Here's to all my buddies who are married, getting married, and looking forward to getting married.....
The Secret to a Lasting Marriage: Embrace Imperfection
When I was a little girl, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.
On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet, all my dad did was reached for his toast, smiled at my mom, and asked me how my day was at school.
I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite! When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the toast. And I'll never forget what he said: "Baby, I love burned toast."
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said,"Debbie, your mommy put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides, a little burnt toast never hurt anyone!"
In bed that night, I thought about that scene at dinner...and the kindness my daddy showed my mom. To this day, it's a cherished memory from my childhood that I'll never forget. And it's one that came to mind just recently when Jack and I sat down to eat dinner.
I had arrived home late...as usual...and decided we would have breakfast food for dinner. Some things never change, I suppose!
To my amazement, I found the ingredients I needed, and quickly began to cook eggs, turkey sausage, and buttered toast. Thinking I had things under control, I glanced through the mail for the day. It was only a few minutes later that I remembered that I had forgotten to take the toast out of the oven!
Now, had it been any other day -- and had we had more than two pieces of bread in the entire house -- I would have started all over. But it had been one of those days and I had just used up the last two pieces of bread. So burnt toast it was!
As I set the plate down in front of Jack, I waited for a comment about the toast. But all I got was a "Thank you!" I watched as he ate bite by bite, all the time waiting for some comment about the toast. But instead, all Jack said was, "Babe, this is great. Thanks for cooking tonight. I know you had a hard day."
As I took a bite of my charred toast that night, I thought about my mom and dad...how burnt toast hadn't been a deal-breaker for them. And I quietly thanked God for giving me a marriage where burnt toast wasn't a deal-breaker either!
You know, life is full of imperfect things...and imperfect people. I'm not the best housekeeper or cook. And you might be surprised to find out that Jack isn't the perfect husband! He likes to play his music too loud, he will always find a way to avoid yard work, and he watches far too many sports. Believe it or not, watching "Golf Academy" is not my idea of a great night at home!
But somehow in the past 37 years Jack and I have learned to accept the imperfections in each other. Over time, we have stopped trying to make each other in our own mold and have learned to celebrate our differences.You might say that we've learned to love each other for who we really are!
For example, I like to take my time, I'm a perfectionist, and I'm even-tempered. I tend to work too much and sleep too little. Jack, on the other hand, is disciplined, studious, an early riser, and is a marketer's dream consumer. I count pennies and Jack could care less! Where he is strong, I am weak, and vice versa.
And while you might say that Jack and I are opposites, we're also very much alike. I can look at him and tell you what he's thinking. I can predict his actions before he finalizes his plans. On the other hand, he knows whether I'm troubled or not the moment I enter a room.
We share the same goals. We love the same things. And we are still best friends. We've traveled through many valleys and enjoyed many mountaintops. And yet, at the same time, Jack and I must work every minute of every day to make this thing called "marriage" work!
What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is the one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting marriage relationship.
Have a great day! May God bless your marriage.
A best forward.....
VCMCS, College Day -a new one than never before
On 29th February, VCMCS(Velammal College of Management Studies, Chennai) celebrated its college day. Been a Velammal student for many years, I knew the attendance would be made compulsory this year too, as thought it was same this time.
But unexpectedly I was surprised by my college performance and by the shows on stage by my juniors. It was a huge unexpected change seen by me in past years in Velammal especially in Non-Academics. Velammal is well known for academics, but now for Non-Academics too. Great!
Last year, college day was made common for both VCMCS and VEC(Velammal engineering college), I would say even though the strength was high enough for good performance, the independency to show case our talents were restricted to certain heights. Where people spoke on politics and partiality given to Engineering students, maybe it may also be a hurdle for real talents, not made out, during these Culturals.
But it was a happy day for all people in VCMCS, the big reason in not the college day but the separate opportunity to show-Case talents in big platforms. Applause to people behind the event, especially to the new Director, goes ahead with new brand building for the college.
The guest were executive director of IOB, India and Vice President, Human Resource, Reliance Retail, India, as usual the other delegates were the Chairman, CEO, of VET, and Administrator and principle of VEC. Non-Academicians especially from cine fields as guest are not solely entertained in VET.
Many girls came in sari and were in high makeup this was the big reason for guys to watch them all along like never seen them before. Guys as usually same old rag picker’s blazers given by college (bought from M.A. Jacod the carpet people). The stage was decorated with digital prints and was looking good. Food was given before the event start and we were made to be seated with food in stomach, but on food, I experienced eating the worst noodles in my life.
The most surprising part of the event was the initial songs played before the program, it was cine songs, but very selective with Chu Chu stuffs, but good relaxations, were earlier any songs from cinema other than national anthem were not allowed.
The dance performance of the juniours was mind blowing and the skit played by the MCA girls stays alive still with the humors. The other stuff like the drama and the other songs which were composed & lyrics by our own students was appreciable
Best highlight of events in Velammal is the time factor, Velammal used to keep their time since my school days, believe me it started sharp and ended sharp. That’s one good attitude I need to learn form this institute. Hmm. Hope you will carry the same.
Golden Temple, New Tourist Attraction @ Vellore
On Sunday I visited
I started to temple by 9am from my uncle home and took a bus to the temple; the place is called as Sri Puram, earlier it was called by some other name (Freak cant recollect the name). The temple is around 6-7Km away from
I can recollect my school days earlier (about 10 yrs back), when I once have visited this same place, but to the temple opposite to the golden temple. The older temple had the same goddess and the we used to have lunch after the yagna. These were things I was able to recollect. But still now i have no idea about what I I did in that temple during my childhood.
But now same person who used to conduct the yagana and used to tell some Kuri(Predicting the future), something like astrology practices, I the person behind this Golden temple. The person is called as Godman for the whole Golden temple.
Not much worrying about the money he raised for this temple, I wondered how he has designed an excellent business model for the temple. I entered the temple and found it was exactly an small model of Tirumula , Thirupathi. The had an small counter for free entry and another counter for 100 Rs tickets. Fortunately the boards mentioned that it will take another 4 Hours for Free Dharshan, and 2 Hours for 100 Rs counter. I dared to spend time for the free Dharshan. As I moved on I was put in a similar cell as u find in Thirumula, I was put into an cell equipped with chairs and with coffee stall in it. Then with in few minutes the cell was filled down and suddenly the guards opened the doors of the cell. It took was only few minutes to reach the temple doors where I was put for metal detector checking. People with mobile and other luggage are not allowed inside the temple.
The queue was made to move around the temple, where the saying form Gita and the personal saying of the Godman was put in both English and Tamil. Believe me the place was so gorgeous that I couldn’t believe that it was my Birth placed which is usually a dry town. It was an excellent architecture from the engineers and gold smith. The view has really pleased my heart.
But one thing for sure this place is not a place of worship for me but a good site visit and a must visit place for all. The temple was well designed to accompany large number devotees and I found an excellent business model from the temple. A big hotel was raised near the temple premises and charges were made for entry of vehicles, for
Even people selling tender coconut, butter milk, cool drinks, ornaments and many more have priced more compared to the prices in the main town. Great few have got a new livelihood since this temple opening. But I had a gut feeling of some thing fishy on this temple, but I couldn’t explain this why?, cant digest a new creation in the name of God suddenly after this huge expenditure. Sure God has the answers, awaiting this from God.
People who like to visit this place; I appreciate if you visit this place as an tourist place but not as pilgrimage place. Don’t know why.
