A good year

This year might very well turn out to be one of the best years. It started with a fabulous fortieth birthday of mine, then getting my American citizenship, then a little turbulence with the inauguration and the new administration, mainly a disturbance to our tranquility, and then Noah's film screening at the SF Indie Film Fest. Fast-forward to April: Lipi got pregnant after years of trying, and on the same day I underwent surgery to remove gallbladder, Noah got the AI research position with a project at UC Berkeley with which he could earn a living as well as enjoy the flexibility of making films, and next week Raj will also finally get his American citizenship. All significant milestones in life. 

I am only enduring, also cherishing, the last few days of abdominal pain that lasted for more than five years of my life. Four surgical knife cuts are an entirely different story from persistent pain that could jump out at any time with any intake of food or liquid. I lived my life in uncertainty and continuously deepened limitations, but I accepted my fate as it was, didn't fuss, didn't complain. I was as happy as always. Now suddenly the dark cloud looming above my head was blown away in one night, and I got to see the sunlight again! Have I ever imagined or expected this? No! I thought I would die with a plain diet, like rice and rice! I would still die happy btw. No expectations of what life brings you are the only way to lead a happy life!

7mm is huge! If a gallstone is more than 5mm, it will most likely be stuck in the duct. I guess when my 7mm was first out in the duct, it was at least 5mm. It has to have been stuck there for a long while by now -- years! Then the 2mm also took its time to come out in the duct, but got stuck behind the 7mm. Getting rid of my gallbladder was such an easy decision; all doctors and surgeons had already made up their minds the moment my latest ultrasound was out, I think. Nobody around me or in my entire extended family has ever done a gallbladder removal surgery, no woman ever approached me and warned me about it, and no doctor or specialist thought that it could be the reason for me, how could I know? How much pain I endured for years. But ya, no fear, never fear, that's just who I am.    

Since Friday, I've been gobbling whatever food was on the table, without hesitation. But after all of this, I've decided to stay healthy, I am going to entirely stay away from smoking and largely limit alcohol consumption. For smoking, I had my time last year, guess I needed that tiny window of freedom, with Sony, a girlfriend. But I am different, I hate the smell of cigarettes, and I was only indulging in the gesture. Now I'm mentally satisfied, I shut the box and walk away. Never physically needed cigarettes in my life ever, anyway. It's especially important for my daughter's sanity and healthy future; her eyes watch keenly, and her brain calculates shrewdly. I have to uphold the fortress for her, with so many menacing evils clawing below.  

Staying healthy also means eating a balanced diet, going to hot yoga, and always being physically active because protesting requires strength. I want to be able to stand in the sun or rain for hours and shout at the top of my lungs. I realized how loud and powerful my voice could be, literally. Both Leena and I are like that. We didn't need a speaker that day in front of Teslerr, but our voices could be heard from the beginning of the SF street to the end. When I exert force with my belly, my voice is full and wide, loud too, an excellent practice for singing. I want to be fit to do the shouting every Saturday: "One-way ticket for Elon to go to Mars!" "Shame on Elon the felon, the richest robbing the poorest!"

It's going to be a good year!