This week’s edition is all about finding a way through our little problems that bother us. Where these can be solved with a pinch of positive thinking, we allow them to escalate. Let’s read how my friends tackle their problems and get on top of them…

Remember the Gen Next takeover I was talking about in my last newsletter? That threat is slowly manifesting itself more prominently. There’s some wonderful bonding happening between the three of them – Ethan, Emily and Rachael. All three of them went out to watch Angels and Demons. They are all fans of Dan Brown’s books and this movie presented a great break for them to go out and have fun. Their parents had no issues with the plan and they went ahead with it.

Rachael told me that the movie was a rocker, but the time they had was even better. After the movie they went around window-shopping. Here Ethan felt a little awkward, with Rachael and Emily taking over completely. As compensation, they agreed to watch a basketball game with Ethan when they returned home. Food, fun and stuff made me and our friends green with jealousy! I mean, here we are working ourselves off, and they had all this fun. Anyways, no point grudging them the time. Our ideas were summed up by Kate when she said, “We’ve a lot of catching up to do, Bob! Let’s rock this weekend!” As of now, the plan is definitely on! More on that, next time.

Distance makes the heart grows fonder. That’s what Kate has been finding out, much to her delight. I’m sure all you guys remember that her present boyfriend is a resident of Iowa. Well, Henry has been a great companion to Kate over the days, filling up the void that Jeffrey left behind. Kate chats with him on the net, and you can find her texting away even when she’s out with us. Henry gave her a wonderful surprise this weekend.

Henry kept writing to her that he was going on a holiday for the weekend. Of course, that upset Kate a little. But she didn’t express that. When he wrote that he would be incommunicado for the next few hours, Kate accepted the inevitable loss of connection. She tried to occupy her time with work. And then her doorbell rang. A bored Kate went up to get it. And there was Henry behind a huge bouquet of flowers! As Eleanor told me, “Love can conquer all, Bob. Geography hardly matters!” Cheers to that!

There’s some great news that came Fred‘s way. His grandson is graduating this year from Dartmouth. Fred has been in a very upbeat mood since the news trickled in. He has expressed a keen desire to meet his grandson and congratulate him, but his illness failed him. Fred has been feeling considerably weak. His regular trips for check-ups is not yielding much benefit for him. In the middle of all these negativity around him, the graduation news is like a whiff of fresh air.

Last heard, Fred had a talk with his grandson. Fred, true to his self, told him a lot of stuff about getting more responsible and accountable. The good thing about Fred’s communication skills is that he gets his message across without seeming preachy. It always inspires to listen to him. Fred says the most ordinary things in a way that come across as calls for action. No wonder his grandson promised to visit him soon. Eleanor said, “Fred is passing on the baton to his grandson.”

I had the best time being friends with many of you guys on the net. Though I don’t have time to be that active on the social networking profiles that I have, I miss you guys all the time. The newsletters could never be what they are today without your support and appreciation. The other day I was telling Eleanor how I had bonded with each one of you, and all on the strength of the written word. It has been a satisfying journey with you guys.

That reminds me, I need to update you guys on the Ethan-Donna story. Donna has finally struck an agreement with her son! They have mutually agreed that Ethan can chat for a certain amount of time, provided he doesn’t cut into his study time. Both the sides are happy that the issue could be resolved without any further tension. Donna confided to me that she has spent some sleepless nights worrying how to make Ethan see sense and at the same time not push him into a state of stubbornness. Now that it’s settled, she’s breathed a sigh of relief.

This week’s Zen quote comes from across the pond. Here’s Winston Churchill: “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” Does it work for you?