DON’T THEY HAVE A HEART??? 😢💔

It happened again. A repeat of 1993. This time, it was our local trains that were the target. I'm safe and so is everyone in my family; but looking at the pictures on the TV, and seeing the number of lives that have been lost is unbearable. 

When I went to school this morning, there were kids in my class, whose parents hadn't reached home as yet. People were pretty tensed up. In fact, Borivali station, where one of the blasts had taken place, wore quite a deserted look today. A station that is usually crowded at any time of the day, was almost empty. I also overheard a conversation between two rickshaw drivers, who were talking about how they had barely done any business all morning, because a lot of people hadn't ventured out. Two of the schools in Borivali closed early, becoz many teachers hadn't been able to get to school, due to the disrupted train services.

The news has been painful to watch all day. It’s been 24 hours now, since the news of the blasts first began coming onto our TV screens. 

Just a few minutes ago though, I heard some more news. This time, it was not thru’ my television screen; but it was over the telephone. Someone I know, has been one of the victims of this terrible tragedy. He was the brother of a priest friend of mine.😢 

As long as I was watching all the commotion on the TV, it was 'News'. News about something that had happened, really close to where I live...News that was terrible…But it was still, ‘Just News’. 

I guess the truth only hits you, when someone you know, is part of the whole tragedy; and after hearing about this person that I know, the truth has actually began to sink in. All this while, it was news about my fellow Mumbaikars. I was sad and moved; but I don’t know if I was truly heart-broken, by what had happened. 

Now, it is news that affects me personally, because it concerns someone I know. Selfish as this may sound to someone who is reading this, I think it is only 'Now', that this news has really touched me.😔

The unfolding of all the events that have happened since the last evening, have made me think a lot about ‘Death’. Everyone knows that death often comes without any real warning; but I’m not so sure about a death of this kind.

Whatever kind of death I am destined to have, this is definitely not one of the ways I would want to die.

Imagine going to work one morning, and never coming back home at all. Imagine leaving home in one piece; and then having your arms and legs strewn all over the railway tracks. Just the thought of it makes me cringe. 

There are so many people who are still searching desperately for their loved ones, who haven’t reached home as yet. They are hoping against hope, that they’ll find them lying injured in some hospital; and if not that, then they are at least hoping, that they will be able to locate their remains somewhere. Even that would be better than not finding them at all. 

That’s such a terrible feeling. I can’t even begin to imagine what all those families must be going thru’ right at this moment.😪

All of last evening, when I was watching the news, and even this morning; it was these thoughts that kept running thru’ my mind. I kept wondering about what was wrong with those people, who had planned something like this? 

I mean, don’t they have families? Don’t they have people that they love? How is it, that killing off so many people on a single day, makes absolutely no difference to them? Don’t they have a heart?🤔💔

TOUCHING HEARTS THRU’ MY WORDS ✍️

I’m no Shakespeare and I think it’ll be many, many years before I can refer to myself as an 'Author'. However, I do hope that someday people will call me a ‘Writer, whose Words touched their Hearts’.❤️ 

Apart from wanting to be a 'Teacher' my whole life, the other thing I’ve always wanted to be, is a 'Writer'. I’ve always wanted to fill up pages with Words. When computers still hadn’t made an appearance, I scribbled away on bits of paper all the time; and from the time I lay my hands on a keyboard, the monitor in front of me, just filled itself up with 'Words'.✍️

Words have been my 'Constant Companions', over the years. They’ve been there, in moments when I was sad, during and after a dreadful family tragedy, at a very young age. Growing up, I found solace in words, whenever I was lonely and felt that I had no one to talk to. I could always put down in 'Words', every feeling that I ever wanted to express. When I was happy, it was these 'Words', that shared my joys. They laughed and smiled with me, at times when everything around me seemed beautiful.😊

It has been 'Words' that have kept me connected to old friends and loved ones. It’s thru’ these very 'Words' that I tell my dear ones, how much I love and miss them. They just flow out of me, at any time that they feel like, and they convey my every thought, feeling and emotion, to those who’ve been waiting to hear from me.

They sometimes come out in verse and tug at the heart strings, of all who cast their eyes on them. At other times, they write themselves into a narration, of experiences that I’ve been through, and the wonderful times I’ve had. Occasionally, they also turn themselves into a post on a blog, where they paint 'word pictures' of people, experiences and things, that matter to me and that are special to me.😊

'Writing' has always been something I’ve loved doing, above a lot of other things; and to have people read my work, no matter how insignificant or small, has always made me happy. To realize that people are able to draw connections and parallels to their own lives, through my 'Words'. To discover that reading my short posts, makes people take a walk back into their own happy childhood memories, fills me with so much joy.

