Being Marica

An easy and intriguing read, I felt like I was having a conversation with Alpesh as I have on a few occasions in the last 20 years or so of knowing him. Alpesh has shown me a side of his life I would never have known until I read his book. A side I strongly connected with as a tenacious, committed, aspirant businesswomen and believer in the “impossible” myself. Real, authentic, sincere, passionate, tenacious, brave, committed, empowered, disempowered, unfair, foolish, fucking smart (you swore alot) are all the words that come to mind as I reflect on this book - whose soft copy I “devoured” in the last 48hours. I could have completed the read in a day and a bit, however being the festive season,  I needed doses of  Vitamin D and had to leave bed to join family and get some sunlight only to rush back into the thick of TESTED. I can safely say that Alpesh is the first of many firsts and will continue to be just that no matter what his next journey is. Alpes...

Years ago, while working at a radio station,  my daily ritual would be a morning coffee,or three, at the same cafe and before heading to the office. Daily I would see many of the same faces of which were bankers, lawyers and other corporate "suits" from the the surrounding business district. After a while of frequenting the place, the natural response would be a courteous greeting to the many familiar faces. Back then, I was super fit and maybe that had something to do with what I'm getting into. One particular morning I walked into the nicest comment - "you're always smiling," said a seated stranger who I saw daily. More surprising, I hadn't realized I always was. This was an icebreaker comment that lead to a friendship between a respected, elderly advocate and myself. It also lead to me introducing him, in a very short space of time, to an elderly female friend who he then went on to marry. I smile just thinking about my "cupid" ...