Search for a Stranger

                                     This true short story, purely autobiographical by Dr.Gordon Livingstone is one that moved me very much among the hundreds of short stories read by me in the recent years.The impact was so great that it led to two or three readings .The story packed with passions,emotion and anxiety with the subtle element of thrill seemed to echo in my memory for a couple of days.A few touching sentences could be quoted with ease from memory. The story would be indelible in my mind or ever.

                             A Tamil movie which became a hit, directed by Mr. Maniratnam
might have its roots from this story or a similar one.

                              After reading the story, one cannot be free from the reflections, that counselling, guidance or advice may be good,easy and soothing as long as the giver is outside the issue; once he or she becomes a part of it,acceptance is not immediate.
                            To quote the writer,
    "------- were no longer theories, absractions: they were real problems-they were mine !"

                            Later on googling about the writer, it is known that, besides, being a ssuccessful psychiatrist, Dr. Livingstone is the author of several books including some best sellers.
               The text of the story has been inserted for reminiscence.
                          

                              
                                
                                                                  

Know your city

                           Most of us dream and desire to go far and wide to explore Nature or to visit the places of historical, religious or commercial importance , just ignoring the hidden treasures of the city or the town, where we live.The reason is either procrastination or their value is overlooked just because of their close proximity.
                       It is often humorously remarked that the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world is rarely frequented by the local population of Agra ; the enchanting  Falls of Courtallam attracting hosts of tourists from across the state may not be of any interest 
 to some of the residents of the township.
                       This truth seemed to enlighten me as a vacation of two weeks was nearing in the month of May. That enlightenment may also be an outcome of the awareness about the thronging of the tourists to the hills stations like Ooty or Yercaud during the vacation, being the places, we had planned to visit.
                        The Botanical Gardens of The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, the Gass Museum of The Forest College , Marudamalai, Kasturi Srinivasan Art Gallery , Anaikatti and the recently developed Baralikadu became our choice.Already some of them had been visited by me ; yet I decided to rediscover them. 
 

Just For Twenty Rupees

                                                    According to Mathematical calculations twenty rupees may be very less in value compared to two hundred US Dollars; but the joy born out of just twenty rupees can never be duplicated by the pleasure trips costing two hundred or even two million dollars.
                                          The most happiest moments of joy for Jiji, my grandson, on his visit to India during the last three months of 2012 was his ecstatic ride in a toy aeroplane of the Merry Go Round in an Exhibition.He was about twenty months old and just casually his mother made him sit in the single seater toy plane of the merry go round and made him go for a few rounds at a cost of twenty rupees.

                                           Being a single seater none of us was able to sit beside him to hold him for support.Today it is a matter of wonder how we permitted such a small child to go alone,without the provision of even a belt for fastening. The joy and cheer on jiji's face could never have been anticipated by us. As he went around in " his own plane " he looked for all our faces from the crowd at a distance and waved at us with the pride of a globe trotter.Sometimes he became intoxicated and yelled at us.

                                     Refusing to get down after his first set of rounds, he had to be allowed to go for a second time and once again a third time.In between when his plane was stationary,curiosity made him bend and analyse the inside of the " giant plane ". All this from Jiji ,who, just a couple of months back had flown in four planes from Kansas City to Coimbatore with three transits,two of them in the busiest airports of Chicago O 'hare and London Heathrow, watching with excitement the landing and take off of several planes. At times his anxiety turned into an embarrassment for his mom on showing his protest to board the plane even after the announcement.

                                  The same predicament had to be faced amidst the other visitors to the exhibition on his declining to step down after the third round and later pacified by his grandpa. We took him once again to the same exhibition next week.

                                 Happiness, for the elders is always a state of the mind. But even
for a child money seems to be immaterial, many a times, for experiencing joy. 
                                  

  

Back To Sweet Sixteen

 Saturday,  June 29,   2013

                                       Carefree and fun loving school girls of sweet sixteen emerged from the women in their fifties. The drawing cum dining hall of the residence was over flowing with nothing but fun, frolic and loud laughter for nearly three hours before, over and after lunch.

                                        Rejuvenating and recharging was that Saturday, the occasion being, a get together of  eight students of the same batch of class XI, the year of the school final, three decades ago in St.Ignatius Convent High School,a land mark of education till date in Palayamkottai.Going down the memory lane, the young girls in their, " pavadais and thavanis " were personifications of joy, pride, appreciation and also chiding at times.To the astonishment and surprise of the others,some of the friends with sharp memories could reminisce particular occasions of mischief,the characteristics of some of the faculty and their peculiarities.

                                      Unanimous was every one about the effective teaching of all most all the staff members expressing their gratitude and also subsequently very proud to be the alumnus of such a wonderful institution.

