Enlightening Experiences
Life-Lessons
Intriguing Inspirations
Covert Connections
Joyful Journeys✍️
Dramatic Differences
Polarised Personalities
Entertaining Energies
Circus Clowns
Shared Smiles😊
Realistic Realisations
Alluring Angels
Inexplicable Intricacies
Creative Conversations
Glittering Gleams✨️
(Originally posted on FB, on this day last year, 31st December '22.
The pics are not my own. Just found them in an online search, and shared them because they matched my post.)
Like the phases of the moon,
Our Life has phases of its own;
Constantly evolving, ever changing,
Each tomorrow, completely unknown.
Like the seasons follow one another,
And we adapt to its every mood swing;
Life's challenges keep us on our toes,
Uncertainty, every new dawn does bring.
Like the clock keeps ticking away,
Turning a busy day, into a silent night;
At every step, more Moments become Memories,
Till it's our turn, to walk towards the Light.✨️
'Aiz Maka, Falea Tuka' - That's what we see, at the entrance of the cemetery, in Aldona, Goa; and maybe in other Churches there too. As a child, I spent most of my summer holidays, on an island called Corjuem.That wasn't our ancestral village in Goa; but my Grandfather just liked the place, and so bought a home there, when both my Grandparents retired from their jobs here in Mumbai, and decided to spend their retired life in Goa.
Since there was no English Mass in their village chapel at the time, we crossed the ferry boat every Sunday morning, to go to the bigger Church, across the river in Aldona, (as the bridge didn't exist then).
One memory of that Church, that I will never forget, is seeing these lines, at the gate of the cemetery. If you don't know Konkani, it translates to,
'Today, it's me.
Tomorrow, it will be you.'
I don't remember how old I was, when I first saw that; but those words must've made an impression on my young mind, because I never forgot that image. It's something that has stayed with me for many decades; and each time there is a death in my family, or someone I know, loses a loved one, I'm instantly reminded of those words, all over again.
It might not seem like a very positive thought to carry along in our mind, as we journey through life; but I think, that if we frequently remind ourselves of this line, we will always remember, that none of us are going to live on this planet forever...and when it's our turn to bid this earthly life adieu, we will take nothing that we own or possess, with us.
So consequently, being as 'detached' as we possible can, seems like a good way to go through life...Not the easiest thing for us human beings to do; but I guess, it does change our whole outlook to life, when we're constantly aware of this reality.🌸✍️
*(Just found this picture posted on the Internet by someone, as I only had a picture of the place in my memory, and not an actual one.)
For those of us who love Music, December is always a month in which we are literally spoilt for choice, because there are such a lot of music events happening in different places all over, constantly.🎶
In recent years, since I used to listen to so many online music shows, I connected with and got to know, a lot of musicians and singers, not just here in Mumbai, but from Bangalore and Goa as well.😊 These amazing performers and entertainers, must have always had very busy and hectic Decembers; but now, because we get to know about all their events regularly, we actually realise how exhausting this month must be for them.
No doubt, they love what they do and enjoy making the world a happier place, through every song they sing; but I just wanted to write a post like this today, because I have been thinking about this right through this month, each time I saw the never ending posters, posts, stories or live streams, of all the musician friends, that I have made over the last three and a half years.
I know that the month is still not over; but why wait till the end of December to say this. So, 'Thank You' to every single one of you, who has been making people 'Smile and Sing and Dance', all through this festive season.❤️ I have been to only some of these numerous events; but I have followed many of your posts about your shows online...Unlike you, I don't think I would ever have the energy, to be able to do what you do; getting up on a different stage night after night, in various parts of one city, and even in different cities, just singing your hearts out and filling the world with song.😊
All of you, bring so many people together at each of your events, and you make countless people 'Happy' everyday; and that, is such a beautiful thing...This is just my way of saying, 'Thank You for the Music'.✨️
(I would love to tag everybody; but there are so many of you, and I don't want to leave anyone out. So hopefully, this note of 'Gratitude', with a little bit of 'Christmas Magic', reaches all of you.)🎄💕
Some Silent Pondering,
More Reflective Wondering.
Non-stop Nostalgic Replays,
A truly Winding Mind-Maze.
Every Moment, a Mystery,
A Contemplative walk thru' History.
'Time' - Quickly Racing Along,
Yet, 'Frozen Forever' like a Song.✨️
(Originally posted on FB on this day last year, 29th Dec. 2022)
I'm not the most Fun person to be around at Christmas time. So, I consciously choose, to stay away from it all. I love the memories; but not the reminders.😢 Not sure everyone will understand the 'difference' between the two; but I guess, those who really know me, will understand why...Maybe someday, I'll go back to thinking of and celebrating Christmas, like the ones I used to know...but not yet.😊
WHEN CHRISTMAS CHANGED FOREVER...✍️
Christmas Tree, Decorations and Lights,
A table laden with Food, What a Feast!
