Flipped the script! 😊

Many monsoons ago it was a cloudy day. The sky was overcast and the Sun was trying to peep through the clouds. It was summer holidays time and just before the onset of the monsoon season. With time to kill and desire to get some fresh air I set out for a walk. My path took me through a wooded area. Saw couple of shadowy figures in the distance. It was the SiRash combo. Si a sicko πŸ‘Ž and Rash his rash sidekick πŸ‘Ž. Both of them bullies, meaning they were insecure and cowardly, up to no good and always craving for attention. Known for imposing their views on anything and everything and acting like they were God’s gift to humankind. πŸ‘Ž Anger, hatred and jealousy were their driving forces. 😑 They were always on the lookout to pick on someone. Generally picking on anyone who they thought wouldn’t respond or object to anything offensive said by SiRash. On occasions I would ask them to back off if I felt they were unfairly targeting a person they thought was vulnerable and too meek to respond. Let’s put it this way: We weren’t exactly close friends. I always wondered why folks who could drill some sense into them chose to remain silent. πŸ€” Either they wanted to avoid trouble or were just glad not to be picked on. Whatever it is, if bullies are not confronted, they take it as a license and approval to carry on with their bullying ways. This day I was just interested in enjoying the weather, the cool breeze and natural surroundings. Was hoping that SiRash combo were also out for the same reason. No such luck, true to nature they started taunting me hoping to get me riled up. Soon we were in a wooded area where the canopy of the trees covered the entire road in shade. I was determined not to play into their hands by responding back. I walked briskly ahead of them even as the taunting continued. I think they were disappointed to not hear me say anything. A little further ahead of the wooded area the road forked. Just as I was about to take the right road I turned around. They were looking very expectantly for me to say something. Instead, I smiled and flipped the script by flipping a finger. πŸ–• Message sent without a word said! πŸ˜‚ I walked on the right road, and it was bright and sunny as if to indicate a small battle won. Disappointment writ on their faces they took the left road, which was still dark, covered by cloud. Groping in the dark and looking for their next target probably. I couldn’t care less!
Acknowledgements: Image for the story created using Google Gemini Nano Banana 2 using prompts

Sir Garry Sobers: A tribute πŸ™

https://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1546061/garry-sobers—where-art-met-sport

Legendary cricketer Sir Garry Sobers passed away on Friday, July 17, 2026. πŸ™ An exceptional athlete blessed with otherworldly talent, Sobers was a cricketing genius who exceled in all aspects as a cricketer: batsman, bowler and fielderπŸ‘Œ A career spanning 20 glorious years, cricket fans were blessed to witness greatness unfold before their eyes as the great man entertained wherever and whatever team he played for, be it the West Indies, the Caribbean island team (Barbados) he represented, and the English county and Australian State teams in their local cricket leagues. πŸ‘ He even led and played for the Rest of the World team with distinction. πŸ‘ Some sportspersons wow with their talent, some wow with their achievements, some wow with their natural ability to entertain and then there are a very few like Sobers who wowed with all those qualities and had so much fun whenever he stepped on the field of play. 😊 Sobers’ talent and achievement were such that his popularity transcended the sport as he always carried himself with grace and a smile wherever he went. I suspect even the teams he played against were secretly hoping to catch a glimpse of his genius even while praying for their team’s success. Even the famously tight-lipped Brits, who were at the receiving end in many of the matches Sobers played against them, were singing his praises when the great man’s final innings on earth ended! I have seen a few grainy videos, on youtube, of the great man playing that was enough for me to appreciate his talent and achievements and also to understand why he was so entertaining. In Barbados, that tiny speck of an island which has produced many cricketing greats, he is much revered and probably more popular than any other cricketing great! πŸ‘
Rest in peace, Sir Garry Sobers πŸ™
The Gods felt it was time for them to be entertained by your talent πŸ™
Your memory will live on in the YouTube videos and the words of those who enjoyed it firsthand and from those who heard it from the people who were lucky to enjoy it in person. πŸ™

P.S. I was traveling last week and learned about Sobers’ passing away on my return home. Hence the late tribute πŸ™

Generosity + Goodness > Greed + Grift + Graft!

Just when you are resigned to hearing and reading more news about greed, grift and graft 😑 comes a heartwarming story about generosity and goodness πŸ‘Œthat restores the belief
Generosity + Goodness > Greed + Grift + Graft!
You just feel like reaching out and giving a warm hug to the 88-year-old gentleman still working 8 hours/day, 5 days a week and applauding πŸ‘ the efforts of the social media influencer and all the folks for their kindness and generosity to ensure that the nice, grandfatherly person can enjoy retirement πŸ‘πŸ™

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ed-bambas-army-veteran-working-grocery-store/

I travel, U guess! 😊 #6

From the picture guess the place! If you need a clue I say Mishigami! 😊
To shed more light let me add that you will find these structures by Mishigami very useful if you go fishing at night looking for something Grand or just seeking a safe Haven in the South! 😊
No pier pressure to guess it right though πŸ˜‚

For those interested the 2 lighthouses highlighted (“highlighted” sounds like a description of a lighthouse πŸ˜€) are Grand Haven lighthouse in the north and South Haven lighthouse more to the south. Both are lighthouses on the shores of Lake Michigan πŸ™

Ghost, ghost, ghost pepper! 🌢πŸ”₯

Cruising along the digestive way πŸ˜‰
My pal Habanero beside me at the wheel πŸ›ž
Raj took a bite with a smile 😊
He was running for water after a while πŸƒ
Steam coming out of his ears 🦻
I rolled on with no fears 🌢
Ghost, ghost, ghost pepper! πŸ”₯

I travel, U guess! 😊 #5

From the picture guess the place! Take advantage of this opportunity! Should I say take a bite of the apple 🍎 instead? πŸ˜‰

Reviving the series that I originally started with the title
“Gaze out the window, guess the place!”. Four images were posted earlier as part of the series. Felt “I travel, U guess” sounded catchier and hence the change in title for the series, for this 5th image! If history is any guide, I expect zero guesses though πŸ˜‚

P.S. While posting I was debating whether to use “sounded catchier” or “sounded more catchy”. Was leaning towards “more catchy” initially. Search revealed that others have had this internal debate too 🀣 and “catchier” is more commonly used even though both are grammatically correct! πŸ‘