Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Wake Up Call

The alarm sounded louder and more sadistic than usual, almost as if granting me even an additional minute of sleep was an unspeakable crime. The daily grind lay ahead. Somehow, I mustered enough strength to pull myself out of bed and walked into the bathroom only to find that there was no hot water. I couldn't really remember the last time there was a hot water supply interruption. Even as I was fuming at the apartment authorities, I couldn't help thinking how much I had taken certain basic amenities such as hot water, fully functioning toilets and electricity for granted.

Back in India, water supply was a luxury. A bucket of water really meant a lot, especially in the searing hot weather. The marginal utility of a bucket of water was quite high! But with an unabated supply of both hot and cold water, the US made me complacent. I have become used to letting the shower run for a minute or two so that the water heats up before I get in. My own guess is that I have wasted close to 4000 gallons of water since I have arrived in the United States! It's clearly time for me to mend my ways.

I am convinced that the louder-than-usual alarm call this morning was a wake up call in more ways than one!

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