LMOG ‘83

friends,
I just finsihed a great book which some of you might have even read as its been out for a while…its called Kite Runner.
A great portrayal of life in Afghanistan from the ’70s to present day.Its fictional interwoven with true facts and is quite a page turner.
If you all get a chance – do read.
Any suggestions…looking for something exciting to read.Any recommendations??

hugs and have a great weekend y’all.

arti

Hi gals,

Mira and I met up on Sunday afternoon after twenty three years and it was like yesterday and we had the best time ever!!!
Where did all this time go…honest gals,it was like we had just left school.Mira looks the same and has a lovely home and two beautiful kids..I did not get a chance to meet Vikram as he was away on a business trip and it was well timed as he would not have had a chance to get a word in!!!(poor guy).We had so much to share and so much to talk about that even fours hours was not enuff.
Its so nice to have another friend from school and we are so fortunate to have been in school together – we are really blessed.As Dipa said in another note,the best part is that all the good ol’ faces are still the same good ol’ people and no one has changed.Its nice to pick up from where we left off and may it always remain the same.
Hopefully more of you will join in the blog and participate and maybe even join us in Toronto on vacation or work or heh!! you might just move here like we did!!!!!
take care everyone.
(beware – if Dipa and Roopa are together,its quite a deadly combo – they woke me up at four in the morn)

Dearest friends,

Firstly a very big thank-you to Dipali for tenaciously making every effort to track me down in the perma-frost region of Canada!!! (Yes,we have all scattered into the four corners of the globe!)
Also to Ujjwala for creating this wonderful site where we can all connect after almost two decades.

A very big hello to all of you and look forward to sharing in all your happenings over the last twenty years…looks like we have all carved our niches in different areas and seems like most are focussing on families,careers and loved ones.

My story is one of many ups and downs over the last twenty years as I am sure is the case in most peoples lives…though I must admit there have been more “ups” than “downs” and pray may it be the same for all the wonderful gals of the class of ‘83

I moved to Toronto in the summer of ‘88 with an alcoholic and abusive husband and fortunately was able to reconize the signs of a disastrous future ahead and subsequently took a bold step that I never looked back on and with a few pennies to my name and a few worldly belongings I decided to abort the relationship…basically nipped it in the bud and embarked on a new journey all by myself.
Fortunately I had a good job that allowed me to sustain myself and with the support,love and care of a wonderful family and a few new found friends in Toronto I managed to sail rather than sink!! (was determined to do so)

Through many twists and turns on this journey I must admit I have been blessed with the oppurtunity of meeting wonderful people,forming great friendships and relationships and traversing the globe has definitely broadened my horizon on life and made me a much better person overall.
Living in Toronto I have been able to interact with people of all walks of life and being such a multicultural melting pot its been a great experience assimilating with people from all over the world…what a wonderful history and geopraphy lesson in its self….more than what Ms.Dutta or Ms.Choudhury could ever have taught me!!!!

i am currently residing in Toronto,work for a communications company called Bell Canada and work in sales for high revenue business markets.I keep a busy routine with work and play and enjoy the change of seasons but I am not so sure “tropical birds” like us are a good fit for the long and arduous winter months!!! I really enjoy playing squash,doing yoga and working out and love to cook and entertain ( so if any of you decide to visit – I promise you wont go hungry)
I also spend a lot of time with a wonderful man whose has been friend, companion and the love of my life!!!

Now,if only I knew how to post a picture of myself.I think I look pretty much the same,maybe a wee bit older
Stay tuned…maybe next time I will post a mug shot

How is everyone else doing?? Roopa,I think of you often and Gopi and I talk regularly and often remember good times at school socials and Tolly!!!
Deepa,I saw your site and you are doing great guns!!! Keep it up,that is fantastic.Your kids are gorgeous-bless them always!
Meera,I hear you are also in Toronto – we must connect.
Rohini.I still remember all the wonderul idli-dosa lunches at your home after school.
Vinita,we spent a lot of good times together and so did our folks ….remember??

This is so nice gals…nice to reconnect after aeons.Stay in touch and hopefully we can all meet up one day and truly have a great big reunion.

love and hugs to all and look forward to hearing from you all

always,

arti manaktala