“I get by with a little help from my friends” – Love the Joe Cocker version. That’s just what I did this week. Friendship enveloped me with loving care and lots of laughs. Friends I hadn’t been in touch with for a while now, called, visited, emailed and filled my life with happiness.
I am still limping. Just when I was beginning to smile, I came down with a bad throat infection, fever and ugh, cough. It is funny how the cough continues long after the antibiotics. Not very clever, if you ask me. Still, I don’t have much say in it. Seriously, every time I try to talk, I cough – I don’t say a thing.
Valentine’s Day came and went. I had big plans of a post full of love but couldn’t write it. I had no control over my fingers – that thrice-a-day cough syrup sure can freak one out. I just felt like lying down or sleeping most of the time and felt sad that this blog was a lonely place during that time.
But Vanita Cyril, my wonderful soul sister and friend decided this was a good time to swap hosting companies and moved the blog to a more stable home. This, in spite of her own health issues, responsibilities and overfull work calendar. Thank you, Vanita. I appreciate you deeply.
I am always amazed how friendship senses moods. Last week, Angela said, “Vidya, let’s Skype!” and I was delighted to experience my first mediumship reading with her. I loved it. Thank you, Angela Artemis for giving me such a priceless gift.
Sandi Amorim, another dear friend, kept sending me lovely messages. But the one that melted my heart was this one. Thank you, Sandi!
I also wrote a love letter to myself last week which is featured in healing self-love notes! I loved seeing the trend in Valentine’s Day blog posts focusing on self-love this year. Unknown Mami has a lovely printable you can download here.
In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, for in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.
~Kahlil Gibran
Since I didn’t get out to click any awesome photos – hopefully next week will be better – I decided to showcase a few of my dear friend Ravi’s photos. He’s an amazing photographer and I’ve shown you some of his pictures before. Here are some of my favorites from his album – yes, his photo-casa is my photo-casa too!
A lone boat. A beautifully colorful boat.
This is the Brahmaputra River in Gauhati. I had the pleasure of going there in 1997 – and found that I could stand and gaze at it infinitely. It is just beautiful and Ravi has captured a precious moment.
This striking cormorant outside a temple is in Ravi’s hometown in the state of Kerala in South India
An unintentionally artistic line-up of pumpkins on someone’s tin roof.
Here is a beautiful picture of a pretty display on the street – a shop perhaps? in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
Thanks to Tara Lemieux for this lovely image:
Now, let’s head over to Unknown Mami’s place for this week’s world travel itinerary!
thanks for the shout out sis. cough medicine stinks man. so glad you’re up to a post, means you’re feeling better. best news I could get today.
Ravi is an awesome photographer sis. love these pictures.
You’re my sunshine, Vanita. Hugs. Yes, Ravi is awesome. 😀
OH I LOVE the two boat pictures. The red and blue one is awesome – – – that photo would make a GREAT poster. And the boat at sunset, all loaded to the gills with people, that is a stunning photo too.
Hugs, Keetha! I’ve missed you. I know I have lots of catching up to do! And I know I will, too.
I think I’ll print that boat photo and show it off on my wall.
The thing I love most about friendship is that distance makes no difference to true friends. xoS
Yes, Sandi! You are a bright shining light to me! Hugs and thank you for making me feel wonderful, and being my friend!
So happy to see your beautiful new post dear One. And am glad you’re feeling just a teensie bit better. Here’s to your great health and vitality blooming again.
Love the pics. I’m dead jealous – what a great photographer. Sigh – got a ways to go. But it’s still fun.
I’m grateful that you’re in my life Vidya.
Love Elle
xoxo
Hugs, Elle. And thank you for the loving messages you always send me! I am glad you are in my life, too, soul sis! 😀 I used to be jealous of Ravi’s photography but got over it when he gave me carte blanche to use them. He’s an amazing person, overall!
Love the blue shots – the boat and the glass jars. A wonderful splash of color.
Tara, I thought of you when I uploaded the photos. You’re among my favorite photographers, too! Thank you!
The blue boat was beautiful. As far as what I did for Valentine’s Day, I spent in traveling. However, the day before, I assisted some lovely children in making handmade cards. In Central America, Valetine’s Day is called the Day of Love and Friendship. So, we stressed the value of differing types of love and everyone seemed content to make cards of differing types.
Laurie, I find that blue boat quite mesmerizing and I am seriously considering making a print for my wall. I love the concept of love and friendship for Valentine’s Day. My first ever V. card was from a colleagues at work and it was so beautiful.
