2021: A year that tested me like no other

Started 2021 with an overwhelming feeling of grief and guilt after the sudden loss of my father-in-law. The refrigerator that was delivered at the time of his funeral will be a reminder of how fickle life is. Podcasting became a way of coping with that grief. Found new friends, reconnected with some old ones. New bonds formed. Older ones were tested. Love, loss, inexplicable connections with people and places far away from this time and beyond made me, an atheist, almost a believer. Found my Afghan friends without a homeland as Taliban took over their country. My pain, guilt and sense of betrayal seemed trivial to theirs. Hate mail became the norm, from beyond the borders and within. Finally, summed up the courage to publish my fiction series, The Goa Saga, and get accustomed to the idea of being a novelist. Three podcasts, two new careers, juggling the toddler's first school year with anxiety, fear and lots of laughter, this year has tested me like no other. 2022 will be for love and hope. Happy New Year!