The Long Terms - take your time but don't be late!

Wish-list date - Aug 10, 2008.

Ok, so the year 2012 is a bench-mark year of my life. I want to accomplish quite a bit by then. This is a precise list of all that I want to do by then or in that year.

1. Go to London to watch the inaugural event for Olympics - What they did in China was spectacular and what London can do is beyond my imagination. With that, my only option is to visit London and watch it live - and probably get goose bumps all over - like I always do with almost anything.

2. Go to Wimbledon to watch the Men's finals - I watched this year's Men's finals with my best friend, who taught me the nuances of Tennis. Gripping as the match was, we decided it is something to be watched live. Typical Indian that I am, I will miss the face-painting, loud T-shirt, banners etc that are an integral part of live Indian (read cricket) audiences. That said, sophistication is worth trying. I'll give it a shot. Why 2012? Well, honey, where is the money to go before that? ;-)

3. Speak to a VC to fund my mega book-store chain - Now THIS is not just a wish. It is a dream. An aim. Yes, I always wanted a book-store of mine. Actually I always wanted a private-library. A huge one. Then I realised a library will not be for everyone. The idea of getting hundreds of books at one place is not to pile them. I mean where is the point in collecting them if you can't spread the knowledge? Then I thought I will open a public library. (with the slogan - Read till you pass out. Bad?) But the public library won't happen till age 50 - to say the least.

So the current plan is to first sell books for a few years and then have community libraries (I was even thinking if the Govt will let me convert these old haunted forts into beautiful libraries...)

4. Buy mom and dad a swank new house in the city of their choice - My parents have been buying and selling (their own) houses like a real-estate agent. Ironically, at an age when they are about to retire, they do not have a house of their own...yes a middle-class Indian family that is badly hit by the booming real estate costs. The least I can do for them is gift a 2 bedroom apartment that they can proudly call theirs.

The next few, might take forever or might just happen in a few months - but either way, I am not complaining!

1. Europe trip - all alone.

Weird, isn't it? People like going to Europe with lovers/friends. That's the whole point. I want to be with myself (my best friend and the love of my life - me) for a few weeks and live the exotic world. Alone. I won't have to go back because 'X' is tired. I won't have to eat because 'X' is hungry. I won't have to wear warm clothes because 'X' thinks it is freezing. I won't have to stand near a fountain and smile for 'X's' camera because 'X' thinks it will look good on my foto-frame etc etc...

(Is it too difficult to figure out who all can replace the variable 'X' here?)

2. Vegas - with my girlies.

Totally! We gonna blow it up chic-style! Me and my girls have always wished since our college days that we will do a fancy trip somewhere someday. They do not know that I have already decided the place. My journo friend (perenially broke and a psycho) will hate the idea. My gujju friend (with loads of money) will go mad shopping before she goes and will again mad shop at Vegas and all the places en-route. I am glad she hasn't been to Singapore, else poor 'her dad'... My mallu babes - Dubai settled boss! They WILL come! My sweetest, quietest advertising chica, she will come to hell with me, what's Vegas?

3. A Black Hummer H2 - Damn! what a hottie! Yes that mighty black 4-wheel! I have loved it ever since I first saw it. Also, I eventually want to own a fleet of hummers and have drivers drive them around for desert safaris at Dubai! (Aaha! what a life that would be!) And yes, this one will sure take time!)

4. Meditate at the Osho Ashram - If home is where the heart is, then Poona no doubt is home for me. I spent the 6 best years of my life in Poona and 1 thing I did not, or rather could not, do was spend time at the Osho Ashram. I want to be a part of this cult and experience what it is like to lead an Osho life. It is definitely beyond wearing maroon chogas!