                                     A big thanks to my cousin who celebrated the wedding of her son the previous day, Friday, facilitating my trip from Coimbatore to Tirunelveli, enabling a happy reunion of the good old friends.Taking leave of them but carrying the rejoicings
over the recalling of the fond memories seemed to be too powerful to take my medicines of hypertension for a week.

                                    Finally,our love,cheer and applause to the friend,one among
the eight for organising an informal gathering of delight along with lunch at a short notice.My sincere thanks to the other friends for making it a memorable Saturday.

Akshaya Tritiya

                                                MAY 13, Monday was Akshaya Tritiya.Being in our hometown last year on that day,I was very happy to take part in a Homam and Kubera Laxmi pooja conducted in the Somasundara Vinayakar temple near our house.

                                    Advertisements galore during this occasion luring people to buy gold.That business tactics has the least impact on me.Till last year we used to buy salt and turmeric.This year, with yet an year of maturity, that was substituted just with the joy of giving.

                                   Not being carried away easily by any thing, just because of its worth in terms of money, I feel ,is an attribute of our friendship.But a word of appreciation never fails on seeing something beautiful and captivating. Ironically a sense of pride surfaces musing about our friends who are all simple but elegant.The friendship that blossomed during the school days continued through the college days and is still continuing even today after four decades.

Mother's Day

       May, 12 was Mother's day.Pressing the rewind button, the Mother's day Celebrations of 2011 in U.S. with my daughter and my beloved Jiji flashed in my memory.Very special and precious was the day to her as she got promoted as a mother that year and had the joy of being with her mother, me, after a break of four years.Balloons,sweets,cakes,gifts,dinner and Jiji made our day.A laptop and a camera ,the gifts, received on the day contribute a lot in pursuing my passion of sharing my thoughts and recipes through my blogs.

            This space is also used by me to honour my mother who is in her early eighties.All mothers are special to their children.Still our mom,a mother to eight of us is an epitome of selfless love, patience, courage,innocence,positive attitude,wisdom and practical knowledge.Till a few years back,she was after her interests in all sorts of hand works like making dolls,fur dolls,bead works, making wire baskets etc.

             A mother's love may seem to be inversely proportional to the number of children she has.It is absolutely beyond truth.Her love for us is as ' big as ' our family.In those days of letters,worried she would be, if there was a delay in a communication from any one of us.Today the same with the telephone calls.

             My mother discontinued her schooling after class five ;she regrets for it even today, so, she wanted all of us to excel in our studies.My father,busy with his official work, five decades back,entrusting the two small kids in our grandma's care,she stood in a queue to get the application,to get it filled with the help of some unknown saviour and get me and my immediateyounger brother admitted in the reputed Loyola convent,the primary wing of the St.Ignatius' Convent Girls High School,Palayamkottai,Tirunelveli.Those days happened to be golden days with no donations, no recommendations,admissions on merit basis with written tests for classes other than the " baby class " and a meagre fee for an English medium.

            If I am ,what I am today, at the least a good citizen,the entire credit goes to her and  the school.

         That day of admission must be a foundation stone in the career of  my younger brother who is a corporate giant with many ranks,distinctions and a product of India's premier institutions.

         My mother's innocence is a bliss to her but her soft nature at times seems to make people exploit her on occasions for which I used to feel much.Literally without education and with no knowledge of English,on date she goes to the bank,goes to the railway station to book her tickets, can travel alone and twice went abroad alone.

            Our mom is a Padikkatha  Medhai, meaning an " unlettered genius ".

             My dear mom,I dedicate the day to you.
        

Summer,so cool

                                  Summer can become so endearing to us,once we are ready to think differently.

                                 Summer is so special that it is the season in which many colourful and attractive flowers bloom giving us a lot of joy.It is only during the summer month of May, Flower Shows are conducted in the hill stations of Ooty,kodaikanal,Yercaud etc.
                             Summer season sets in bringing along with its arrival, the scarlet water melons, the tender cucumbers, the tender coconuts, and the delicious mangoes.
                            Summer gives us the women folk a wonderful opportunity  to wear the elegant cotton sarees , salwars and kurtis and men the colourful cotton T shirts.
                             Summer is the favourite of the students with the long summer vacation and for the family to plan the family tours and visit the friends and relatives.
                              Summer is once again well accepted by some of the students as they can have the thrill of earning during learning during the vacation.
                            Summer is the time we rejoice the Chithirai Thiruvizha in Madurai and the Panguni Pongal and Chithirai festivals of Goddess Mariamman in several towns and cities across Tamil Nadu.
                             Summer may seem to be cool with little acceptance, making us cheerful.

                            Born are not the cheerful people,
                            But they make themselves cheerful,
                            By thinking differently!