I love the company of 'Words', and I hope they love every moment they spend with me as well, because we definitely seem to get along really well.✨️✍️

THE WONDER YEARS ✍️

I used to enjoy the holidays tremendously when I was a student in school. Used to look forward to the months of April-May every single year. After an endless academic year that just seemed to keep going on and on, I couldn’t wait for the holidays to begin

But then, a few weeks into the holidays, and I remember that I would get very bored. After all, you can only play for that much time. We spent a large part of our holidays playing in the building compound, or in some of our neighbours houses, at that time.

When I was growing up, we survived on 'Fun-Time' on DD Metro, during the holidays. That was all that we had to look forward to, at 12 in the afternoon. Cable TV hadn’t arrived as yet and Computers in India, were still in their infancy stages. 

So, we played and played and played; and very soon we got fed up of it, and actually began to wait for school to begin. Much as the thought of going back to school reminded us of homework and tests and exams, at least it was better than the 'boring holidays', with nothing else to do other than playing.😄

I remember being very excited about the first day of school. Even if my family and I went out of town for the holidays, I would always want to be back, a few days before the re-opening of school, just because I didn’t want to miss that 'first day'. There was something very exciting about Day 1. 

Meeting the friends I hadn’t seen for about 2 months, wondering who our new class teacher and subject teachers would be, covering new books, occasionally a new school bag and water-bottle, going to school with an umbrella and a raincoat, if it was a rainy first day, wondering if there were going to be any new admissions in class; and more importantly, just being back in the place, that was my second home at the time. The place where I really blossomed, from a tiny bud into a sweet smelling flower.😊

Those were the Wonder Years of my life...the days when I was still in school. I enjoyed college a lot more than school (I guess everyone who goes to Xavier’s does); but there was something very memorable and unforgettable about my school days. It was an experience that I treasure in my heart and my memory even today; and I guess I loved it so much, that when the time came to choose, what I would want to do for the rest of my life professionally, I chose to go back to school.

Of course, being a 'Teacher', the experiences I have in school now, are quite different. Besides, while I studied in an all girls school, I now teach in a boys school. 

Despite that fact, there are some things that have remained unchanged. While I anxiously wait for the holidays to come, I’m completely bored by the end of it; and somehow, I just can’t wait to get back. I find myself looking forward to the first day of school with a lot of excitement. 

Now, I wonder about which students will be in my class this year. What activities will I help to organize in school. What methods will I use to make certain lessons and chapters interesting for my students. I still wait to see if there will be some new admissions in my class, etc, etc.😊

Though the world around me has changed a lot, I guess in certain ways, I’ve managed to stay the same. I’ve tried not to let go of the child in me, who laughs aloud when she’s happy and sheds a tear when she’s sad. 

Though I’m the teacher now, it hasn’t managed to stop me from being like a child, on the inside. For me, the best way to stay connected to the children you teach, is to try and hold on to the child in you. 

Yeah, the 'Wonder Years' for me, were a lot of fun; but I’m not so sure, if they’re over as yet!!!🤔✍️

THE RIB OF CREATION ✍️🤔

Till a few years ago, when we received a wedding invitation, it was mostly addressed to my Mum and Dad; and I was always just included in the “and family” part of the card. (Something that I hate very much, by the way; because even close relatives who know my name, often referred to me as 'fly.'…Extremely irritating!!!🙄 I can’t understand why people don’t write all the names on a wedding card, especially when they know every member of the family. I just think that it makes the invite more personal...But anyway, that’s my opinion.)

Over the past couple of years though, things began to change. My name suddenly began to appear on some of the wedding invitations, and I began to receive a number of invites that were addressed, only to me. 

This was all new and exciting, because now, it was no longer friends of my parents who were getting married, but my own classmates and friends from school and college, the friends in my building that I played with as a kid, the friends in my choir and youth group in the parish.

With every passing year, the number of wedding invitations have increased steadily; so much so, that some of my colleagues in school have often said, “You’ve been going for a lot of weddings lately, haven’t you?”

I guess it’s that stage in life when most people my age, decide that they need to settle down and start a new family together. Many of my friends have been lucky enough to get married to that 'One Special Someone', who started off as being their friend many, many years ago; and after all those years of knowing one another, they decided to turn that long friendship into a 'lifelong relationship of trust and love for one another'.

There have been other friends who’ve met someone just a couple of years ago; and after a year or two of courtship, they’ve decided that this was the person they were meant to spend the rest their lives with.

