Hi to all my good friends, who have really kept my spirits high and gave me enough incentive to keep depression a long way off. I still recall when the depression caught up with me and how each one you came to my rescue and hence I managed to get out of it fast.

In the first instance, I turn 49 on thr 28th. of June and its been seven long years of going thorugh this hell. I still recall my radiation and final chemo coming to an end on this day, 26th. of June 2000. I hoped it would be a great birthday gift that I had received a second chance on the 28th. of June. A second chance -yes but at the cost of all my happiness ( except for my sons and wife ).It also completes seven years of not having been able to eat anything solid or drink even a sip of water orally. Its been 7 long years since the damn peg was thrust into my stomach - in all the second chance has left me "a dead man walking"!!!

I very rarely think of the past and when I do its with so much nostalgia that it can really get to me. I really wish I had stayed back in Barcelona where I was doing very well and had a beautiful ( Ms. Catalunya ) live in girlfriend who would do anything for me. Well circumstances were such that we had to part ways as I did want to come to India on my vacations - which she was dead against - either my going or her. That was the only idiocrisy she had. I really did not need anything more out of life as it was complete. But as I said those days are best forgotten and as long as one live in the present no depression will settle in. There are things however, where the past catches up with you and then things become very sentimentail and one just does not know how to cope up with the same.

Anyway - that was long time ago and now seven years with the cancer!! and still alive - hale and hearty but on liquid peg feed and even water through the same. I lead a very active life but I really cannot relate to my feelings of becoming the very best in my earlier profession again. It seems as if I am insulting my profession and thats something I would vere do. I have this crazy sensation which takes over at times when I feel each part of my body is independent of each other and I have to really concentrate to get my thoughts in order. ( Has anyone got/had this sensation?).

Let me finish my mourning here with the luck that I am alive to seen leave for college and my seocnd son really growing very fast. I am also alive to spend time with my wife, something that was a distant dream when I was working and finally spending time catching up with all my friends who are all her - on this website. I can chat with Russ on the cricket, with Paul on other subjects and so on. It gives me sense of belonging and I want to thank each one of you for what I consider a lovely birthday gift. Russ could give me one extra gift by rooting for India when the team take on the British team/

So my freinds - do try and get a pieces of cake or anything sweet and take a bit of the same as I would be in a position to send the cake all around the world!

With lost and lots of love to each one of you'll. If anything you all will be in my thoughts on the 28th. and hope I too figure somewhere in your thoughts too.

Hasta luego y que vaya con el dios cado uno.

Ananth

Hello Ananth

Hope you are keeping well. Of course, you should celebrate your survival!

You might not have the same life you had or you might have had. But shucks, you are alive and have done so much and seen so much in these seven years!

And you gave me the pleasure of meeting you. And your story and enthusiasm for life and your still being human have so many of us the courage to face adversity.

So rejoice - I will be eating some cake for you. A great excuse for eating carrot cake , don't you think. Any favourite?

By the way, what's the Spanish mean? I don't know much more than 'asta la vista, baby.'

Best wishes
Vinod

Well done
if only i could face my fears with that courage

its inspirational

Happy birthday for the 28th june my friend

Dave and Sue

XXXXX from Sue

Dear Vinod,
Just had a chat with Sue and hope you have already got the details of the chat. I am in a bit of quandry as to how go about things.

Thank you and everyone at home for your good wishes and even though I cannot eat, we have ordered a chocolate cake ( rather two - one chocolate and the other more like a mousse). Its not that I feel bad about turning 49 but think of all the things I could have done or achieved in these years. It does not really hit me too much but the moment someone talks about cancer and I realise its been seven long years I start feeling old!
My sister and my niece have come across to India for their vacations and this wil be the first time she ( my sister ) will be here to celebrate my birthday in the last 25 years.

I finished my post with "see you all later and may God be with you." I decided not to the "Terminater " bit - which made the lines very famous. I am actually also keeping in touch with my spanish as I have begun taking classes for both beginers as well as business men who want a crash course in the same. I never realised the my knowledge of langauges would come so handy and its extremly well paying. I work out of the house and just for two hours per day - monday to friday. I am keeping well and am back to being my old self - on my bike and going around all the place. Sonya, Varun and I also have been moving from college to college to see what would be best for him as he has made it very clear to me that he does not want to go abroad and study even if its the United States or Australia even after I gave him an incentive if he decided to go. It did not work - so India it is, and a degree from Delhi University.
Everyone here is fine and Sonya too is her normal self - going all over the place. Her job as a financial advisor is really doing well and she is happy with what she is doing rather then the money and thats what counts more for me.

I will try and send some snaps of my coming to age! ...as I will never see the forties ever after this one year.

So Vinod - will catch up with you and meanwhile have that piece of cake - chocolate on me. Till la proxima - hasta luego me amigo (till the next - see you later my friend.

