SWINGIN' IN THE RAIN 🎶☔️

The monsoon this year has brought forth showers of blessings aplenty. It's still the middle of August, and we've already had an abundant supply of water, pouring down from the skies.

The rains are perceived differently, by different people, and in a variety of situations. At the beginning of June, when the summer heat, has literally caught hold of us by the collar and we just can't take it anymore; the welcome drops of deliverance, that rain down from the heavens, are given  a warm reception.What a wonderful feeling, to get completely soaked to the bone in the rain! 

A few days later, when the roads get mucky and a few vehicles, splash the muddy water onto our freshly ironed clothes, on our way out; we immediately begin to curse the rains, and wonder when it will stop. 

When one is about to leave home for work, and the rain decides to play spoilt-sport just then; every drop is looked at, with a frown. However, when we're on a day off from work, sitting in the comfort of our homes; a heavy downpour, brings absolute joy to the heart. Put it together with a hot bowl of soup, steaming hot Maggi noddles or just some lovely bhajjiyas; and the rains, are suddenly a wonderful sight to behold.😄☔️

We human beings are very fickle, when it comes to our perception, of the world around us. Our likes and dislikes keep changing, as suddenly as the very weather, that we constantly grumble and complain about. 

Of course, this post isn't really about the fickleness of the human mind. I actually began writing this piece, because I wanted to write about an amazing experience, that I had yesterday. 

After a whole year, of wanting to go for a show, by a group called 'THE SALVATION SINGERS', I finally made it a point, to go for their show at St. Andrew's Auditorium in Bandra, called 'SWINGIN IN THE RAIN'. I think every single person who was seated in that Auditorium, would have gone home, with a smile on their lips and a song in their hearts.😊🎶

I've heard the 'Salvation Singers', on a number of occasions at the NCPA, when they've performed at the Stop Gaps Christmas concerts, in years gone by. Of course, ever since they've started putting up shows independently, I have been waiting for an opportunity to hear them perform an entire concert; and yesterday, I got my chance. I have to say I definitely wasn't disappointed.✨️❤️ 

Every aspect of the show was great. The simple yet fantastic stage set-up, the backdrop and props, coupled with great stage lights, set the mood for a wonderful evening. The wonderful and very thematic costumes, that included the footwear, matched the colours and hues of the songs, just perfectly. 

The two comperes were absolutely fantastic. Being someone who loves writing, I was completely taken up, by the wonderful script that was put together; and both the hosts, kept the entire audience entertained, right through the show. The fact that they were younger than most people on stage, speaks volumes for their talent. As a teacher, nothing makes me happier, than seeing young children and youth, developing their talents on stage.👏👏👏

This post would be incomplete, till I actually wrote about the music. The props, the lights, the costumes, the hosts were all worthy side-kicks, and they added a lot to the presentation; but the 'Songs and the Music', were definitely the 'Stars of the Show'.🌟

The choice of songs that were picked, ranged from classics like 'Singin in the Rain', 'My Way' and 'Tears in heaven', to  a number of songs that I've heard for the first time, like 'Rain, Rain, Beautiful rain', and many others, which were wonderful to listen to as well. 

The musicians were awesome too. It was fascinating, to see the saxophone and the tabla being played, by young women. The musicians didn't overpower the singing, right through the show; and that's what made the singing, really stand out. 

The instrumental pieces, were wonderful to listen to as well. The 'fusion' using Indian instruments and the Western instrumental pieces, were really lovely. I was also introduced to an instrument called the 'Ukulele' and another tiny instrument, that was used in a Spanish instrumental piece, that I haven't seen or heard before.🎶

Shows like these, give us opportunities to listen to some fabulous music, bump into old friends in the audience, who share the same passion for music as we do, and provide us with the luxury, of spending a relaxing evening. An evening, where we get a chance to enjoy the company of so many other Sopranos, Altos, Tenors and Basses, together with the Accompanists, who 'collectively', like nothing better than sharing their love of music, with the world.

Like some of the songs performed rightly say, Music, 'You fill up our senses', You make us feel like, 'We're walking on Sunshine' and when we listen to Music, we just feel like we're 'Home', and our heart goes 'Sh-Boom' with joy and exhilaration. 'What a wonderful world' this world of Music is.😄 

I didn't know every single person on stage, nor did I know every person seated in that auditorium; and yet, when the entire auditorium sang the popular favourites like 'Country Roads' and 'You fill up my senses' in one voice, there was a 'deep connection', with every person in that auditorium. 