I felt very happy every single time I heard that some friend of mine was soon to tie the knot. At every wedding of a close friend, that I’ve been for in the past few years, I’ve been overjoyed to see the smiles on the faces of the happy couple. I’ve been a part of some of the wedding preps. as well; and learnt that it can be one of the most difficult jobs on the planet, to plan a wedding.

The amount of things that have to be co-ordinated and done are just never-ending; and that whole year or so of preparation, is just for about 5-6 hours, if you count both the actual wedding ceremony and the reception…But when one thinks of how all of that, is going to make someone’s wedding day memorable; I guess it’s worth the effort and the time spent.

One thing that scares me in this whole situation though, is that suddenly everyone around me seems to be getting married. Gradually the number of 'Single Friends' I have, is beginning to decline.😔

While I feel happy for my married friends, I sometimes envy them because they’ve been blest to find a friend, who eventually became their 'partner for life'.

But more than anything, seeing all these weddings happening around me, makes me think of myself, and wonder, when God will bring the person he has made for me into my life. 

According to the story of creation, Eve was created from one of Adam’s ribs…Just makes me wonder, whose rib was I created from???🤔

LOVE ALWAYS, LYNETTE ✍️❤️

I developed a hobby when I was still in Class 4 or 5 in school and that hobby has stayed with me even 15 years down the road. 

It’s something that most people find extremely difficult to do, in this fast paced world that we live in. 

Somehow, I’ve managed to make time for it, despite everything, at least so far...And I’m very happy that I’ve been able to, because it’s something, that has filled my life with a lot of Joy.😊

'Keeping In Touch', with people that I hold dear and cherish, as often as is possible; and trying to coax them, as hard as I can, to 'Stay in Touch' as well. 

That’s a hobby that I’ve kind of mastered over the years. I often feel really proud of myself, when I think of how many old pals, I’m still in touch with.

Every email I receive from an old friend, every time I speak to someone over the phone or on the internet after a long time (Mostly things that may seem really mundane and not even worth mentioning, to most people)...These simple moments are some of the 'happiest times of my life'. I actually get excited about a two-line email, that some old friend suddenly sends me.😄

I guess, I’m just a person who feels Happy at the smallest of things. I don’t require diamonds or roses or any huge gift, to make me happy. To me, the people that I Love, are worth more than all the material gifts, one can receive in one’s lifetime. Spending some Time with them or just hearing from them after a long time, is more Precious to me, than many other things this world has to offer.❤️

I know, that some of those 'Special People' in my life, like my FAMILY and FRIENDS, may be reading this post, at this moment. If I’ve never told you this before, you know now, that you are extremely 'Special' to me; and that’s why I’d hate to ever lose touch with you.

With all our work and busy schedules, it is often absolutely impossible, to stay in touch with the people we love, frequently. Our extended families, uncles, aunts, cousins, other relatives and the innumerable friends we make along the way in life, in school, in college and at our places of work. There are just too many people we connect with, over the course of One Lifetime.

Often we manage to 'Stay in Touch', for a few months or maybe a year, and there comes a time, when we’ve lost touch completely…

...And then many years later, we suddenly re-connect with a few; but with so many of our Friends, we tend to lose touch completely.😞

I’ve lost touch with many of my friends as well, over the years; but thankfully, there are quite a few, that I am still connected to. 

Here’s hoping that we 'Stay Connected', for many more years to come, because 'Goodbyes' are just not my cup of tea.

Love Today and Always, 

To all those 'Special People who Matter, in my Life', 

LYNETTE.✍️❤️

SINGING TILL THE SUN GOES DOWN 🎤🎶

In answer to a special request of an old college friend, I’ve decided to write about some amazingly cute guys I used to know in college. Most of them were short and small in stature but were exceptionally talented when it came to music.

They were absolute wit personified and they had humour flowing thru’ their veins instead of blood. They knew just when to say the right words that would send everyone in the canteen foyer at Xaviers into splits of laughter. Every time they opened their mouths to speak, it would bring a smile to every face around them.😊

I’ve spent hours listening to this merry gang singing away harmoniously. From a strictly all-boy click in the JC, this little singing group graduated to co-existing with members of the fairer sex, in the Degree college. This great turn of events happened, when they realized that they were fast running out of good talent, and as always, they had to turn to the girls in the college, for assistance.😂

Of course, another reason for this major change, (and the reason that these guys are more likely to agree with), was that they couldn’t bear the pestering any longer. The girls had been bugging them for ages, to form a singing group that would consist of both guys and girls; and so these fellows, since there were so nice and cute, finally gave in.😄

It’s been a while now since we all stepped out of the canteen foyer, the Woods, the college hall, the arches, the old staircases, the hostel steps and every other ‘kopcha’ in college where you would often find these gifted guys practicing away. Thinking about it, makes me very nostalgic. 