A Crib and a Star, Cakes and Sweets,
Made over a week of late nights, at least.
Carols playing right through December,
Extra-long Choir practices, What Fun!
Hot coffee and songs, after Midnight Mass,
At Christmas Time, ALL of this, we've done.
Then 2009, one Christmas came,
And everything changed, What a Week!
22nd to 28th - Ambulances and Hospitals,
Those sirens, for months later made me freak.
The decade that followed, it kept going on and on,
Almost 9 years of wondering, What More!,
With doctors and nurses for company,
Menus of different hospital cafeterias in store.
And in all that time, Christmas just Changed,
It all began to seem like, What a Waste!
The frills and thrills that the season brings,
On so much frivolousness, seemed to be based.
Life made this choice for me, not ideal but so Real,
And I somehow prefer it quieter now, What Calm!
Only listen to some carols; In Church, sing a few too,
The rest, not so joyful; but the resulting Peace - A Balm.✨️❤️
(Originally posted on FB, last year on this day, 19th Dec. '22)
Like sudden flashes of lightning,
They appear and then they're gone;
Just about anything triggers them,
Morning, night, dusk or dawn.
Like a familiar tune, they linger,
From one to another, quick and fast;
The mind, such a rich store-house,
Memories aplenty, in this ocean vast.
Like a mountain trail, so often trod,
Too familiar to erase or forget;
At this time of the year, more frequent,
Feelings, emotions, a tangled net.
(Originally posted on FB, last year on the 15th of Dec. '22.)
Grief slows us down completely. It's like Life begins to run in 'Slow Motion', with an 'Auto Rewind' switch attached to it, that takes us into 'Flashback Mode' all the time, every time. The constant mood swings, the moments bordering on very depressing thoughts, the never-ending sense of loss and loneliness, the longing for that elusive 'Listening Ear' and 'Sounding Board', the absence of our loved ones, in the most mundane and routine activities, the timely assistance when the workload burdens us, to the point of countless sleepless nights, the little ideas that spark our creativity, that loving, reassuring hug and presence, the numerous words of encouragement and the only shoulder we could ever cry on...
How I wish people would understand that 'Grief', doesn't just magically disappear in a few months, or a year or two, or maybe even in a lifetime! The Accepting, Digesting, Processing and everything that comes with the Loss of a Loved One, takes 'Time', and that 'Time Frame' varies for each individual.
And no matter how many Happy and Distracting ways and means, we may try to make use of, to deal with all the spoken and unspoken 'Feelings and Emotions', that Grief brings with it; overcoming it, is still a 'Constant, Daily Struggle', that no one else, (not even your closest Friends or Family) can really comprehend or understand, even if they mean well.
...And then, every once in a while, there are people, who try their best to steamroll over, all your efforts to keep smiling, by saying that 'Life has dealt you, a better deal than them'. It really tempts me to say, How I wish they had My Life!!!😔😢
(Originally posted on FB, on 19th Nov. '2019. Had taken almost a 5 year break, from posting on this Blog. So, trying to share some of the old things, that I've written during those years now, so that I can collect a lot of my writing, in this one place.)
A little girl of ten, with wonder in her eyes,
Was suddenly forced to grow up, one day;
This twisted accident called 'Life', turned her into 'An Only Child'.
And filled her tiny heart with a million questions, with dismay.
A surprised visitor was greeted at her door,
With that forever brightly beaming face,
"You've taught me how to Smile", he exclaimed,
Of her heart-piercing sorrow, that 'curved line', left no trace.
At thirty, she spent six anxious Christmas days,
Between hospitals, ICU's and an Operating Room,
While her friends were singing 'Gloria in Excelsis Deo',
She spent those days and nights, in unexpected impending gloom.
Though lost and taken aback by another unforseen reality,
She and her mother, thanked them all with a grateful smile;
"She must have not been close to her Dad", a colleague concluded,
That 'curved line', her natural cover-up, was now her style.
Six months later, the hospital visits resumed,
With a severity and regularity like never before;
Eight years and two cancers later, she was barely thirty-eight,
The Life and Family she once knew and loved, all gone and no more.
Five years since then, she doesn't Smile as much,
Yet each day she tries to find the smallest reason to sing,
"Where have you been? We hardly see you anymore", this recluse is often asked now,
That 'curved line' tied to precious memories, to only that she does tightly cling.✨️
