Vicarious (adj)

Definition: experienced or realized through imaginative or sympathetic participation in the experience of another.

Seems to be this entire vacation has been lived in a vicarious manner. Everything I thought, and went through was something I heard about from my friends and family. All their trips, their escapades, their sojourns were things that kept me going through this non existent winter.

So lets recap. In the last two weeks of December and these first few days in January, I have visited a lot of cities. Some in this country, some back home. I have heard stories of fun filled times, of meeting old friends, and making new ones. I have seen pictures of wondrous Christmas and new years celebrations, and heard tales of drunken revelries to bring in those joyous holidays. I have been part of a new beginning for some, and a rekindling for others. I have also seen things shatter, and disappear.

I have seen two oceans, and a sea. I have seen one river. I have sat by the river, and walked by the sea.

I have experienced all kinds of flights, from short 1 hr ones, to 8 hrs and even 14 hrs non stop. I have flown over continental US, over the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the North Pole. I have dined with people I never knew. I have gone for movies with them. I have gone on pilgrimages with them.

I have travelled down the lanes of nostalgia, as well as the sands of time.

And everywhere I went, I went unmarked, leaving not a footstep, nor a sound. I was the silent observer. The watcher. The one who would listen as the tales unfolded, and imagine as if I were there as it happened.

How did I do this? Well, thanks to my friends. I journeyed through their conversations on chat, or the phone, and even through their blogs. Its true, while I have been in Pittsburgh during the day, I have travelled the world at nights, not in my dreams, but through conversations, and pictures.

Oh Winter, where art thou?

They said it would be cold. They said it would snow. They said we'd freeze in January. They say a lot of things.

Its now January, and the high for the day was 15 Celsius(59 F), with the low being a cold, 13 C (55F). Is this supposed to be cold? For this climate, why did I buy the snow boots, the down jacket?

Its disappointing to say the least. I expected a white Christmas, a white birthday, or even a white New Years. But no, it just rains.

Where is the snow? The pure white of the snow, that cleanses the city, the people. The snow that brings out the child in everyone. The snow that has us making snowmen, snowangels. The snow that brings out our ingenuity in ways to hurl snowballs at one another. Where are these unique crystals of water? Why do I feel let down by this place?

People say I'm lucky. Why doesnt it feel like it? They snow causes a lot of trouble in walking to school. But if there's no snow, why call it winter? This place is supposed to go 20 below zero. It did for 2 days. With no snow.

So, my question? Oh Winter, where art thou?

New Years in da Burgh

December 31.
The clock struck noon. There was not a plan in sight. It was new years eve, and the winter gang was wondering what to do to ring out the old, and ring in the new.
Frantic calls were being made. Mails were being despatched. But still no idea. We finally decided to meet up over lunch.
Lunch at the Orchid was a delicious South Indian buffet. Memories of Bangalore came flooding back with the dosas.

Lunch done, we finally decided to head to downtown in the evening for the First Night Pittsburgh events.

After some trying, managed to convince the entire Winter Gang that this was the only party happening in town, and dragged them along.

5 pm.
In the dept. Figuring out buses to get us there, and what events to attend. After some trying, the printers finally printed the schedule, and we headed out to the bus stop, only to see the bus go in front of us. We trekked to the next bus stop, and thats where the rain began. The rain that wud haunt us through the rest of the evening.

Reached the downtown area at 630 pm, and started the tour.
The events were quite good. We saw musicians, jazz artists, painters, magicians, guitarists, ice sculptors, and many other such artisans. And in between it just rained.
An audio, fun event, and palmistry were also on our schedule. People's fortunes were read.. Of course, what was said will stay between the winter gang.

The ice scultputres were gorgeous...

Anyway.. after 5 and a half hrs, half the winter gang decided that there was no point in waiting for midnight at downtown, and so they left at 1130 pm. I dont know what else to say abt that!

The rest of us stayed put in the rain, and waited for the turn of the year.

It finally did.. and with it the rain stopped as well...

So here's wishing you all a very happy new year.