I don’t know how Xaviers is faring these days in the singing department, when it comes to inter-college events; but I remember that when my awesome friends were around, they did not let a single Inter-Collegiate Trophy for Singing, slip away. They were so amazing, that every Judge who ever saw them performing, was completely fascinated with their talent; and being as cute and lively as they were, most often, they had the entire audience in every auditorium, eating right out of their hands.✨️🎶

When I think of my days in Xaviers, I have many 'Happy Memories' to choose from; but I guess one thing I’ll always be thankful for, will be the fact, that I met these guys in college. They filled my days with sunshine, their harmonious singing often left me spellbound, their witty remarks and crazy antics, are simply unforgettable.😊

Guys, I know most of you have gone your separate ways now. While some of you, are still in Bombay, there are a few of you, who have moved to different parts of the world. Wherever you are though, please continue Singing, because all of you have a Talent and a Gift, that is simply amazing. So, although the group you sing with may change, just Keep Singing.🎤🎶

THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME, 'ME'.✨️❤️

Ok, so now I’ve written something about Xaviers (couldn’t resist writing that)…I’ve written loads of stuff about teaching (and there’ll be more of that in future, because I just can’t help it. I love my job and I can’t help talking about it whenever I get the opportunity)

So, what next???🤔

A friend who read thru’ the blog suggested that I should write a little more about ‘Me’ on my blog…Was an interesting thought (after all, it is ‘My’ blog)…but the only problem is, ‘ME’ is a very complex thing to write about…After all, where do I begin? How do I start? How much do I write? What do I leave out?😉😄

It’s been a couple of days since I talked to my friend; and I still don’t know what I’m going to write about. So, I’ve just thrown myself into the pool, and I’m going to learn to swim as the words come out…Hope the end result turns out to be worth reading.

If you go to a thesaurus and pick out all the synonyms of ‘Happy’…That’s ‘ME’ in a nutshell. Can literally 'Smile' from sun-up to sun-down, and that’s no exaggeration. People have told me, that they don’t know how that’s possible. They wonder whether someone can genuinely be 'Happy' all the time. I’ve been asked time and again, how I never get tired of smiling. 

Frankly speaking, I don’t know how it happens. I guess, it just springs from always being happy on the inside, from not getting caught up in things like anger, envy, jealousy, hatred and also sadness.

Of course, I haven’t fallen from heaven. So, it’s not like I do not feel all of those things. I’ve had my share of all those experiences, feelings and emotions; but, I think I could attribute it to the fact, that I am able to 'by-pass it all and look ahead'. Somehow, I have been blest with the ability to 'Forgive, Forget and Live in the Present'. By not holding on to the past and by not worrying too much about the future, I think I have been able to sail thru’ every difficult moment in life.🤷

Most importantly, I think it has been God, who has helped me to weather every storm I’ve gone thru’ in life. Though many people my age, would hate to admit it; it is God who gives us the courage to face every challenge, with a smile on our lips and a song in our hearts.😊🎶

...and as I end my 'Reflections' for the day, I’d just like to Thank God for making me, ‘ME’. There are things about myself that I don’t particularly like; but on the whole, He sure did a swell job when he created me (even if I may shamelessly say so myself)✨️😄

NOT JUST A COLLEGE…BUT A WAY OF LIFE! ✍️

When I finished school way back in ‘96, it seemed like I was leaving so much behind…

Then I joined Xavier’s and the next 'five years' were my most memorable years ever.

People said I would miss school, but I didn’t…I guess Xavier’s does that for people. Once a Xavierite, always a Xavierite!!!

It’s only people who’ve been there, who will be able to understand what it’s like. You just can’t wipe out the feelings, the joy, the memories, the pride, the thrill of those five years that you spend in that college...

Thinking of Xavier's and the times I spent there, makes me happy even today.😊

Dropped in for NOSTALGIA, the Reunion organized in college earlier this year…It brought back so many memories, just to be in the campus again.

Many of my friends didn’t show up; but I met other old friends, whom I hadn’t expected to bump into. It was nice to know what people had been doing, over the past five years since I had left Xavier’s. 

I kept looking around and staring at how things had changed. A lot of things were different; and yet, everything was still the same.

