In the Christian churches, holy days and seasons revolve around a cycle of feasts and fasts. In our present age, many people do not know that “Halloween” is a shortened form of the term, “All Hallows Eve,” signifying the evening festival for All Saints’ Day – similar, of course, to Christian celebrations of Christmas Eve. Nor are most people cognizant that All Saints is actually a season and is celebrated for an octave, or eight days. All this is an introduction to the fact that this season of All the Saints is my favorite season of the year, beginning with Halloween and lasting through November 8th. Here is a religious season that contemplates the very meaning of our lives and deaths, our souls and bodies. Here too is a season that acknowledges that we are surrounded by “a great cloud of witness” – the on-going presence of all the dead who rest in the heart of creation and yet ever have an impact upon us all. It is a beautiful season, and it coincides with the changing and falling of the leaves here in New England. It forms a backdrop and segway that is entirely fitting to the season of Thanksgiving, too.

My first week in graduate school was a time to be cherished: it was filled with adventure and newness coupled with a fabulous sense of being at home born of choosing a place that was absolutely right for me. The school is in downtown Manhattan, New York City, and I had never spent much time in the Big Apple. Everything was on a large scale, and I was often seen walking down the street so focused on sky scrapers and building decorations that I could miss the mess on the sidewalk. Foods, museums, modes of transport, sights and sounds and smells were all new to me – and then there were the people! They were of every color, language, degree of cleanliness and sanity ever known to humanity. Nothing was boring, everything was endlessly fascinating, and the enclosures of the campus itself granted me a safe haven in an otherwise overwhelming environment.

One of the most important thing my community needs to be sensitized is organ donation. In western countries this awareness is already there. But in India and other Asian countries there is a lack of knowledge regarding organ donation. Moreover, religious and social customs make it hard to get the message of organ donation to the common man. I would like to help my community to overcome this hurdle and to instill in them the sanctity of this noble cause. There is an acute shortage of organs like eyes, liver and kidney that result in thousands of avoidable deaths. Starting a campaign for donation is my long term goal too.

When I was six years old my family moved to Maryville, Missouri. My grandma had just died and I was leaving my beloved aunt and uncle not to mention my grandpa. I was not a happy child. I was in first grade and my new teacher’s name was Mrs. Dowden. I was brand new in class and very shy. Mrs. Dowden told us to get our gym shoes out one afternoon. All of the girls had the same white, Ked style tennis shoes. I got mine out and put them on my desk and the little girl sitting next to me thought they were hers. An argument ensued and she told me to give them back. Both of us ended up in tears with Mrs. Dowden having to step in and figure out what was going on. She found Lori’s shoes in a bag in her cubby. That was in 1966 and we have been best friends ever since!

My most favorite place in my home is my garden. Basically, I am a nature lover. I used to plant different varieties of plants in my garden. I used to spend a lot of time in my garden. My heart becomes very light whenever I see my garden. I enjoy gardening very much. Whenever a guest or a friend comes to my home, I usually take them to my garden and show them the beauty of the nature. I really love the peace of my garden. Nothing in this world can replace the nature. I thank God for creating such a wonderful nature for the mankind.

During my work week all I can think about is what I am going to do the next weekend starting 5:00 PM Friday afternoon.  I chose to cram absolutely ever minute with spending time with others.  I spend so much solitary time during the week with just my significant other and me that I want to get together with others and have a kicking good time.  I don’t just settle for heading to the bar, but we love to catch a good local theatre show, test out the new restaurant around the corner, or catch some rays outside. Have fun!