The Sun Turns (MMXIII- MMXIV)

The Sun continues to turn to 2014 in the midst of a pitch black night. Paradoxical as it may seem, we tiptoe into the new year in darkness where the Sun responsible for it shines brightly on the opposite slope of the globe. 

This one leaves me empty handed dusks as well as overwhelms with madness infested crazy dawns. Accomplishments and empty handed walks down the deserted streets went hand in hand. 

Losing old friends, making new, shifts in judgment, as dynamic, exciting and radical as work may get. What DID this past year not see? 

The year begins with losing Patti Page (Clara Ann Fowler) of the "Tennessee Waltz" fame (1950) on January 01, 2013. 

Mehnaz, the last bit of crown jewel left in the industry, daughter of Kajjan Begum, the most melodious and down to earth artist I've ever met, passes away at a young age of 55. This one hurt the most. Apart from everything else she was a humble, loving, genuinely nice person. The kind that you seldom come across. May her soul rest in Eternal Peace

Moving on to Feb 15, 2013  A meteor explodes over Russian territory (Chelyabinsk) injuring over a thousand people and damaging over 4,000 building. The most meteor to have hit the earth in over a century. We find such things easy to forget so here's a reminder 

February 16-17, 2013- I was Ismat Chughtai. Yes. I played the part of Ismat Chughtai in the stage play by Sheema Kirmani & Anwar Jafri called "Manto Mera Dost" as well as theDramatic Readings for Intezar Husain's play "Paani ke Qaidi". The most exhilarating experience. After singing of course :)

February 21, 2013, Scientists use a 3D Printer to create a live lab grown ear from collagen (yes, the Grey's Anatomy season 10 way!) which is absolutely the coolest breakthrough in a while. But then I'm just biased to technology and biology. 

Round about the same time the Pope resigns and the cool new Pope joins in as the 266th one in a town. Argentina was always coolioso central but Pope Francis is the top of its cool contributions to the world. Plus a Pope from somewhere that has Summery weather Christmas, well that's the cherry on top of the cake. 

February 28, 2013 I release my only solo to date. My first studio recording. My favourite poem by Faiz Ahmad Faiz that I had been craving to sing. Ecstatic was the name of the game.

https://soundcloud.com/hareemsumbul/tanhaai-a-tribute

Sadly April 11, 2013 we lost America's first major prima ballerina Maria Tallchief and was the first Native American to hold the position which was pretty remarkable. She was the first to embody of a style that was revolutionising ballet. Such a loss, ah such a loss. 

April 14, 2013 we lose dear old Colin Davis, the English Conductor with names such as the Royal Opera, BBC Scottish Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, NY Philharmonic and plenty more to his credit. He taught at the Royal Academy of Music London. What a great loss. 

April 25, 2013 that 8 storey structural building collapses to nothing near Bangladeshi Capital Dacca. This caused 1,129 deaths and 2,500 injuries. This was a garments factory and an extremely strong photo was released as below. It is yet a mystery if the two were together or just colleagues trying to save each other but substandard material and cost cutting may lead to beautiful lives coming to an abrupt halt. 

May 11, 2013 I officially became part of the Pakistani Elections for the first time ever.I still haven't casted my first vote ever but in some little way I contributed (owing to my crazy perfectionist streak) towards fair, accurate polling in my booth. Yippee to that. A serious straight faced Yippee indeed.

My absolute favourite, May 15, 2013 researchers from Oregon Health & Science University describes the first human embryonic stem cells by CLONING. How cool is that yo!?!

May 28, 2013 Riots in Taksim Square (Istanbul Turkiyé) against the government and this picture takes the media by storm. Quoting Reuters here "That photo encapsulates the essence of this protest," said math student Esra at Besiktas, near the Bosphorus strait and one of the centres of this week's protests. "The violence of the police against peaceful protesters, people just trying to protect themselves and what they value."

June 06, 2013 Edward Snowden discloses operations engaged by a US government mass surveillance program to news publications and flees the country later granted temp asylum in Russia. 

June 19, 2013, James Gandolfini, the household name of "The Sopranos" moved on due to an unexpected heart attack. 

July 03, 2013, Egyptian President Morsi was deposed on a military coup d'état leading to violence all across Cairo and Infact The entire Egypt.

A day after my 31st birthday, Prince George of Cambridge was born to Prince William and Katherine Middleton. Super exciting :) The Royal Luddoo arrives! *hearts and hugs and various buntings with confetti*

Civil war in Syria, August 2013 where Bashar al Assad gasses several Damascus neighbourhoods on the Ghouta Chemical attack leaving hundreds dead and thousands seriously affected. 