Would love to see some of those cards! Your SIMC post is breath-taking! Love, Vidya
Hi Vidya,
Glad you are feeling better and that you had people reaching out. I love Sandi’s message to you. That seems so fitting. You have been such a joy to know and it is wonderful that no matter where we live, we can reach out and be friends. Glad you had a reading with Angela. I’ve done that as well and it was a wonderful experience!
Sending love and hope you are 100% soon!
Thank you, dearest Cathy! I love that we can reach out and “touch” too! You are a great inspiration to me! Love you!
Hi dear Vidya-
You are a spirit full of love, compassion, and joy~ Every one of us who knows you is touched by the beautiful being that you are. xxoo-Fran
Hugs, Fran. Your lovely words instantly raised my spirits, as they always do. Oh, I fondly treasure that lovely birthday card you sent me last year! Hugs!
Sorry to hear that you were not well -hope you’re better now. Coughing really sucks.
How wonderful of you to share your friend’s pictures – they’re beautiful!
Thank you Alison! Hugs! 😀 I loved the look of your latest post. In fact, I wanted to add that quote and then realized I forgot long after I published the post 😀 Glad you are my “present” friend, Ali!
hi Vidya – hope you continue to feel better. thanks for celebrating your friendships which is no doubt medicine for any sickness? Also, lovely pics as usual. Not sure which of the first two boat photos I like better. They are both striking.
Hi Vishnu! Oh, nothing like a shower of love to heal! I love all the photos and find it hard to choose. Happy you like them too! Have a great week!
I’m so sorry you’ve been unwell! Same with me. I don’t know if it’s been allergies or a head cold, but it’s the same feeling of needing to stay in bed. Hope you feel better soon.
Thank you for sharing the warmth of your friendship and these lovely photos. Sending all my love to you and wishes for your improved health.
I would have limped over with a big bowl of sweet corn veg soup had I lived near you, Sandra. I hope you feel better soon, too! Hugs. Loved your latest post! Thank you for being my friend!
Vidya,
So glad you’re beginning to feel better. I feel blessed to have you as friend as well. Who would know that we could find such friends online. Sandi sent me one, too, that totally warmed my heart. And how wonderful to get a reading! Can’t wait to hear how it went!
PS Ravi is indeed a great photographer.
You’re right, Betsy! Internet opens up such unlimited possibilities. Sandi totally rocks! 🙂 The reading was superb and transported me through a range of emotions, naturally, but the overall feeling was one of gratitude, love and happiness. I treasure it.
Ravi is one of my closest friends and the best. Hugs. So glad we are connected,Betsy!
I was also impressed with the self-love posts around valentines day. Just when I was thinking “it seems most people don’t realize this” I was pleasantly surprised to see the message being spread! 🙂
I hope you are getting better.
I love the photos you put up, those would be some great places to explore.
-Ben
Thank you, Ben, yes, I am feeling better.
Yes, those photos are fabulous, aren’t they? And they come from some really charming places. But India is full of treasures. 🙂
I loved the trend in self-love posts especially because they were all so empowering to read.
Thanks again, Ben.
Hope you are keeping well now! The pics and the contents were a delight Vidya:)
Thank you, Rahul!
Hi Vidya,
Keep smiling, my friend. 🙂
When I read your comment about having a cough even after an infection has passed, it got me thinking about how true this is! A strange one…
The pictures were great and I loved the menu one.
Hiten (I am always tempted to address you as Hitel-bhai! :-))
The menu is lovely, isn’t it? Something that will never go stale, ever. Hugs and thanks for coming by!
Hi Vidya,
Yes, please call me Hiten bhai if you would like to!
In fact, I’m changing my comment from keep smiling, my friend to keep smiling, my sister! 🙂
I can safely now say “kem cho” next time! Hugs!
Hi Vidya,
Hope you feel better soon. I am very impressed that even though you have not been feeling well, you are still able to publish such an amazing post. You have got many beautiful pictures here!
Love and blessings,
Evelyn
Evelyn, literally with a little help from my friends! 🙂 My friend Ravi is a fine photographer, besides being a wonderful person. 🙂 Thank you. Love you for coming over and making me feel gooooood!
Love to you…and a huge energetic hug full of refreshment!
I feel it, Joy! I feel it all the time. Love you!
I was hoping you’d be feeling better by now. Take care of yourself. We’ll wait until you can return well and happy.
Glynis, I am feeling much better. 😉 I limp faster. I am trying to thumb my nose at my ailments, hopefully they’ll be disgusted with my cheerfulness and run away fast. 😀 Thank you dear friend!
