A joyful Christmas ushers in a happy 2024

By  LPJ

As 2024 peeps around the corner in this side of the world, I look back at 2023. A good year that fleets by so fast. Faster for us, the seniors, and slow for the young ones raring to be grown-ups. It is grace to go through hindsight with a sense of gratitude. And it is with that gratitude that we ruminate on the past with contentment that has brought us to the now that leads to anticipation of the hope and promise of the future. It is a good place to be. So, we stare at the approaching 2024 straight in the face with a determination to make it a good year.

That the new year follows on the heels of a jolly Christmas was perhaps meant to be. All the family bondings and reunions, the partying with friends, the festive celebration over food and gift sharing, in the full enjoyment of the Christmas season — all those seem to be the apt fanfare to usher in a new beginning of an increment of time. The magnitude of God’s love in His son Jesus lays before us a span of opportunities, possibilities and blessings, not without the challenges, but with abundant grace. Thus, we welcome 2024 with open arms.

Linda and Angie — Meeting a high school classmate after 60 years (photo by Angie Guevara)

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Impressed by an Indian friend

By  LPJ

I miss a friend I had known in the past two years. Having completed a Fulbright postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University in California, Chandra Vadhana, PhD, left last week back to India where her teenage son and daughter eagerly awaited her return. She will have five weeks to prepare the family for migration to Australia, where she will assume a faculty position at the Monash Business Institute. A big move, and a big change. But Chandra doesn’t change.

From the first day I met Chandra in January 2022, she has been the vivacious, gregarious, quick-to-smile and quick-to-laugh lady, bright eyed and genuinely interested in everyone she meets. She considers herself a feminist, up front in women advocacies and pushing the advancement of education and professional skills especially among the Indian women. Uppermost in her mind is encouraging respect and placing value in women of any society. A modern-day crusader that sets herself as the example of a hardworking, persevering, smart and wise female.

Dr. Chandra Vadhana

A pose after one of many goodbye parties for Chandra in Palo Alto

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