1/n
#Fall
Fall or Autumn, one of the best times of the year in Northern Hem, especially US. Summer heat subsided long ago, winter’s not yet near. Cool crisp autumn air with the right amount of nip to make you pull on the sweater tighter as you leave for work in the morning

2/n As you walk on the streets the maples greet you in glorious reds, yellows and browns. The crunch that you hear as you step on the leaves, just as a breeze out of nowhere blows the leaves across the street

Late afternoons as you take a stroll you alternate between warm & cold

3/n Warm as the sunshine from the low sun on the horizon bathes you in its bliss just as you step in the shadows and feel the nip in the air. The brisk walk makes you look forward to the evening, the week and the month ahead...

4/n Those interested in sports you are either basking in the glory of your team playing in the Fall Classic or having just won World Series or you bemoan another lost season. For the long suffering Chicago Bears, and other football fans, Fall usually is week to week affair.

5/n Some weeks you revel in the win and others you recover from a depressing loss. But football and Fall are match made in heaven. As you toss a football with the kids in the park, life looks perfect as it is. In any normal year, that is.

6/n
Every year as fall gives way to creeping winter you evaluate the year. Some successes you celebrate, other not-so-successful events you regret. It is a contemplative time that is however made better as you envision the 2 Wks holiday to spend with family and friends.

7/n
This year however is like none. What started as a mild outbreak in China turned into few weeks shutdown in US. Days turned into weeks, Weeks into months. Milestones came and went. The cloud over our heads seems inclined to stay here.

8/n
We have seen jobs lost, business we patronized and loved shutdown. Families fearing losing their homes. And worst of all the bad news creeps in. Friends or family not well. You hear acquaintances unwell, some even departing this world thrusting us in a sea of agony. J

9/n Just found today that a good family friend lost their parent today. I knew the family well, been friends for over 20 years. As the bad news creeps in, you try your best to keep a positive face though with some fear.

10/n Anytime a family member sneezes or coughs or sniffles, you look with concern. However in the middle of it you also reach for the roots. Faith, Family, and Friends that sometimes we take for granted become center stage. These three have helped me survive the year.

11/n Some amazing friendships I have struck on twitter of all places, helping neighbors and receiving help with gratitude. Learned a lot about what is important to me. Got in touch with my roots much more than I thought I would. Became more active in my hobby of Pens & Inks

12/n This year is like none other. I feel like Janus. I look back at what has happened with regret. What could have been! Reunions missed. Friends losing jobs, my own family losing jobs, financial tightening etc.

13/n I am thankful we have a vaccine in the horizon.
I am hopeful of a better spring, even better summer and a glorious fall in 2021 complete with my beloved Cubs winning World Series and Bears playoffs.

14/n Without hope mankind is nothing. I hope we have a better 2021 but not forget lessons learned.

As I tell myself 2021 will be better, I put on a sweater and take a stroll in the glorious Fall weather. Hope springs eternal. After all hope is all a Bears fan has sometimes.

15/15 Hope this rambling tweet stream connects with some of you even if we live on different sides of the world with different realities. After all hope is universal

@ProfMKay @GunduHuDuGa @jananivatsan @deeps0904 @leelaraagam @Kishoreciyer1 @anavrittim @kansaratva @wataboutery