I have the answer!

And it is:



It is the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. The Ultimate Question itself remains unknown.

Yet another October 2 has dawned and yes, it is my birthday all over again. A year older, some wiser, a great deal lazier, some worse for the wear, only 3 lbs lighter than last year but a lot more fit and as crazy as ever! But do I know where I am headed? Like The Ultimate Question, this too remains elusive.


circa 1974

The picture above is probably older or almost as old as many of you reading this post. I tried to do a face merge - now and then - but the face I currently sport is rather too wide and it took away from the absolute awesomeness of what used to be my cuteness.

There's no need to calculate - I'll tell you.
  • I was 7 years old in that picture. 
  • It is over 35 years old. 
  • Why, yes! I am 42 years old today. 
My husband had to ask me how old I was today. All I could think was Wow! have we really been married that long? At least he knew my birth year but he needed to do a little bit of subtraction across two centuries. Little Ms. M did not need to be reminded. She did not hesitate to tell me that I might be a little kinda old because some of her friends have parents who are in their late 20s, I kid you not!

For most Indians, my birthday is difficult to forget because I share it with he-who-shall-remain-unnamed. If you refer to him by name, by nickname, by a reference whether oblique, crooked or straight, your comment shall be deleted immediately. I will also never ever visit your blog nor will I hit refresh a few times after clicking through to arbitrary pages on your blog, in order to increase your hits, page views and, OMG, depth of visit. Instead, your bounce rate shall increase and I will compete with you in your SEO efforts, keyword for keyword, banishing you to the third page in Google's SERPs, which we all know never meets pixels on anyone's screens. As for your PageRank (don't you know? it's everything!), well, let's just say: Your PageRank Are Belong To Me. You stand adequately warned.

With that out of the way, shall we celebrate a little bit here? It would be nice to have a wild virtual party because our IRL celebration is going to be a little subdued. Medha is recovering from a week of being ill with a bad cough, a cold and a fever. She has missed school all of this week and while she might be well enough to go back to school tomorrow, her coughing fits are rather scary and make me want to keep her at home. One more day of rest will only do her good but that's a decision we shall make when the sun comes up over the horizon.

So bring out the bubbly in my honor, dim the lights a bit, turn the music up - please, no Delilah but some 80's dance and disco music would be really nice!

Happy Birthday, me!

33 comments:

Finla said...

Hi hi your just forget the years, mine just add up 10 more year and tell i am that old :-)
Happy b'day and have a wonderful day, with lots of bubbles or and did i say presents :-)

Meeta K. Wolff said...

GAWD!! You know how to scare the hell outta someone - but it's a very important day today it is the GRAND MP BIRTH-DAY! You were adorable back then - err - are certainly cute today! (she's gonna kill me for using cute to describe her) The truth is that you ROCK and hope you have a blast today even if you have to share your Birthday with some other fellow! ;o)

Mamatha said...

Happy Birthday Manisha! What an adorable picture of you that is!

Mamatha

sra said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
sra said...

Guess some crazy'll scream innuendo, dishonour and all that, that's why I deleted it.

Anita said...

Is she saying too much just so...never mind.
A very happy birthday to you, Manisha. May we get to read you for a long long time.

You have kept your old pictures well. What were you up to there? That is a well caught moment! who was the photographer, do you know?

Just an aside, did you know there is an MG Road in every town and city in India?! Long live the Learned One!

Nirmala said...

Oh my dear! Wishing you a hap hap happy b'day ! (Sing along) And to be frank you haven't lost many of the innocence, charm etc from that photgraph. You ae lovely and as crazy you could be! A 1000 hugs dear! Today's my dear friend's b'day too which I never forget because of "this" day! Wishing you good health, love and affection for another million years! Have a great day!

Shilpa said...

Wish you a very happy birthday Manisha. Wish all your dreams come true this year.

Love that cute picture :).


That was a scary warning :)).Can we say the name of another famous personality who was born today ;) you din't warn about him?

Siri said...

Wishing you a very happy birthday Manisha and May you fulfill all your dreams now and always!

That pic is so cute :-)

Best,
Siri

Jen Yu said...

Honestly dear, I was so confused by the threat here and then the threat on the FB page and now I understand. Well - HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Since everything is so ridiculously busy right now, why don't you and I remember to celebrate our 6 mo bdays together come March/April? :) I'm so happy you are 42 and I am also so happy that you are my friend and a part of my life. Love you. xxoo

Anonymous said...

Mane,

Many Many Happy Returns of the day!!

