Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Travelog # 43 - Boulder Memories

I am in Boulder, CO now after a long and usual flight from Chennai. Immigration was a breeze but the baggage collection wasn't. Even after the long wait to collect my bag, I wasn't done. Customs Officer asked to get my baggage screened as I had checked as having bringing 'food' in the customs form. This happens every time and consumes 15 - 30 minute every time. I keep asking myself why bring junk food from India and get stuck at the customs screening. I think its the urge for 'masala' that keeps me do it every time overriding the logical thing of avoiding the snacks.

The drive from Denver to Boulder was beautiful and enjoyable. The vast expanse of mid western USA unfolds in front of you as you speed through the immaculately maintained freeway. The only irking factor was the need to pay toll repeatedly. I had to stop three times to pay USD 2 at each toll stop.

Homewood Suites, Boulder,CO
This hotel is kind of deja vu for me. I am coming back to this city on business exactly after 10 years and in a strange coincidence staying at the same Hotel I stayed the first time. But this is where the similarity ends. Last time, I drove from Columbus, OH with my entire family and my visiting parents in a full van stuffed to the hilt. This time, I am alone and from Chennai.

The intervening 10 years, had brought lot of changes in my life that I never even imagined, but then that's the beauty of life. At that time, we were soaking up on American dream and never for once thought of R2I or the possibility of being responsible for 'old age kids'. Ten years later, we are in Chennai now and feel responsible for my paralyzed father and my sick mother. Wonder , what's in store the next decade. God willing, I hope to be still running & writing blogs in 2017.

10 comments:

  1. Boulder is a beautiful place. Denver city was my very first impression of America when I visited in 2000.I did experience the vast expanse of free space, I could see miles away and it looked spectacular and this was so different than Australian landscape which I was used to.
    Locals told me that primary source of water was snow in mountains. Is this true ?

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  2. It is my desire to work for IBM, Boulder and thus be close to Colorado Springs. Lets see. I still hope to make it to Colorado this year (2007).

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  3. Ram,

    I like Colorado very much as well. Very peaceful and serene.

    Here's to you doing what makes you happy for the next 10 years and more!

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  4. Live in the present and make the best out of it. Future will then take care of itself. You are a great role model and I hope we will have enough of your type of sons in the world. Take care.

    Raman

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  5. Sir, what is your Job profile?

    You keep travelling!

    A friend of mine who is doing EMBA at USA would be doing BDM work at Shanghai, wants to find a decent job in India. Any suggestion? He was in real estate and e-learning field, and has experience in running a software co.

    Rgds
    Vijay

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  6. Felt sad reading the last few lines.

    Who knows where life is taking us to?

    It's all about hope!

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  7. 40 years back, there were boulders in Boulder.
    30 years back, there was a Ceylon restaurant dishing out hot & spicy food to air force vets from 'Nam.
    20 years back, you needed Coors to relax
    10 years back, AT&T no longer welcomed Bell labs folks..
    Now, its all outsourced to Starbucks and Infobucks.
    10 years in the future there will be no room for 6 foot under, only ashes to ashes.. in Boulder

    Place where I found Love & Mona

    Here is Dylan now available for
    iPhone

    The times they are a-changin'...

    Come gather 'round people
    Wherever you roam
    And admit that the waters
    Around you have grown
    And accept it that soon
    You'll be drenched to the bone.
    If your time to you
    Is worth savin'
    Then you better start swimmin'
    Or you'll sink like a stone
    For the times they are a-changin'.

    Come writers and critics
    Who prophesize with your pen
    And keep your eyes wide
    The chance won't come again
    And don't speak too soon
    For the wheel's still in spin
    And there's no tellin' who
    That it's namin'.
    For the loser now
    Will be later to win
    For the times they are a-changin'.

    Come senators, congressmen
    Please heed the call
    Don't stand in the doorway
    Don't block up the hall
    For he that gets hurt
    Will be he who has stalled
    There's a battle outside
    And it is ragin'.
    It'll soon shake your windows
    And rattle your walls
    For the times they are a-changin'.

    Come mothers and fathers
    Throughout the land
    And don't criticize
    What you can't understand
    Your sons and your daughters
    Are beyond your command
    Your old road is
    Rapidly agin'.
    Please get out of the new one
    If you can't lend your hand
    For the times they are a-changin'.

    The line it is drawn
    The curse it is cast
    The slow one now
    Will later be fast
    As the present now
    Will later be past
    The order is
    Rapidly fadin'.
    And the first one now
    Will later be last
    For the times they are a-changin'.

    - Bob Dylan

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  8. Ram,

    I read your posts regularly and used to travel with you (Meaning we felt so with your pictures and narration). This post has given a great feeling in few lines. I have also experienced the same many times in my life. When we look back we realise the way we have come through. I too have a 'Old age kid' with me. But we should be privileged to have them with us. I have wondered many times why you went back. But now I know the reason. These are the greatest service which we could do to our parents. As Raman had mentioned, you are a real role model. Keep it up Ram! Your entire family deserves a big pat on their back. Well done guys! You all are great. We never know what is in store for us as Narayanan has mentioned. Let us be happy for the moment. I stopped running for the fear of my knees and hip.

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  9. Sudesh
    Yes.. Boulder is a beautiful place.. vast expanse of open space..truly peaceful and relaxing.. but got to work though..

    Ravi
    Good Luck.. Everything is made twice.. once in 'dream' another in execution..

    Nithya
    Thanks.. Doing what I like would be great.. will take it..

    Raman
    Thanks..honored to get that kind of blessings / words from you..

    Vijay
    I am in Software Business that takes me on the road more than I care to..

    Narayan
    Yes.. its all about hope..

    Exile from the real world
    Place you found your love & Mona.. Great.. can you tell us more..??

    Balaji
    Thanks.. take care of your health.. if you are medically fit.. start running..

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  10. Yes. You asked for it.
    1971 ..
    Mona Just turned 19 left
    school in Belle Fourche, SD
    and got her first job where I
    met this fresh sweet innocent women.

    Me, from NYC single 22, ex Sniper
    now part of building 1st huge Data Center for Diners Club (now Visa)@ Tech center in County line road. After work looking for Love.

    We found our first real love.
    Can't get the Elton John's concert
    still out of mind.

    Thanks for asking to refresh my memories.

    Ever heard of 'Bunker Ramo' CRTs ?
    http://rogercote.tripod.com/roger/bunker.htm

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