Happy Birthday Son

Happy Birthday Vishnu – Threshold of Jordan Year

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For the uninitiated, Jordan year is the year of being 23 years old (especially in the USA). Basket Superhero Michael Jordan wore number 23 for the Chicago Bulls and hence the reference.

It helps to do what I just did (to start with some Tidbit like the paragraph above) when one is lost for word to begin writing and looking for that creative juices to flow to start the opening lines about someone about whom anyone has so much to write.

It may be passe to keep repeating that time just flew away, but it remains a fact. When we held him for the first time on a chilly January morning in Bengaluru, India, 23 winters ago – we were excited no doubt, but never knew he would turn out to be such an amazing young man, a hero, fending for himself, all alone, far away, across Seven seas, one who keeps us excited every moment (on tenterhooks and on our feet sometimes). Whole lot of things is now ticked off his “Life’s To-do” bucket list. While on this amazing journey, he has made us all very proud presenting us with pleasant surprises galore (sometimes shockingly pleasant, like his scores in 10th or 12th Grade), today you have arrived at the threshold of an important phase of your life (not the kind that Amma keeps telling during your examination of every grade in School). And yes while you hit that milestone and as has become the norm – another pleasant surprise awaited us. Thank you Vishnu, you made us all very proud and soared to cloud nine with this one.

Congratulations on adding yet another feather in your cap and another stripe on the shoulders of every member of the family and a reason for celebration. Contrary to what you keep saying, it is not just another day in the University. This is no mean achievement. It was indeed such a Cloud-Nice moment was when Di spotted this on the University Portal

The Eureka Moment when Di Spotted this on University Website
Source: https://blog.mnsu.edu/csu/ashrit-suresh-campus-involvement-is-necessary-to-grow-as-an-individual/
Proud (is an understatement) to see you here on the 55-foot display in the CSU Hearth Lounge created for Boasting Exceptional StudentTalent.

Lest the significance not be lost on all of us (including you), I am reproducing the background of what this achievement means (in the University’s words)
“Centennial Student Union crafted the means for Boasting Exceptional Student Talent among those evolving leaders. Each semester since then, the BEST Board display in the CSU Hearth Lounge spotlights eight students selected for campus student leadership and CSU student staff excellence.
The faces and words of these BEST students exemplify both active and quiet leadership that enhances campus life at Minnesota State Mankato.
This site is dedicated to the continuing BEST Board tradition. It recognizes those students who, each semester, graced the BEST Board and welcomed visitors to the CSU. Each became the face of leadership and the example of personal reward that comes from accepting the challenge.
As the tradition continues so does exemplary leadership for other students to emulate”

It is not that everyday, anyone gets to be there. You have made us all very Proud and your Jordan Birthday become even more special for us

As you head towards the home run in this phase of your Education – as always a heartfelt wishes to you and a sincere prayer to the Divine to bless you in abundance ensuring success in your chosen path.

While most would end up dishing out unwarranted advises when you turn 23, I envy the maturity you show at every step and any advice is misplaced one. You know what is to be done better than most of us and I only repeat what I said when you turned 21
“It is reassuring that you are also past advises that we can give. You grew up, learnt many lessons the hard way and any advice to you would be almost redundant. It is a happy feeling for any parent or elder sisters, to get wise counsel from the apple of their eyes who grew right from baby in cradle to a handsome 23 year old, gym going, sports loving lad”

No advice to the one who has a great head on his shoulder and stands shoulder to shoulder with his Dad.
Happy Birthday Dude!

Happy Birthday Vishnu (Ashrit), Young Handsome Man, We have tremendous faith in your abilities and you will make it big. May the year ahead bring you great news, oodles of opportunities, meaningful friendships, and a great network to help you achieve big things in life. We pray you continue to be the Gentle, every Helpful and Great Human Being. Keep exploring, stay curious, and enjoy the journey ahead.

Let me tell you, it is not easy to bid goodbye when you go back after every holiday. I am sure it is equally bad for you too. Notwithstanding technological advances that helps us be in touch unlike our days, nothing like having you around in flesh and blood. It is a huge consolation having that shoulder around us

Tough moment after previous Holiday. Miss you Dear One
Happy Birthday Mama – I am missing you

As you prepare to bid Good Bye to your Teenage

Ensures

Dearest Vishnu

It indeed is a very different and more special Birthday, for it is the first time we celebrate it with you about 14000 kms away. It seems like yesterday, this day 19 years back that a little bundle of joy was delivered to us, gift wrapped by the Divine – those moments when we felt life has been extremely kind to us (which still is). Just as time flew, you spread your wings and flew too – a flight for good reasons. Well! We are proud of whatever you did in life thus far, most importantly for being a wonderful Human Being. Blessed that you are right from the beginning by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, I still remember He saying, let him go (though deep inside, I wished He said no) He will do well and bring great name to the himself and the country. We only wish you continue to be a great Human Being while excelling in your Education and career.