The Ultimate Question, Geez, does anyone know the answer to that one? But if just life in general or writing a post a day for a month every year is not enough, the question will keep you busy for the next 42 years. And that, Dear Girl is a very good thing!

Considering that my blog is in limbo, you dare and threats are very tempting, but I will refrain from mentioning the one who shall not be named. And that, my friend, is my contribution to you party. Meanwhile, dont stop the music. Go , Manisha!!

Priya said...

Happy Happy Happy Birthday to you Manisha! >>:D<<

itna gussa kyon humpe ? You look adorable in that pic, and nothings changed :) I will treat myself to a chocolate brownie today, chalega ? :P

Searching said...

happy birthday !! hope you have fun .. have been following ur blog for couple months now

Desisoccermom said...

Hmmm... threats and subdued celebrations, all in one post. So unlike the unnamed one.
Have a great birthday, o 'some' wiser one.
Seriously, Happy Birthday.

Unknown said...

Happy 42nd Birthday! Ms. Manisha ~ You're just a young thing (little does Miss Medha realize from her very youthful view).

From my "approaching 60 in 2010" viewpoint, you're just blossoming into the BEST years of your life. Enjoy every moment.

Abhi said...

Happy Birthday...have fun and make some chaklis tomorrow, at least:)

MitMoi said...

Happy Birthday Manisha! The forties are great - and not in anyway "old".

And I won't wish a happy day to "he who shall not be named" - because "he" doesn't need to publicity.

Unknown said...

I have been a longtime lurker on your blog. What broke me? Hitchhiker's Guide reference AND it's your birthday. How can I not comment now? I wish you a very happy one and hopefully the mice had a good time observing you and learned a few things (definitely some pointers about Indian food cooking) in the process. (Sorry for the overkill, I'm a huge Douglas Adams nerd). Happy Birthday!!

Shaheen said...

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!! :D

I'm so happy we started talking on twitter. You are so fun to talk to! And your childhood photo is adorable :)

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Manisha!!

Enjoyed your post (LOL) and looking forward to reading the rest of your NaBloWrimo posts.

Lavanya

Rachna said...

YEY, I dont like him too.... forget him....happy birthday to you!!! wow you still are so young and vibrant...and love your picture...catch u on fb....hope medha is feeling a whole lot better now!

Bong Mom said...

Happy B'day Manisha. Of course we all remember Oct 2 for you alone, only Google seems to know Him or is it you in some avtaar ?

Cynthia said...

My dear friend, a very happy birthday to you. May many blessings be bestowed upon you always.

Love and hugs

Cynthia

Unknown said...

Manisha,
Without being reminded.... I still remember your birthday. Wish you a very happy birthday!!
Hope you remember us! Do keep in touch!
Shirley

Bharti said...

Happy Birthday!

Anonymous said...

:-D ...

Jaya M said...

A very happy birthday to you :)....
hugs and smiles

Helen said...

Happy Birthday! (a little late)

Stopping by from the NaBloWriMo site. I want to try and comment at least once on every brave soul who committed to NBWM... that includes you!

And now, I must go rent Hitchhiker's Guide once again :)

Ashwini said...

Happy Birtday Manisha. I am regular visitor to your blog and I love your sense of humor, its certainly one of its kind. Keep it going...

Cheerz
Ashwini.

musical said...

Happy B'day Manisha! Hope the day was fun, relaxing and full of masti! Medha has taken so much after you, the smile is so similar! Very lovely! Sometimes when i look at the mirror and see my smile, it reminds me of Mom, and it is one of the most heart-warming and cozy feelings, ever!

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

Slightly belated but heartfelt birthday wishes, Manisha.
Our birthdays are separated by some days and our ages by a couple of years! I guess I'm a little ahead of you.

I remember thinking 30 was old when I was 12 so your daughter is being kind. ;-D
Hope she's feeling a lot better now.

Btw, which category do I belong to on Twitter, I wonder? :)

Srivalli said...

I finally came back to read this!..What a fun post..of course I am not going to name Him here..but I hope you had a great day!

Tee said...

I just about found your blog..duh! right..i must have been living under a rock..but had to come back and say a few words. My husband also shares the same view as you when it comes to he who shall not be named. It doesn't help that his mother's maiden surname is shared by he who will never be named in my household.

I share the same birth month, only 20 days after you and 12 yrs after you.

Really love the way you write. Its impossible not to love your content, your ideas and your views.
p.s could I add you on face book. I can't seem to find you though...

Tejal
tejal2210(at)gmail(dot)com