Sleepless en-route to Seattle

3/24/2007: Time... no idea. Place... somewhere above the Pacific Ocean

Can you imagine sitting in a cramped up seat with negligible leg space for 17 hours? If you are an Indian and have travelled to US, most probably, you answered "Yes"! And you fully empathize with me.

I can't sleep. And after watching two movies back to back, my eyes are aching. There are at least 3 babies crying in the flight. So decided to jot down some stuff.

This is the third major "move" in my life - first was from Trivandrum to Bangalore after college, and the second was from Bangalore to Seattle for my first onsite assignment. Like my current move to Seattle, the previous changes have also been pretty painful for my parents. I am an only child and my parents and I have a very strong co-dependent relationship!

I hate admitting this... but the first two times, I was not so sad to move away from my parents. The move to Bangalore was the first whiff of independence in my life. After living under my parents watchful (and definitely, loving too) eyes for 21 years, this was a welcome change! And the move to Seattle was my first trip to a foreign country. So I was definitely excited.

This time, its different. I actually felt sad that I am leaving my parents behind. They are both growing older. And over the last 2 years, I have reconnected with my parents (post all the adoloscent attempts to break away from them). I dont think of them as a hindrance to my independence anymore. And this time, I am also leaving home!! Yes, Bangalore is home now! Trivandrum (as beautiful a place as it might be) is not in my list of favorite places to live in. Thinking of all this, I really wish I could just go back home right now... Never ever thought I'd feel this way!

Three glasses of wine... and I am still not sleepy... So next in agenda is watching Casino Royale (yet again).... Bond is definitely a pleasure to look at ;)