Solitude And Loneliness.

solitude

As I write this post, I am all alone at home with only my dog Chutki for company. The children have disappeared to pursue their own interests. I have been enjoying the peaceable company of Chutki, my newspapers and crossword puzzles since early morning and will shortly go off to my recliner to read something or the other. Like Einstein, I would call that state of mind delicious!

Meghadri in Sanskrit means “Mountain abode of the clouds”. Usually referring to Mount Kailash. My young friend Meghadri, like his name implies is the silent deep type and, is very dear to me. He surprises me every now and then with some reference to something totally unexpected and this link that he sent me out of the blue is one such.  I however doubt that he would give me credit for being in my ‘years of maturity’.

Please read that article after learning something about its author Donald Hall here.

Like Hall, there was a time when I too had enjoyed double solitude but like him, I have got used to the solitary solitude now for the past seven years. I wish that I could be as effective in conveying my state as he is in the article, but I assure my readers that I am not lonely. I do think about those times when I had Urmeela for company but that does not stop me from enjoying my solitude. I do enjoy entertaining visitors,  going to the movies and other outings with friends or family.  I am equally comfortable going somewhere alone by myself or sitting at home and watching movies via DVDs or being occupied with something else.

I had grieved too while being the caregiver for Urmeela and when she died in my arms. It took a while, but I recovered and no, I am not about to die any time soon. I don’t think that I will grieve that she won’t be around by my side while I die as Hall does.

So, there Megh, I will come over for some Chai Latte soon and we shall discuss this more. I thank you for sending me the link to this wonderful reading material.

James Thurber’s Dogs

cartoon_02

That should resonate with Chutki who has been inactive in her blog. She would be thrilled to read what this blog talks about also as would my readers if they are a little patient.

I was quite puzzled when I read the title suggested by Lin and did some research on the subject. Prior to that, I was quite ignorant about Thurber and his dogs. And boy was I glad that Lin suggested this subject and gave me the opportunity to learn about Thurber, his cartoons and his obsession with dogs. What took the cake however was an article that I read from the archives of The New Yorker which you should read to understand why I call it the cake.

What more can anyone say about James Thurber and his dogs?

This topic was suggested by Lin, for the weekly Friday Loose Bloggers Consortium where currently nine of us write on the same topic every Friday.  I hope that you enjoyed my contribution to that effort.  The seven other bloggers who write regularly are, in alphabetical order,  AshokgaelikaaLin, Maxi, Padmum, Pravin,  Shackman and The Old Fossil. Do drop in on their blogs and see what their take is on this week’s topic. Since some of them may post late, or not at all this week, do give some allowance for that too!