Nikita and I climbed to the top of the Stone Mountain this morning. After climbed back down, we sat down in the shade, took out our food from the backpack and rested for a while. Trying to gauge her future interest in climbing up a few more neighboring mountains, I asked “What do you think?”. Pat came her reply – “When I grow up, I am pretty sure I will not be a mountaineer” 🙂
Memorable evening with Brandon Wilson! We sat in cubicles next to each other in an earlier job. He ran Finances for my business (in other words, kept me honest 🙂 ). Above all, he was my friend!! I remember spending quality evenings after work discussing life – how to not forget the perspective that money is an output, not the end (the company we worked in was an immensely successful startup that went public); how to realize what we are really good at – what kind of work makes us truly happy. Certainly set a lot of direction in my life. And he had just crossed into the thirties then!!!
It was great to see how he has continued with success in his career path. But it is his humble beginnings that stand out. Mother worked in post office, dad either farmed or was in construction in a small place called Muleshoe (west Texas) (as he said “are we happy at work” was not an interesting question for them). Brandon’s first job was as a call center rep. Worked there for six years!!! It is amazing to see how he has kept himself grounded in humility, good values and long term view of the road in spite of the phenomenal success he has had career wise!!
This evening was no different from those evenings. I again learnt a lot from him!!
Most favorite part of Sunday mornings – walk with Nikita on the tree covered dirt roads. Today’s topic de jure was GCF and LCM of three or four numbers. During the mile and half walk, I kept on pushing her with bigger and bigger numbers to see how much mental math she could do. Eventually, she picked up a twig and made a quick hash of it by writing down on the dirt road and solving it 🙂 I called foul. She said “Whatevs” !!!
Regardless of how my week went – and they certainly don’t go the way I want always, I can always count on it ending on a perfect note. Always a date night with Sharmila at Milton’s. With our old friends at the bar – Nate, Alex, Alexis, Katelyn, Cathy just to name a few…. The special ones are when Brandon sings at the bar. Here he is …
Last evening, Sharmila and Nikita were discussing all the events of Nikita’s first week of 4th grade (school reopened this week). Evidently, in English, they had to write about “My Hero”. She finished hers and then after school found out that her best friend had written about her mom. (Niki had not). So, Sharmila demanded to know how come she did not write about her mom as her hero.
Nikita’s unforgettable response: ” Ummm… I don’t think you are hero material”
I am like, “You go, girl” 🙂
This morning conversation with mom:
She: “Ei soptahey tour-e jaas ni?”
Me: “Hnah. Gechhilam”
She: “Kobey phirli”?
Me: “Ei to porshu din. Tomay bollam na airport theke phone korchhi”?
She: “O! Kheyal korini. Ekhane bairey eto awaj sob somoy thik korey shona jay na. Kothay gechhili?”
Me: “Salt Lake City”
She (very very confused): “Tui ekhono Kolkata thekey berosni?”
🙂
It was the summer of 1995. I had just joined a small startup company as a developer. Next week Reid Madsen joined and we shared an office. Reid came from C coding background and we used C++.
I remember the first question this tall guy asked me – “Rajib, what is a template”? And I proceeded to explain, feeling good with the early sign that I can add value to my new company.
In under 72 hours, Reid was spitting out C++ template code that made me wonder “How the heck did he do that”? I knew that I was licked.
So, I became a Development Manager 🙂
It was like “Dude, you are way better than me. Now, let me manage you” 🙂
It was fascinating to see that Reid Madsen today after years and years. Thanks are due to him for making the time for a hurried breakfast before I had to run to the airport.
It was heartening to hear from him that he still is proud of me…. for following him in hairstyle 🙂