I thank the conductor, Dylan D'Souza and 'The Salvation Singers', together with the entire team, that put this show together; for giving us a wonderful evening, that helped us to just sing all our blues away.😊❤️

TIME TO RE-CHARGE OUR CONNECTIVITY QUOTIENT ✍️

“Hello!…Hello!...Could you just repeat what you said...Just hold on okay…There’s too much noise here. I can’t hear anything you’re saying.”  

I’m sure most of us have had a conversation like this, over the telephone, at some time or the other, haven't we?

Living in Mumbai, the frequent offenders that assist this reduced audibility, would be the loud decibels, emanating from street bands and revelry, during the celebration of a festival, a fast out-station train passing by, a crowded noisy street during a traffic jam, uncontrollable honking at a traffic signal (which is the strangest and silliest thing, since no one is going anywhere, till that signal changes colour)🤦‍♀️, digging of bore-wells and machines at construction sites, the blaring television in our living rooms, etc.

As if these deafening sounds weren’t sufficient, to hamper our sense of hearing, we have gadgets aplenty, to draw our attention away, from the people around us. Laptops, Cell phones, Tablets - complete with the latest games and apps - and lo and behold, we’re 'Visible and Invisible' at the same time. 

Physically, we are 'Visible' to those around us. They see us; but if they try to get in a word, it just won’t get through to us, because with our faces and minds buried in Facebook, Twitter and Whats App, the virtual conversations take complete control of us, and even if someone yells straight into our ears, we wouldn’t really hear it. 

Technology thus has the power, to lure us into a world of chats and instant messaging, that takes us far beyond the world, that we are physically living in. It gently coaxes us, to spend every waking moment in cyberspace, with people we refer to as our ‘Friends'.

...But ironically, after it has systematically ensnared us to such an extent, that we stop talking to the people in the same room as us – mainly our family; we have chosen to name this activity ‘COMMUNICATION’. We even have the audacity to say that our means of communication, have evolved and developed. 

However, when I look at people around me, with all their fancy gadgets through which they ‘supposedly communicate’, I am tempted to ask, “ARE WE REALLY COMMUNICATING??? ”🤔

A little child loves it, when he can pick up a cricket bat, and play a game with his dad, even if the bat seldom makes contact with the ball. 

A toddler, loves to hear his mother read him a bed-time story, even if he has heard the story a million times before. 

Little children enjoy coming home from school, and narrating all the events of the day to their parents, very enthusiastically. 

They are always game for a 'family outing' over the weekend, or are happy just playing a game of scrabble, monopoly or simply snakes and ladders, because it means they get a chance to spend a few precious moments with their mum and dad.💕

Sadly, these treasured moments of togetherness in the family, are overtaken by gadgets and gizmos these days. The nuclear family system, often deprives children of the presence of grandparents, who would have otherwise made up, for the absence of the child’s working parents. 

Hectic work- schedules, jobs that entail working in shifts, deadlines at the work-place, or just the presence of that very intrusive cell phone, that keeps ringing incessantly, at all the wrong moments, are collectively robbing our kids of what is rightfully theirs – FAMILY TIME.😔

As an Educator, who works with children everyday, I observe kids on a daily basis; and based on my observations, I think it is imperative for me, to remind all the parents I know, that they need to make their children their top priority, and put genuine ‘Family time’, back on their daily schedule. 

While the world comes closer together, through the various means of communication, we also need to RE-CHARGE OUR CONNECTIVITY QUOTIENT in our families. I earnestly urge all parents to just ‘LISTEN TO YOUR CHILD’ more often than you pick up a cell phone or chat online.❤️

Likewise, I would also like to remind all the young people I know, especially those who've been my students in the past; that there is no one who loves you, more than your parents. As you grow up into teenagers, you often develop this mistaken notion, that your parents have landed from another planet; and therefore, can never seem to understand you. 

You need to understand though, that in reality, it is quite the contrary. Your parents may not always seem to understand you, because of the so-called ‘generation-gap’; but in reality, you just need to make an extra effort, and try and start opening up a little more, by sharing your thoughts, fears, happiness, etc. with your parents. 

Instead of whiling away the hours on networking sites, ‘START TALKING TO YOUR PARENTS’, in the same way that you would talk to a friend; and before you know it, all the lines of communication in your family will be open.😄✍️