How do you step into the 75th year of your life?
Do you celebrate? How? With whom? Where?
The universe celebrates with you. Mother Nature gives you a birthday gift. How and where?
End of December every year is the flowering time for the mango trees in our yard in Secunderabad. This year none of the three trees bloomed. Ghumakkad was a bit saddened. May be it would flower next year. Many mango trees produce fruits every alternate year. Some way to console oneself!
As Ghumakkad's 74th birthday approached, mother Nature smiled. As if on cue, all the three mango trees started to bloom with sprinkling flowers. Nature's own way of saying 'Have patience. Happy Birthday Harsh'. Sharing below few pictures of the birthday 'gift' timed so well by the universe! Ghumakkad feels truly blessed. Sharing below my joy.
'Old age is second childhood', goes the old saying. Ghumakkad feels like a child at 74. Sample the things that thrill me as a child. Joy in small things!
A four-year-old child when asked his age, doesn't say 'I am four'. Instead he says with his chin high 'I am-four-and-a-half!' So does Ghumakkad when he says 'I am entering seventy five' instead of the routine answer 'I am seventy-four!'
Children become sad when one of their toys becomes non-operative. Once repaired, the joy gets restored and the child resumes playing. Same way for the older lot like me, a repaired hair-trimmer brings the smiles back!
Completing a puzzle game brings enormous joy and satisfaction to a child. When a winding putt drops into the hole, the joy knows no bounds for Ghumakkad-the-golfer. Small things matter.
Learning science at home- children sow few seeds in a pot at home. When it sprouts, the eyes sparkle. Ghumakkad feels equally excited when the mango tree starts flowering. Small things again!
This morning, I was at Yapral lake for my morning walk. It was a misty morning not suited for photography yet cool enough for some stretches under the canopy of trees. Sharing few pictures below.
Misty morning by the lake side can create surreal images. Ghumakkad loves his morning walks. Sharing a few pictures taken on the New Year when most of the world was asleep.
Seventy four is also the time to pause and look back. Sharing below two stories of my 70th and 60th birthday celebrations where many of you are featured. Read on.
"Seventy is getting old, yet not old enough." Do you agree? What did Ghumakkad do when he turned seventy?
A Grandpa Turns Sixty - When friends came over from across the continents to give bumps to Ghumakkad!
Celebratory Triathlon
Our son Ankush who is an Ironman twice, celebrated my 74th birthday with a 740 metres swim, 74km bike ride followed by a 7.4km run in Chennai. What a creative and unique way to celebrate a father's 74tth birthday in Ironman style. Isn't it? Thanks Son, proud of you.
Cake of Choice
When you have a Chef in the family, how can a cake of choice not be there! Our daughter-in-law Prabs and grandson Ansh teamed up at night to get an egg-free Ultra Chocolate Cake with a candle. Thanks Chef Prabs, for such a delicious cake. See the picture below and you will fall for the cake. Those in Hyderabad can visit her cafe called SOZO on Road No, 14, Banjara Hills.
The video of the cake cutting with Ansh follows.
Ghumakkad is privileged to share his birthday with Col GB Sethi, PhD. Both of us love golfing and have been teachers. Though eleven years apart, but we are close at heart. Picture below shows doing a hi-five with him on the golf course.
Ghumakkad thanks all those who have sent messages, calls, notes, blessings, videos and text and even those who forgot --for keeping me in their thoughts. Grateful to each one of you. You make my life so special. I feel blessed.
As my late buddy Annu (aka Anand Jain) used to say 'Insha Allah', see you for the Platinum next year. God willing.
Thanks for browsing. Stay connected and do leave a comment. Even a few words will encourage us.
- Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ Secunderabad/ 3rd Jan 2026
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