the beat goes on

Life’s got a knack for throwing curve-balls when you’re least prepared. For my husband, Waseem and me, it was an errant heart beat that changed the rhythm of life as we knew it.

Five years ago, just when we were preparing to move to Canada, Waseem was diagnosed with mitral valve regurgitation where his heart’s valve would eventually require surgery to correct it. His open-heart surgery two years ago, an experience that tested his resilience, left behind not just a scar but also a determination to defy expectations and dance to the rhythm of his crazy heart. Life is too fleeting to be tethered to a single place, he said. He just couldn’t wait to make the most of it all. And, I couldn’t agree more.

The subsequent year brought not one, but two miscarriages. And just when we thought the drama was over, the media industry we worked in decided to stage indefinite strikes, leaving us with a cliffhanger – looming layoffs.

So when he suggested that we would pack our bags, rent out our cherished homes, and embark on a cross country road trip – I laughed. Not because I was sceptical but because I knew he was determined to make this our reality, and I couldn’t wait. In a world filled with deadlines and responsibilities, we decided not to let routines dictate life for us. We wanted to explore life and this world, hand in hand, and celebrate every new beat of his rebel heart.

And here we are, with “The Beat Goes On,” our effort to document our life on (and off) the road. Armed with an over packed SUV, suitcases, saucepans and spatulas, here’s to a journey with no end date in mind. We invite you to join us as we find ourselves in places we’ve never been to, cultures we had no clue about, landscapes we’ve always wanted to witness, and the memories that await us.

So come along, and listen to this heart’s beats go on!!