Xavier’s was my 'Home'…I’d been away from my Home for 5 years; but still, I didn’t feel like I’d ever left the place. There is a feeling of belonging with that college, that cannot really be expressed in words.

But, in the words of the old 'College Song' by Kim Cardoz, that I Loved so much, ‘St. Xavier’s, You Gave Me Wings…and it’s those wings that will always help me fly back to you'. Wherever life may lead me, if there’s one thing that I will always hold on to, it will be the memory of the times spent in Xavier’s.✨️❤️

THE EASIEST JOB IN THE WORLD…SAYS WHO??? 🤔

People often say, a teacher’s job is the best, because one gets so many holidays and works for only half a day…

My response to that is only, “You have to actually live in the same house as a teacher, to understand how easy it really is.”

For, in which other job, do people work from 7 in the morning upto 2 the next morning? Where else do people carry their work home every single day, day after day? The deadlines are scary and they come every two months like clockwork. 

For almost 11 months of the year, a teacher looks at herself in the mirror and sees stressed out expressions, dark circles and eyes deprived of sleep. 

Despite that, she has to be creative and innovative every single day. She has to be up-to-date and well-informed She has to have read up everything, that she could lay her hands on. She has to be able to answer the weirdest questions and handle the wildest tantrum.

And most importantly, she has to be able to survive it all, with a constant warm motherly smile on her face.😊

Of course, it’s a fun job because you’re always with children, who are fun to be around; but the 'workload' is definitely killing. Every person who thinks, that it’s the easiest job in the world, is sadly misinformed and hasn’t really bothered to look beyond, what is visible on the surface. 

I would welcome all those brave souls to come and try it out for a week or two. I can safely guarantee, that they wouldn’t last much longer than that.😄

IT’S BEEN TWO YEARS ALREADY!!! ✍️

In a few more days, I will have completed two whole years as a Secondary school teacher. Can’t believe how fast these two years have flown by.

Looking back on these two years, I think I can say, I’ve had a lot of fun. In two years I have made so many new friends, both among my colleagues and my students.I’ve gained in experience. I’ve become a genius at multi-tasking. I’ve spent more sleepless nights than I did, when I was studying for all my board exams put together (and I’ve appeared for 5 of those).

I’ve read more illegible handwriting than I ever did before. A red pen has become almost part of me. I lost my voice for a whole year. I’ve been off ice-creams and everything cold for 11 months of the year. I’ve yelled and screamed louder than the fisherwomen in the market. 

I’ve been heart-broken every time I had to bid farewell to a batch of students, and I’ve been overjoyed every time a student has done something to make the school proud. 

My life has practically revolved around my boys at school; and most importantly, I’ve loved every single moment of the past two years.

What more could one ask for??? ✍️

MY FIRST TEACHER ✨️✍️

I had only taken my first few breaths...
That was the first time she spoke to me,
She looked with joy at my tiny nose,
And with her eyes, said a thousand words.

I had only taken my first few steps...
And she gently guided me along,
She was standing right there, just in case,
I suddenly decided to fall.

I had only uttered my very first word…
She was so glad I’d called her name,
She smiled at me and I smiled back,
Now we could chat all day.

She taught me how to speak without a word,
She guided my every step,
She showed me how to smile and be happy,
Even when things were hard.

As I’ve gone thru’ life, I have been blest
With teachers both haughty and nice,
But no one quite compares to that very first one,
'My First Teacher was truly The Best'.✨️❤️

IF GOODBYE’S COULD BE DONE AWAY WITH...✍️

One of the saddest parts about being a teacher is having to say good-bye to an entire batch of students every single year.

Students who have been a part and parcel of your everyday life. Students with whom you have spent so many precious moments. Students with whom you have laughed and joked. The naughty ones that you have shouted at from time to time. The enthusiastic ones who've always come forward to take part in something when you've asked them to.

All of that just suddenly comes to an end one day, when it's time for them to move on to another phase of their lives.

Some of them may stay in touch, but most of them will choose to move ahead without ever looking back...

It really makes me wonder whether this entire process of saying Good-bye could be done away with completely.🤔

Of course, there will always be another batch of students who will come along to take the place of the ones who have just left. After all, life does go on...However, one still tends to miss 'that' particular batch of students, which has just said Good-bye. 

Sure, there will be others to take their place; and new memories of happy moments will be created with them as well, but the heart will always miss the ones that have moved ahead...

And I often find myself wishing we could live a life where we didn't ever have to say Good-bye...

If only that were possible...How much more beautiful life would be!!!✨️😊