Stepping Into The Seventy Fifth

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

#74thBirthday #GrandpasBirthday #SteppingInto75 #RedefiningJoy #NaturesGift #BlessedByTheUniverse #JoyInSmallThings #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadhb #SmallThingsIn Life

Seventy is Like Seven

As I entered the 70th year, it felt like the 7th! Why, what is the similarity?

When you are seven, you have lost a tooth or two. So it is at 70- you have lost a few teeth already!

When you are seven, you initially shy away giving a toothless smile. But soon you get used to it. So it is at 70- you don't come out for few days after you lose the front teeth. But soon you get used to it!

When you are seven, you love chatting with friends all day. At 70 you do non-stop talking, even though others may not like it.

When you are seven, you have few friends with whom you go out to play regularly. So it is at 70- few regular morning walkers or golf foursome or bridge partners!

When you are seven, you hold on to your old toys. So it is at 70- you become a big hoarder of 'junk' possessions. Ask any spouse of a 70-year old, and you see the reaction!

When you are seven, you develop dislikes for some foods or vegetables. So it is at 70- you hate many eatables or the way it is prepared.

When you are seven, you like to show off your new acquisitions- a watch, sun shades, or even a new colouring set. So it is at 70- you like to display your new golf set or a walking stick or a new phone!

When you are seven, you are very proud of your school. So it is at 70- grandparents never get tired narrating the proud tales of their school or college!

When you are seven, you love watching cartoons on TV or phone or computer. So it is at 70- we never miss the daily cartoon strips in the newspaper!

When you are mid way to being seven, you say I am six-and-a-half! So it is at 70- we oldies say sixty-nine-and-a-half!

So now you tell me whether entering the 70th is same as entering the 7th year of youthful life or not! No wonder it is said that 'Old age is second childhood!'

Happy days are ahead! Days of exploration, sharing and reflection. I am reminded of an old saying 'What is important is not to add years to your life but to add life to your years!'

What do you do to herald the 70th year? You peel a pile of peas! See the picture below.

As if on cue, I got a gift from the Nature. Four Brahma Kamal flowers bloomed tonight. As some of the readers will know, it blooms at night. Give or take few days, it synchronises the blooming with full moon. Just three days ago we had the full moon. And voila, the blooms arrived by magic. Picture of one of the flowers before and after blooming, is shown below. Readers may browse the detailed story on Brahma Kamal here.

Our gratitude to God, family and friends for smooth sailing so far. Thank you for being a part of my life.

    - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 3rd Jan 2021

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