With warm regards and lots of love,
Ananth

Happy Birthday Ananth!
You should certainly celebrate! Celebrate your amazing stregnth & courage, celebrate how well you raised your son, & celebrate the fact you fought tooth & nail to see your 49th birthday! You EARNT the right to celebrate & stick 2 fingures up to cancer & say HA, I'M STILL HERE!
I hope you have a special day, whatever it is you decide to do.
The very best to you!
Michelle

First of all Happy Bithday Ananth.Yor spirits seem higher these days.India are in town and I hope we can discuss cricket over the next few weeks.

all the best and keep showing us all the way

Robert

Dear Robert,
Thank you for your wishes, I really appreciate it especially in our conditions. I know the Indians have finally got to the UK and its going to be either one great fighting game or a damp squid - with either India or England giving up without a fight. Luckily for India, Sachin and Ganguly have both in form - in fact Sachin is really going for it. The batting line up is very impressive and getting upto a 300 in an ODI should not be too much of a strain provided they play sensible cricket and not crisis cricket. On the other hand I think England depends more on some players without whom the side will be pretty ordinary. The whitewash of the West Indies was expected so I rally do not delve too much into it as the only worthwhile player was Chandrapaul - an even he has a limit he can carry the entire team on his shoulders.
India on the other hand are travelling without any proper coaches and have instead taken on three players of yesteryears to manage the bowling/fielding and then the. Chandu Borde an ex player who had a great run wih the British during his time is the manager but the entire onus will lie on the captian and Vice captian - namely Dravid and Sachin. I have this gut feeling that this is a better option then to have a foreign coach to tell them how to bat. What do you feel?
Lots of love,
Ananth

Thanks a lot for your wishes as I know how much you mean it and thats why you are one of my favorites!. Well, the Forties have finally reached the last stages and now its to look forward to the 50's. Boy!! I never ever thought I would get this old but each time I see a really cute girl I slap myself and decide that I am old enough to be her dad and that really bothers me.
I am not bothered about the cancer as it never really had me and I have always dealt with it as a passing ohase which unfortunately passed by leaving behind some of the worst traces. Well - that life- I guess or it???? The outcomes of the same have been both great and bad - one one had I se the negative aspect of what the Cancer did to me and on the other hand it gave me friends all over the world with who I can talk and express excatly what I feel as I know I can depend on each one to give me a hearing.
Take care
Ananth

Dear David and Sue,
You both are really the best thing that has happened to this site with all the support that you give to all. I think friends like you are very difficult to find and you'll are those who once you have as a friend never let them go.
Thank you for your very kind wishes for the last of my forties!
Lots of love to both of you,
Ananth

quote:

Originally posted by David and Susan:
Well done
if only i could face my fears with that courage

its inspirational

Happy birthday for the 28th june my friend

Dave and Sue

XXXXX from Sue

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear Ananth, Happy Birthday to you!!!
I hope you enjoy your celebrations, I love to hear how you are going. Just for interest we just had our Aussie cricketer on telly talking about his retirement, Glen McGrath, lovely gentleman of the game, he is taking 12 months to be with his young family and then will decide what he will do more of then after the 12 months. I'm sure you would have heard of him of one Aussie's best.
So enjoy your day and I will have a piece of cake for you, a toast from Aus!!! XXX
Tracey

Today's the big day!
Happy Birthday Ananth!!
x

Dear Tracy,
Thanks a million for your good wishes and the wierd thing that my mother, wife and sister have planned out is a full facial etc. I wonder what came over them!!! I convinced them I looked good enough and instead we go out for lunch. That however, did not suit anyone and so its just going to the mall and each one eating what they want and of course spulrging on new clothes.
Who has not heard of "Pigeon" - Glens pet name. He still has a lot of cricket left in him and I am sure after a break he will be back to start tormenting players from all over the world.I know he a great family man as he has done a lot - like missing matches, leaving in between because of his wife.He will be missed by the "pack" as the Aussies are known !!.. but also leaves a void in every persons heart of those who love their cricket.
Please do have that piece of cake from my side and I will make sure to buy you a big cake if I can ever make it to Australia ever again. I do not know if you know that my in-laws have settled down in Melbourne and my younger brother and family in Sydney. I have been to your lovely country a number of times in the past and remember those times with a lot of nostalgia.
Take care and lots of love,
Ananth

Hi,
Yep - today is the day and love you for remembering it. If you are doing something exciting then think of me or for that matter even if you are just lazing around watching TV.
Take care and lots of love,
Ananth

quote:

Originally posted by Chelle:
Today's the big day!
Happy Birthday Ananth!!
x

Actualy Ananth,
Today is a big day for me too. I'm going back to my old job of dog grooming for the first time! I've just got the kit out and duisted it off!
The week i was diagnosed with cancer was the same week the shop fitters came round to measure up my grooming salon. I was just on the verge of starting my own grooming business. Due to circumstances that had to be put on hold. & the nerve damage i suffered from chemo meant i couldn't even hold a pair of scissors! Well, i've been practising on my partner (cutting his hair) & i'm just about there!
So today i have my first appointment in a long time!
I'm so nervous but this thing hasn't held me back in any other way & it wont stop me from doing this either!
So i dedicate this day to you & everyone else who fought to get back their life! Where there's a will there's a way!
Happy birthday again Ananth!
Many happy returns!
Michelle

Happy Birthday Ananth, hope this is a day you will always remember. Fran.