Its my birthday again! Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months..seem to be blessed by the wings of time! Life speeds by so fast that it makes me dizzy sometimes! And no..its not spondylitis! I look back over the enchanting years-and the power-point presentation of memories of my childhood and youth flash in front of my eyes. The warmth of the sunshine of mom and papa's love, the holidays on hill-stations year after year, the many new schools in diverse towns, as papa was posted from town to town in the course of his long distinguished career as an officer (and gentleman) of the Indian Armed Forces, the unconditional love and 'I-will-always-have-faith-in-you-no-matter-what' that I learnt from my mom (you, Vinnie Dev)...and incorporated in your lives, my precious children.. all seems to be there all around me in my every Today somehow. I can hear papa's voice calling out to me to look at a rainbow in the sky, a caterpillar in the throes of emerging as a butterfly, a colourful bird, a firefly in the dark nights..I seem to look up and see him looking up at the bright sun to sneeze..that was one of the quaintest of his traits! The others were his complete love for his first precious grandchild (you, Aanchal), and calling 'nadi' -'dariya and 'ped'- 'drakht'!!
The world lost my dad on 22nd December 1987, but none of us ever did. He lives in our hearts every moment, with his sunny smile and warm arms..which kept my childhood so secure. You, Saahil, he held just a couple of times in his arms when you were born, and then again when you were a couple of months old. That is one of my few regrets and complaints to life..that you did not know him.
Mom-- what do I say to describe you??? My lovely, loving, completely crazy, incredibly vibrant mother:-) Love you with all my heart, Ma. All I am today, all I have..is all thanks to you.
The kaleidoscope of my memories surround me with their ever-changing patters..always colourful, always enchanting. You, Rajiv- my friend, confidante, partner in every sense of the word, best pal, husband- you came into my life, have transformed me into a realm all my own, where I made friends with myself and with the whole world. You showed me again what the meaning of 'unconditional love' is.. and (in facebook language) what being "in an open relationship" means:-) (This, by the way, intrigues very many people)
You enriched my world, with so many many happy times..tough times.. and we grew up together, learning to always remain best friends!
Memories, dreams, visions, hopes, desires, magic- all churned up my two devils- which means you both - Aanchal and Saahil:-) And life changed tracks once more.. this time towards the happiest years of my life. Watching you both grow from dribbling babies, to lisping toddlers- then intense (and intensely naughty) youngsters..crazy teenagers (in your case, sonny boy-- I am forced to add "And HOW!!!!" ).. then confident, intelligent, considerate, responsible, loving adults..its been a pleasurable journey:-) You, Shalu..you just crept into our lives, waltzed into our hearts (first as an ugly duckling, that magically metamorphosed into a graceful swam) and catapulted the cauldron of our rishtas into a new dimension! Thank you, baby- for being part of us.
Gourav Sharma- kehne ko, my son-in-law..in reality- as dear to me as the children of my womb. Thank you, beta.. for filling up that still vacant corner of my life- with the warmest, supportive, loving, 'sensible' son that I needed to complete the rosy picture!! (Sorry- Terrible Twins-- not found place yet for your partners)
Today-as I stand at a higher citadel and look around me-- I am so gratified to find myself surrounded by all of you, your love, so many friends, well-wishers, enemies? (Naah!) -- whom I am everlastingly grateful to, for joining my bandwagon and making my journey so much more fun! (This includes my college friends - Pushpa Bhandari Bisht, Sumedha Sahni, Husnara Khan, Mangala Konsam, Dinesh, Sukhbir, etc etc etc, my FB friends -- all of you! my family, cousins, school kids..EVERYONE- who is there in my days and nights)
Yes- I have lived these years on my own terms- every step of the way. Thank you all - Mom, Rajiv, Aanchal, Saahil, Shalu- for encouraging me to do so. Thank you too, my best friend of these 15 years- Arun Edwards-Thank you all- For always being there for me, sharing my every dream, happiness, passion and hurt, standing firmly by our friendship, walking shoulder-to-shoulder with me, shouldering me from trouble and strife, as noone else could!
