What's the damage?

I was led to believe that I was born about this time of year over four decades or so ago.  There is this moment in time when one gets to ponder what their life has been and that day is their birthday.  That if memory serves can be an interesting exercise esp not knowing what the future holds because -

1.  No one knows what is round the corner;
2.  What is round the corner or at an angle from the corner may or may not be as exciting or worthwhile as what already has been.

Now I am told that I was extracted from my mother's womb by an aunt who specialized in such matters and assigned a name which in Sanskrit (language) translates to the "Dawning".  A lot of things true to that nomenclature are still dawning on me so all is well there.

While it can be said that the first two decades I was growing up I was in India the latter couple plus to date were in America, where I continued growing except laterally.  I plan to address that as part of the coming few years before I might classify as round.

So going back to reflect on the past some decades I also was hit by this fact that as a species we really do not know anything about our beginnings nor our end.  When we are born is a fact that we know nothing about.  People tell us our birthday and the atmosphere that prevailed at said time and how the general populace in the vicinity may have reacted on hearing the news of your arrival.

The same about death.  If I completely stopped right now, as in ceased to exist I could not know what time this event happened because as it happens I am already dead.  What knowing there is comes between the time we begin thinking (for some it can be few days after birth and for some a few years) till we stop (for some it may be few years before they officially cease).

So I decided to do some of that amazing activity as I began writing this blog.  All in all it has turned out all right.  Began with some basic education followed by an archaic process of earning a couple of degrees from institutions that may or may not have any vested interest in the kids they graduated.

A marriage and a child followed along with several years of servitude to bosses in various types of corporations that may or may not have any vested interest in our existence.   Speaking of the child we both (spouse and I) share a common interest in ensuring her well being and provide her with enough ammunition to launch while removing obstacles that might seem non-essential to her progress.  I personally remember mosquitoes were a big part of the non-essentials when I was doing the growing up.  Fortunately where we live those pesky critters are not a factor but Facebookers might be.

On paper I am an engineer with a business degree but neither seem to have influenced in the life choices I made nor the career path I trode.

So there is a nagging question of 'return on investment' - the time investment that is.  Of course left to my devices I found art, whether written or multi dimensional (as in structures) or places to visit with history and character, food to dissect and enjoy or criticize and in all that shared the joys with the family.

That in the final tally was worth while and might if I get lucky continue to titillate round the corner.