after not talking to each other for 6 months to a year we would be right on track with each other's lives after just one phone call. there was never a dull moment or a awkward conversation or a fight. I assumed we would be always there for each other. I guess i was wrong.

I moved to US and you got busy in your job. The last time i remember we talked you were going to give  your GRE. What happened then? We did not talk for a year and now its almost 2 years. I have been trying to get in touch since a long time. Where are you?  I really miss you. Please get back in touch. I do not want us to be one of those friends turned strangers.

The enchanted forest

On my recent trip to California, we went to the Yosemite national park. One of the places to visit is the Mariposa grove. It has these huge, gigantic trees which are called as the sequoia trees. You need to see them to have a full realization of their size. When i say huge i really mean HUGEEEE.

To me it felt as if i had opened one of my children's books and was transported to the 'enchanted forest'. In the book, in the middle of this enchanted forest is a giant tree (so similar to these sequoia trees) and once you climb the top of the tree you reach a magical place. The characters in the book are also very remarkable Miss.Dame-WashALot, Mr.SaucePan, Moonface and Mr.Whatzisname.
Maybe Enid Blyton had a backyard full of these sequoia trees from where she got her inspiration.

Wish we could go up one of these trees and reach a fairyland..... :)

Few facts:

• They are the biggest in width.
• They are the fastest growing trees.
• These trees have survived for around 2000-3000 years
• They are not the tallest trees. The Coastal Redwoods are taller than the giant sequoias.

Facing my fears

Since i was a kid, i have always loved reading books. They have always given me so much satisfaction. With books you get to paint the picture however you want. I have always preferred books over movies. In my stories i can always make the horrifying scenes less gruesome simply by imagination or the mean guys look less sinister. :)

As i grew up i read all the Enid Blyton books, then came the Bobbsey twins, followed by Nancy Drew and the Hardy boys. The secret seven, famous five came along at the same time. I also read my fair share of girlie books from the Malorie Towers to St.Claire's. ( I seem to have forgotten the names of so many books). I stepped into the world of novels through Sidney Sheldon. I had always found those books captivating. As time passed i would just read about anything i could lay my hands on; fiction , non-fiction, chicken soup for the soul, stories in reader's digest.

At one point i believed that i should be studying arts and literature, well i ended up studying computer science and majoring in databases. Oh well there goes me being a Shakespeare.(Not complaining about my studies, after all i have a well-paying job :) Thanks to my family for pushing me this far). But the books have lured me back. Once again i have started toying with the idea of studying literature, only this time i day dream of being a writer (i can dream to be whatever i want, rite? i can be a super-heroine who writes books which gets rid of villains in the real world, or whatever i write magically turns true....how i wish :)). I hope to get some time to take classes of writing and go ahead with my plans.

I have taken blogging as the first step towards it. Well for several other reasons too, firstly i find writing on a computer odd. have always been used to writing on a paper with pen. Back in school the words would just start flowing once i had my first paragraph of the essay done.

The second reason, which also bothers me the most is criticism. The entire public trying to judge you scares me a lot. I have never been a public speaker, the thought itself makes me freak. Until i read this blog by a friend, the first step is to face the fear. Well, heres my first step and i am ready to face whatever comes my way.

I hope to continue writing atleast once a week, a promise to myself to continue what i have started and loved.