Category: Experience
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Between 4 and 7: MMOW
I set a brown bag on the lobby table of a tall building at Washington University’s BJC Medical Center area and…
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Same Porch, Different Stories
If you live in my neighborhood, you’ll probably bump into me in different places. Sometimes I’m the guy waving from the porch with a goofy story. Other times, I’m hunched over a laptop with way too many tabs open, whispering sweet nothings to all sorts of digital platforms. And on weekends and festival times you’ll…
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My ‘Deer’ – Please don’t do this!
No, there is no typo. Umpteen years ago, when we first moved into our beautiful neighborhood, the sight of a deer family grazing gracefully in our yard felt like a Disney movie. Fawns frolicking, proud parents watching—it was charming, magical even. Guests would say, “You have deer in your front yard? Wow, you’re so lucky!”…
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She Never Needed a Resume to Leave an Impact
May 25 has always been special in our home. It’s my mom’s birthday — well, one of them. 😊
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When the Sky Turns Without Warning
It was supposed to be just another Friday. One of those productive, get-it-done kind of days. The contractor was scheduled for a long-awaited home project, and the grass, thriving from recent rains, desperately needed mowing. I aimed to wrap up these tasks before the forecasted storms rolled in.
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50
I thought I’d start this post with a bold declaration: I just hit 50. No, not my age—though I’m not exactly decades away from that milestone either. But today, I’m celebrating something just as personal and, in many ways, even more symbolic: my 50th blog post.
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10 Parts. Countless Memories. A Journey to Remember.
They say, “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” This trip back to India after 11 years was exactly that—a homecoming, a rediscovery, a deep dive into the places, people, and moments that shaped me.
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Hyphenated Homecoming: Part 10
The author reflects on returning to India after 25 years, finding a vibrant, confident new generation. Their niece epitomizes this change, balancing ambition and family with ease. Visiting friends who thrive after moving back highlights the evolving perceptions of success in India. Overall, the journey encapsulates a hopeful future and enduring connections.
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Hyphenated Homecoming: Part 9
I knew closing a dormant account at one of the nationalized Indian Bank wouldn’t be easy, but I was determined to get it done during my stay in India. What unfolded upon my visit to the branch was nothing short of astonishing!
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Hyphenated Homecoming: Part 8
If there is one thing that sets India apart from the rest of the world, it is its people—their warmth, their unwavering hospitality, and their innate ability to go above and beyond for those they care about. During my visit, I had the privilege of experiencing this firsthand through two incredible families: the Mithbhakare (Adoni)…
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Hyphenated Homecoming: Part 7
Some people enter your life and leave an imprint so deep that no passage of time can fade it. For me, one of those people has been my cousin, Viju Dada. But calling him just a cousin would be an understatement—he has been a mentor, a cheerleader, a problem solver, and at times, even a…
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Hyphenated Homecoming: Part 6
Growing up, one thing was always clear—my brother Mahesh (I still call him Dada) and I were cut from very different cloths. If he was the bookworm, I was the one running around with mom, inside the house, finding other ways to entertain myself. While he devoured books as if they were meals, I was…
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Hyphenated Homecoming: Part 5
This time during my visit, I had the opportunity to witness something truly remarkable—my sister-in-law Kishori Pathak’s dedication to running अब -Normal Home, a rehabilitation and development center for special children in Pune. Established in 2013, it promotes an inclusive approach, organizing annual workshops to empower children. The recent event centered on sports, enhancing confidence…
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Hyphenated Homecoming: Part 4
The first bite of home-cooked food after years away is more than just a meal—it’s a homecoming in itself. After the overnight adventure from Mumbai to Pune, the first order of business wasn’t sleep. It wasn’t unpacking. It wasn’t even stepping out to explore the city. It was food.
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Hyphenated Homecoming: Part 3
Mumbai never sleeps, they say. But at 3:15 AM, it sure feels like it does. As our Uber driver, SarjeRao, smoothly pulled out of the airport, I finally let myself relax. The worst was over, right? No more navigating chaotic underground parking, no more sweaty treks with baggage—just a straight ride to Pune. Simple. Easy.…
Hyphenated-Homestead 