All set to launch

As they say, it is a milestone year for everyone your age – on the brink of getting out of your teenage and entering the adulthood. I am proud you had a level head on that broad shoulder. Decisions taken definitely are not easy ones, giving up seats that people here die for and venture into the unknown territory to chart a new course. In the short time, and if indications of the progress you have already made is any indication, we are proud of the decision you took and on this birthday, wishing you the best that the creation has in offer.

As you walked waving a good bye to all of us in the airport terminals, is when we realised that it is not the little son (for your proud parents) or little baby brother (for your adorable sister) but a young handsome man out to conquer the world, an individual determined and a wonderful soul set to spread his wings to fly out into the world.

While there, I remember how we used to sit together for quite number of times thinking what to do next in each every move that was made. We were proud that you were very clear in a carefully thought out manner on what to do next. Hope you continue to think through clearly and take the next step, however big or small. The beauty of it all was the cool but firm thinking of Amma who made you realize that there are no free lunches in the world and everything has to be earned for – in other words, not to develop a sense of entitlement.

You have everything bestowed & going for you, thanks to the blessings of all elders in the family, Gurudev and Divine – Talent, Capability, Humaneness and Commitment. We are sure you will put it to good use and emerge with flying colors.

From all of us here Wishing you a very happy birthday young man. Have a great one! Happy Nineteen!

Have a lovely day dearest Vishnu. May the year ahead bring you loads and loads of happiness, joy and success. And this song – A perfect fit to the occasion

Significant Seventeen – Have a great one!

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Dearest Vishnu

A very happy 17th Birthday to you!

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It is believed that miracles happen to one in a billion. But we have never thought that we would be among the lucky ones until we had you this day 17 years ago, the year they called it the Millenium Year. Doesn’t it look like it was just yesterday that I blogged a wish for you on the 16th Birthday (Jeeyo Hazaaron Saal – Ashrit) Shared it for the lovely pictures compiled in it.

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Hey Seventeeeeeeennnnnnn… Years! Where did the time go? I remember so vividly those moments I met you, outside the OT of Agadi Hospital. These lines sounds cliche. But when I got to carry you for the first time that morning and laid you on my chest, I swear it was swollen with pride. Nothing has changed to this day. Except that you have another constant companion… Your GUITAR! Not many can do what you did! Learn it all by yourself and though not a genius in the class of Jimi Hendrix or Duane Allmon, you are not any worse.

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What do I want to see changed in you? What!!! No way, Young man. Keep being you, follow your heart and dream big! We could not be more proud of you as you fill our hearts with pride with every moment and everything you do.

vishnu

Many a times, we learn equanimity (yeah, head to the Dictionary to find exactly what I mean here) from you. The coolest way you deal with situations is a treat to watch. I am sure there is a churn within, but you disguise it so well that clowns can do away with their funny dresses and borrow your attitude 😛

You may not be academically on top, but you are not bad there either. In any case, as we keep telling we love you and not your grades (9.1 is not bad by any yardstick for us considering your guitar, sports, drama and music). Don’t you worry, your  smile and happiness more than makes up just in case grades drops.

In a few years (not that you are not one already) you will grow up into an young little man, smarter and wiser to the vagaries of the world. But I am so confident that values that Amma and the uncles, aunts and cousins have instilled stands in good stead to take it head on. But then the only image imprinted in my mind will be that I first painted 17 years ago.

And finally as you really stand shoulder to shoulder literally, I am proud and grateful to the divine for the wonderful gift called you. What more could we parents and your sister ask for? Stay how you are, happy, smiling, caring and smart. The way things have shaped up, the wings are ready and spread for you to take flight to great heights. We pray that you have the strength and tenacity to last the course admirably. Just a piece of advise and caution – Continue to the great human being that you are!

Love you loads and Wish you a very happy birthday. Have a super duper one, Dude! Thanks for bringing the smiles on our face every day and our prayers that it brings a lot of them today and every moment of the year ahead.

Significant Seventeen:

Tarot Cards says 17 as Card of Stars – which symbolized all wishes coming true.

It takes 17 muscles to make a smile. Let the whole of 17th year keep these 17 muscles working overtime.Â