The Menons in 2023

We will not be talking about ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 final. We will not be talking about how easily one can throw their back. We will not be talking about teenagers enjoying a mosh pit. We will not be talking about our recent experience with Covid. And we will certainly not be talking about low metabolism rates!

Hope you find the rest of this note a glimpse into the Menons’ lives in 2023.

Bambi

After 11 dog years on this planet, I have come to love home even more. Not sure if it is my age, but I always want to be around my family. It is a pain when they are all working from different rooms. I keep visiting each one every 5 to 10 minutes. If you know my family, you would agree they all need constant supervision! And if you ask them, they blame me for being super anxious as I age. 🐶

This year was the first time I vacationed with a buddy. His name is Pompeii and he was very gracious in welcoming me to his lake house – Malabar Cove.  I also got to welcome a new youngling to our court, Penny. She is smaller than me in size, but is a huge bundle of energy. Always happy, jumping and bouncing around.

I shall end with a joke that you humans could use…Q: Why do dogs like conjunctions? A: They just love buts!

Yash

If I was forced to write a few paragraphs reflecting on the year (multiple eye rolls), it would center around queen hunting and magic. Don’t let the word ‘queen’ get your imagination to run wild, I have promised my parents “no grand kids, just grand puppies”. So my queen hunting was focused on the ‘formicidae’ types. And for common folk like you, I am referring to ‘ants’. I convinced my parents to start an ant farm in our house…yes!.. I see a bright future in sales for me!! Over this spring and summer, I spent time training my eyes to focus on tree stumps, sidewalk corners and lawn edges. Objective was to sight a queen ant and take it home. This was a different kind of learning and I have to give credit to my dad for joining me on these excursions. We did finally manage to get home two queen ants and today they are both growing separate colonies in test tubes. I would sure have more to write about this topic next year, when they transition into their larger ant farm apparatus.

Unlike David Blaine, I can’t spit out a dozen frogs, but I can enthrall you with my card tricks. I have performed on the streets of Naperville, in Costco, in restaurants, parties, airports and at homes. Some of my “best” uncles and aunts invited me for short gigs at their events, where I earned some crisp dollars. Here’s a BIG thank you to those “best” uncles and aunts. To others who are vying to get into this “best” circle, it is super simple…just text me your event details!

Chitra

I will remember this year for making it back on my yoga mat, watching Yash start High School (HS) and Suresh start a new job.

My community played a key role, in supporting and nudging me back on the mat. First as a student and then as the one conducting the practice . It is hard for me to put into words my gratitude for each of these beautiful souls – You know who you are! My resolution in life is to keep paying it forward. ❤️ I also want to thank every student of mine who joins me on the mat. With every class, I learn, I grow and I also see my true self more clearly. You inspire me!

Watching Yash start and be himself in HS has been fun. He has a good circle of friends and made it through his first semester finals. Like every child, he has unique gifts to offer to the world and I love witnessing his journey as he finds himself . I am proud to be a “shrimp” (his nickname for me) as he towers over me.

Suresh got offered a new opportunity some months back which he decided to accept. I think he has made the right call. He’s someone who performs under fire and right now, is getting just that. I will neither confirm nor deny that the fact that he is no longer going to be working from home has anything to do with my excitement!!😍

New additions to the family – an ant farm in the making and an axolotl on the way!

Suresh

Pride. That’s what comes to mind, when I reflect on the year. 

Witnessing Chitra getting back on the mat and watching her teach again, has been one of my proudest moments. Many of you know, she is my Editor in Chief and I did notice how trimmed this section has become.

Yash started his wrestling season with a bang, 2 – 1, in his first HS meet, and was later moved up with the JV team. In his first JV match, he was the underdog, but battled through all the 3 periods, trailing heavily on points. Only hope was for him to pull off a ‘fall’, which did not happen, instead he ‘fell’ just before the bell of the 3rd period. I observed him wince, shake hands with his opponent, slowly walk over to the opposing coach, shake his hand and then to his coach. I saw them talk, he was gesturing to his left hand and then I saw him walk over to the medic. He came back to meet me, with an ice pack on his hand. He had jammed his finger to his opponents knee and was in pain. After 20 minutes, the medic walked over and suggested pulling Yash off the meet, and take him over for an X-ray. After our visit to the clinic, it was determined that Yash had a two point displacement fracture on his 4th meta carpal. The nurse and the doctor remarked “your son is a trooper, I would have been screaming all this while”. Reflecting back to that day, and having seen his match video multiple times, I could see when the jamming of the finger took place, when his hand again comes under his opponent’s knee and he continued to fight. Yes, that is my boy! He will work on improving his skills, but he has a tough mind and I am super proud of him.

This year also gave me the opportunity to spend good time with my professor from college, catch up with my first US customer and host my mentor from my first job. All these people are special to me and spending time with them was a blessing. I sincerely hope to have made them proud with my conduct and actions. Having lost my mom and dad, there is a void in my life and these folks have stepped into it. Too bad they are stuck with a 48 year old, adopted son!

Sharing the Menon family love

We experienced and explored in 2023. We took knocks to our chins and got back up to fight another day. We laughed and rejoiced. We treasure those who have been around for us and those who share their positive energies with us. Life is short and we are going to focus on what brings us joy. 

Wishing each of you, a big dose of “ease”. Ease to be making healthy choices, ease to be positive and ease to focus on what brings you abundant joy. Happy holidays and have a memorable year ahead. 

past annual letters

2022

2021