September 21, 2013 Islamic loony militants attack Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi, killing over 60 and wounding over 150 civilians. 

October 10 Delegates from 140 territories sign the Minamata Treaty a UNEP arrangement designed to protect human health and the environment from emissions and releases of mercury and it's compounds. Way to go!!!

August 31, 2013 we lost our appetite to the most important meal of the day as the name synonymous to breakfast, passed on. David Frost was a household name and losing him was a shock. 

September 01, 2013 Tomm Morison calls it quits leaving a void in the boxing world. A world Heavy Weight boxer that won the World Organization championship too. He was John Wayne's grand nephew and appeared in the Stallone flick "Rocky"

Tom Clancy leaves us on October 01, 2013. This Rock Star worked on American history and was an author best known for his espionage and military science storyline. 

October 19, 2013 we lose a great voice of Pakistani music, Zubaida Khanum. Incidentally we are singing her songs at the top of our lungs at the time she probably was moving on to the next world. Asaan jaan ke meet leyi aka ve, Bunday Chaandi de Sonay Di Nathh laey ke, Dilaa Thehr jaw yaar daa nazaara laen de, Resham daw laacha luk ve, Chhadd jaaveen na Channaa baanh phharr ke and so many more that touch your heart. Such a loss... SUCH a loss

October 27, 2013 Lou Reed bids us goodbye. The man behind the Velvet Underground and later a solo career to a beautiful beginning with a Walk on the Wild Side. 

November 3, 2013- We lose a National Asset, Reshma. Lambi Judaai, Meri Hamjoliyaan, Ankhiyaan nu Rehn de and a gazillion more make up out childhood. The raw voice of a desert nightingale matched no other. A great loss for the music industry all across the world

November 8 – Typhoon Haiyan "Yolanda", one of the strongest tropical cyclones on record, hits the Philippines and Vietnam, causing devastation with at least 6,149 dead

Our dearest most valued Madiba bids us farewell on 5 December, 2013. As much as the heart wrenches and reaches out for his loss, one is more keen on keeping his legacy alive. Tolerance, resilience and courage. The biggest loss of the year. May his soul rest in eternal Peace. 

Lawrence of Arabia Star Peter O Toole moves on dated December 14, 2013. He gained recognition as a Shakespearean actor on stage before his breakthrough in film. My personal favourite apart from Lawrence of Arabia remains Good bye Mister Chips. Anton Ego from Ratatouille, the Animation was yet another masterpiece and an indication of his versatility. He held the record for most Oscar nominations without a win, very aptly describing himself as "Always the Bridesmaid, never the bride!" I could really put up a separate blogpost on him but oh my, what a loss. 

Paul Walker, perhaps one of the few heart wrenching, traumatic losses of the year. Takes out the fast and the furious from Fast & Furious! A good man, with a beautiful heart, philanthropist to the core, lost to a car accident. Tragic beyond belief and I'm still in absolute shock. November 30, 2013 

December 14, 2013 Chinese Spacecraft Chang'e3 carrying the Yutu rover becomes the first space craft to soft land on the moon since 1976 and the 3rd ever robotic to do that. Looks like Virgin Galactica already will get a run for it's money with a Chinese counterpart. Careful boys!!

We close the year with heartfelt prayers for our beloved Schumacher who is in critical condition after a horrible skiing accident. Pulls your heart out and rips it into pieces. yes it does.

Topsy, turvy, small decisions and big ones. All made a bit of a mixed plate of everything this year. Work has been crazier than ever, life has been on a roller coaster ride but at the end of the day it is all worth it. The ride is worth the nausea, the work is worth the accomplishments, achievements are worth the market value, seeing the company I am (almost) running flourish is like having a baby and see it grow. A feeling I thought I'd never feel.
Work, study, love, fun, vacations, irreparable loss, 2013 has been a multi scale singing exercise that pushed me from a B Flat right up to an E note.
As much as I'm glad it is ending, I am also excited about what's up next. The organisation growth cycle is beautiful, almost poetic and I can't wait to sink my teeth in more development as a company.

I must wear more pink. I must start wearing heels once in a while, I must have a winters wardrobe, I must lose weight and build muscle. No quick fixes, slow and steady is how it's going and that is how it'll go. Enjoying exercise and making a habit out f it is another aspiration.I must sing more, I must revert to being myself since it becomes painful & boring after a while when you are begin an extrovert and expressive.

The mantra is to not change myself because I worked hard to get where I am. Unless it has to do with wearing pink *grits teeth*

Here's hoping 2014 brings more challenges, fun, happiness and peace in all our lives.

Happy New Year Everyone! Wishing you all a blessed New Year and spectacular years to follow.