That 'first' paycheck

Am i lucky or what? I have had the opportunity to have two "first paychecks" in my life so far, and thats good news. I'll get to that soon enough, but before that, let me explain what i mean.
I first starting working (as in, really working working-not including the piddly summer jobs during college or even a summer internship) fresh off the B-school boat about three years back. And boy-did it feel good getting that first paycheck credited to a brand new salary account! I remember feeling empowered akin to how women probably felt when they first got the right to vote. I also remember going on a major binge spree.
Soon enough, the salary at the end of the month became as routine as the job. When you're cringing under targets and numbers and month-end madness in a sales world, you almost forget that month ends could also be good.
So all that was before my wonderful little sabbatical. Forced though it may have been, what with the sudden change of geographies, it was just that-wonderful.Seven months of sheer bliss and lethargy, sleeping till late and not hating sundays for being a few hours before the "monday". But they were also seven months of "no salary of my own". While i did not miss the cash, i did miss that "feeling empowered" bit.
Which is why i spent last weekend spending/planning to spend my second "first paycheck".
Though not technically the first, it feels like one. I feel like i am back in business! Sure, there are no more sleep-in-till-late weekday mornings, but its awesome being re-employed again:-)

I think breaks between work are just great. Its something i would wanna do every few years-just to catch my breath between the unescapable work blues, to rediscover old loves, and yes-to feel awesome about "first" paychecks all over again!

Wedding season blues

Atleast 4 of my gang of gal-pals will cease to be single by end of April this year. And i am going to miss all those weddings (to be accurate, as of date i have already missed two).
It sucks.
-to not see these otherwise ditzy, adorably crazy women transform into blushing brides, dolled up to enter a brand new phase of their lives
-to not be able to give my recently acquired collection of sarees an opportunity to glitter and get some fresh (or airconditioned,depending on the venue)air and fish for compliments:-p
-to settle for photographs when i'd rather have been there and relive my own wedding moments
-to miss all the yummy, shaadi ka khaana and an overflowing supply of snacks on trays carried by red-uniformed servers
-to not be around for last-minute shopping sprees, soothing frayed nerves and dealing with cases of pre-wedding jitters
-to make do with online-purchased gifts than choosing something 'absolutely perfect' for these women who i have grown up with, cried with, laughed with, shared a million memories with...

i dont care that i am repeating-but it truly sucks big-time!

So while i get email and phone updates of the shopping, the mehendi raat, the bachelorette party plans and the make-up artists, i sulk in my corner of the world and wonder why the US, for all its other advantages, could not have been closer home, closer to things that mean so much..