A smile will do

When through the streets of sorrow pass I,

With trickles of tears flowing down my eye,

When the birds with lovely chatters flew by,

And I with woe weary eyes did at a stranger cry,

"Oh! Look at that man whistling by,

When I with all my broken ties,

Am here to search for a way to die,

Oh! Woeful life!"

The Stranger with pity stopped short,

And with a twinkling brightness flashed a sunshine smile,

Which washed all tears and brought all hopes,

And now it was me whistling and walking miles.

When through the woods with a joyful heart roved I,

Bumped into a person with a gloomy eye,

Figured the shadow I cast by,

And at once like the other stranger now I flashed a smile,

"Buddy, said I,

Life's not just cries, riles and wiles,

Its a precious hem of joyful ties

And thus passed on the secret with much ado,

THAT A SMILE WILL DO :)

Hug me, if you love me

One of those things that life, well 7 year olds can teach you!!! Sometimes a single second in life can teach you lessons worth a lifetime. At a phase when I thought I have done it all and have experienced life to the fullest and I can't be better........she breaks the bubble with just a whooosshhh of 6 simple words. And for once my tongue couldn't churn out a response.  It broke the entire line up of the so called sacrifices of motherhood to bring up this kid. And I recalled learning - Communication is what others understand! Maybe thats what they meant when people say - 'You speak the same language as me'. I realised how people in general are so different and it again took me back to another learning - ' Some like to see, some like to hear, some like to see, some like to smell, while others like to taste'. Yes guys, am talking about the five senses and how, in a person one can dominate over the others and thats primarily how we give and receive communication. My 7 year old obviously had to feel my hug to know I love her. Aren't we all 7 year olds in our mind. Love obviously has an expression and this expression is different for each of us. Maybe we need to let those we love know how we would like to receive the expression of love. If a 7 year old can, so can we :)

Of books and borrowers

When I think of the day, I started reading books, there is an eerie feeling which crosses my mind – recollections of those books that I “once” owned.  Books were always my first love. I have always loved to own all the books I read; from comics to classics. But, unfortunately I seldom hang onto them for long. Blame it on my tongue which never stops chattering especially when the topic is “Books’ with a capital B. ‘View sharing’ is something I love and detest. ‘Love’ because it always makes me feel socially forward; ‘detest’ because for every view shared, I lose a book!

The period of borrowing varies from a few days to months and even years when all the hopes of getting the book back vanishes into thin air. The irony of it is when people speak of ‘lending’ the very books which ‘you once owned’!!!!!!!!!!!

But there is always a tiny hope that climbs like a spider in its web and keeps repeating -‘Try, try, try till you succeed.’ And then arises the question, “How shall I get it back?” I think and I think of ways to get it back. I ponder while I rest, I ponder while at work and I still ponder when I read another book which also has a chance of never seeing me again. It is then that my hair started falling,  I grew pale, I lose weight and I begin to spend sleepless nights – Well! Not in Seatle folks!

I would have thought of innumerable ways and after a time lapse of 24 hours, would have discarded it out of the whirlpool of thoughts. And then comes the time when I do hit upon a plan – a plan which might help me see the book again.

I seek the borrower, invite her/him to my house and spend hours speaking about nothing but books. Easy ain't it?! But in the end my friend leaves and am the same person minus some snacks, drinks and my energy! My hope bursts like a bubble. And then I decide to forget the books and forgive the borrower. I make a vow never to lend books again and then when a friend drops by, I’ll find myself breaking the vow I made a short while ago, reminding me once again of my lost books. In the end I feel a lot wiser but never a miser!!!!!!!!

My experience of ownership and ex-ownership of numerous books gives me the wisdom to tell you – “Make sure your shelf is the one that possesses the book you buy – FOREVER! Just don't ask me how! I am still learning!