I grew up in India. Needless to say I spent most of my time outdoors. My father’s profession took us to different states and cities every 3 years. One would think that a child would get depressed at the thought of leaving friends behind. But surprisingly with me it was the opposite. I would look forward to the move. Each move meant new places to see, new schools to attend, new friends to make and sometimes a new language to learn.

The old ones were never left behind,always a letter or a photo in the mail kept us connected. In recent years facebook has come to the rescue.

A common question for all kids growing up in India by anyone who you meet for the first time: “what do you want to be when you grow up?”

My answer for the longest time , after the “I want to be a teacher ” phase was “a place where my office has Venetian Blinds!!”

I still can’t really fathom what it was about the Venetian Blinds that attracted me to it, perhaps the allure of the unknown ? A sense of affluence ?

Now that Venetian Blinds are commonplace, I look back and smile to myself, all I want now is a taste of the outdoors. A walk in the woods with my friends, family or pets.

A new variation to a common quote: “Life is more alluring on the other side of the Venetian Blinds!!”