Great picture. The menue is my favorite. Can’t serve anything much better. Wishing feel much better soon. I had that cold and cough and it does take time to rid of it.
Thank you for sharing this post. it put sumshine in my day.
Debbie
Debbie, I fell in love with that menu the minute I saw it! It is such a great poster to start every day with! Hugs! Glad you enjoyed it too!
Lovely pictures Vidya. The unseasonal rains and moisture also causes throat infections!
Thank you, Pattu! Yes, you are right. And Bangalore weather you know, is crazy at this time. Cold nights and hot days. 🙂
Love the photos! Thanks for sharing, Vidya. I’m so glad you’re beginning to feel better my friend. I hate that coughing part too! Big HUG!
Hugs, Terri! Yeah, the cough is like a curse. 🙂 Our weather is partly to blame. Still, I am happy I work from home – what a big relief! Big hugs back at ya!
I am so sorry to hear of your difficulties, but the outpouring of love surprises me not one single bit. Thank you for sharing those beautiful pictures.
Hugs, Claudya! I have too many things to be happy about, compared with the temporary sickness 😀 Ravi’s photos are always a treat!
Dear Vidya,
Ever since we met online two years ago – I felt immediately that we were kindred spirits and I liked you instantly! As Sandi said in her comment – distance has nothing to do with friendship. I think we are all “psychic” to a degree and tune into each other that way whether we know it or not. We know when we like someone and we know when we don’t.
I’m so glad I met you and I’m so glad I heard that little voice that day telling me to “skype with you.” I’m sure it was your mother who orchestrated the whole thing!
xoxo,
Angela
Angela
Dearest Angela! 🙂 Your comment gives me such a wonderfully warm feeling. I love how we’ve grown closer over the years. I am grateful for that special aura that draws us to each other in a positive and nurturing way. Hugs. I know that the stars were perfectly aligned when you said Let’s Skype. 😀 It was an experience of a lifetime for me. Hugs! Yes, my Mom rocks!
Oooo,that menu is divine.
Vidya,we must SKYPE, too.
I want to See you!
Love you more than 8 black panthers drinking water in Lake Victoria.
Xxxxxxx
Hugs, Kim! Lovely Menu, isn’t it? It is easily one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen. Fills the heart.
Yes, we’ll Skype. I love you more than thirty peacocks dancing in the gentle drizzle of rain!
We love you and wish we can do more! Rest my dear and keep loving yourself up!
Love you, too, Jodi! Thank you!
You continue to be in my heart and prayers, Vidya! So glad you are improving. Thanks for the beautiful post with the beautiful message and the beautiful photos.
Love you!
Ken, you’re the best and have taken up permanent residence in my heart. Hugs! 😀 I am in love with the photos myself! Thank you for being!
So happy you are feeling better :). Great pics thank you for sharing! And I agree Vamita is a life saver. Hugs girl keep those healthy vibes around you.
Thank you, Laura! So glad we met through Vanita! 😀 Appreciate your lovely wishes!
I love Sandi’s message it does sum you up so well. I am sending you healing love energy and light and sorry you have been feeling so poorly. You are amazing thank you sor all you do and who you be and I love Ravi photos have pinned some the menu is awesome
namaste
Suzie xxoo
Thank you, Suzie! You are a ray of sunshine on a daily basis for me. 🙂 I am loving your Feb challenge notes! I am grateful for your love and healing energy. I feel much better now – just waiting for the wounds to heal. Love you! Namaste!
Such beautiful photos!! Hope you are feeling much better!
🙂 Yes, Feeling better, Roshni. Just waiting for the wounds to heal! Thank you for visiting!
As always it’s such a joy to visit your bright and friendly page Vidya. I love your menu! Have a wonderful week 🙂
Hugs, Carolyn. I was thinking of you when I wrote this post!
Hi Vidya,
Your posts are always like a big bowl of sunshine.
🙂 Ah, reciprocated several times over, Josh. Loving your blog too! And glad you’re back “there” 🙂
Hi Vidya,
Friends are wonderful people who are so important to our lives. Here’s a rhyme I learned as a child that I have never forgotten:
Make new friends,
but keep the old.
One is silver,
the other is gold.
Thanks so much for being my new friend. do hope you are feeling better and have healed up from your tumble. I apologize for not visiting sooner but I took a fall down our stairwell and my back was out of alignment. I’m getting physio for it and expecting to feel better soon.
Namaste
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