Somehow, all of these memories seem to be just as bright and shiny as they were when they were formed! And that makes me believe in Magic. The magic of Love.
Today- I wish to commemorate a few people who contributed greatly (without knowing it!) to providing the guidelines to my journey.
Thank you Ogden Nash : You told me : "You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely".
Thank you Lucille Ball : I believed you when you said : "The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age:-)"
Thank you George Bernard Shaw. You sure had a point when you commented "Youth is a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children!"
....May I live to be a hundred years...With one extra year to repent:-)
CHEERS !
The world lost my dad on 22nd December 1987, but none of us ever did. He lives in our hearts every moment, with his sunny smile and warm arms..which kept my childhood so secure. You, Saahil, he held just a couple of times in his arms when you were born, and then again when you were a couple of months old. That is one of my few regrets and complaints to life..that you did not know him.
Mom-- what do I say to describe you??? My lovely, loving, completely crazy, incredibly vibrant mother:-) Love you with all my heart, Ma. All I am today, all I have..is all thanks to you.
The kaleidoscope of my memories surround me with their ever-changing patters..always colourful, always enchanting. You, Rajiv- my friend, confidante, partner in every sense of the word, best pal, husband- you came into my life, have transformed me into a realm all my own, where I made friends with myself and with the whole world. You showed me again what the meaning of 'unconditional love' is.. and (in facebook language) what being "in an open relationship" means:-) (This, by the way, intrigues very many people)
You enriched my world, with so many many happy times..tough times.. and we grew up together, learning to always remain best friends!
Memories, dreams, visions, hopes, desires, magic- all churned up my two devils- which means you both - Aanchal and Saahil:-) And life changed tracks once more.. this time towards the happiest years of my life. Watching you both grow from dribbling babies, to lisping toddlers- then intense (and intensely naughty) youngsters..crazy teenagers (in your case, sonny boy-- I am forced to add "And HOW!!!!" ).. then confident, intelligent, considerate, responsible, loving adults..its been a pleasurable journey:-) You, Shalu..you just crept into our lives, waltzed into our hearts (first as an ugly duckling, that magically metamorphosed into a graceful swam) and catapulted the cauldron of our rishtas into a new dimension! Thank you, baby- for being part of us.
Gourav Sharma- kehne ko, my son-in-law..in reality- as dear to me as the children of my womb. Thank you, beta.. for filling up that still vacant corner of my life- with the warmest, supportive, loving, 'sensible' son that I needed to complete the rosy picture!! (Sorry- Terrible Twins-- not found place yet for your partners)
Today-as I stand at a higher citadel and look around me-- I am so gratified to find myself surrounded by all of you, your love, so many friends, well-wishers, enemies? (Naah!) -- whom I am everlastingly grateful to, for joining my bandwagon and making my journey so much more fun! (This includes my college friends - Pushpa Bhandari Bisht, Sumedha Sahni, Husnara Khan, Mangala Konsam, Dinesh, Sukhbir, etc etc etc, my FB friends -- all of you! my family, cousins, school kids..EVERYONE- who is there in my days and nights)
Yes- I have lived these years on my own terms- every step of the way. Thank you all - Mom, Rajiv, Aanchal, Saahil, Shalu- for encouraging me to do so. Thank you too, my best friend of these 15 years- Arun Edwards-Thank you all- For always being there for me, sharing my every dream, happiness, passion and hurt, standing firmly by our friendship, walking shoulder-to-shoulder with me, shouldering me from trouble and strife, as noone else could!
Somehow, all of these memories seem to be just as bright and shiny as they were when they were formed! And that makes me believe in Magic. The magic of Love.
Today- I wish to commemorate a few people who contributed greatly (without knowing it!) to providing the guidelines to my journey.
Thank you Ogden Nash : You told me : "You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely".
Thank you Lucille Ball : I believed you when you said : "The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age:-)"
Thank you George Bernard Shaw. You sure had a point when you commented "Youth is a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children!"
....May I live to be a hundred years...With one extra year to repent:-)
CHEERS !
And may you join me- my steady, loving, warm-hearted, dependable son- Gourav Sharma. Love you so very much!
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