Sunday, December 16, 2007

Hectic, tiring but loads of fun!

Last week was certainly happening. Left office at 4.30 2 days in a row (a first for me...leaving office so early to catch shows) As a rule generally try & avoid going out on weekdays so twice this week was fun but tiring.

First was Italian do at NCPA, Opera arias with Soprano & Baritone specially invited from Italy. Accompanied by a Pianist, Cellist & Violinist who were brilliant. My first time listening to something like this. It was quite an experience....one that I'd gladly repeat. Live music somehow makes your mind go blank till all you feel is the music. I didn't understand a word that was sung; but the emotions & expressions being conveyed gave me my first glimpse into what a full fledged opera must be about. With the costumes, story line etc being explained to you. It would be brilliant! This felt a bit disjointed at first since I couldn't relate to the pieces at all. So decided not to think but just feel the music (which worked!)

Amar was so lost & bored. Fuzz was all giggles & laughter (similarity of soprano with ex-colleague was reason) soon he became so infectious that all 3 guys were giggling away. Dirty looks from me & people around didn't work at all! I tried to ignore the guys (didn't work at all)

Figaro piece was brilliant, so was the final duet.

Understood reason for all that suppressed laughter only after the show. Guys!!!!!!!

2nd outing was next day. No tickets, Who's afraid of virginia woolf? the play. After much ado & waiting around for over 60 minutes realization was that we are not getting any tickets. Made alternate plans....drinks somewhere, dinner at churchill's & dessert at theobroma.

Evening was loads of fun, felt a bit buzzed after a sip of JB. Dinner was delicious if too much food to finish. Dessert was definitely food for the gods (felt divine myself after one bite of the walnut brownie)

Had a minor brush with death the earlier night when I fell out of the train at dadar. It's not true, you definitely don't see ur life flash before your eyes. Was kind of numb during the experience, only thought was what the hell I'm falling!!

Guys on station picked me up almost as soon as my body touched the platform, just felt train whizzing by my head & hands gripping my elbow & lifting me to safety. Heard shouts from guys on platform saying what are you doing (I thought it was very obvious, falling out of the train)

Checked to see if there was anything broken, nope all intact, only a small scratch on my hand. My bag & hip took the brunt of the fall. Discovered that the data card in my bag got a dent (saw it only yesterday morning when I went to use it) Bottom & hip of course hurt only the next day and the day after. Even went for a walk the next morning to prove to myself that it was nothing.
Harish got out behind me to check up on me & I very coolly tell him am fine but you are missing the train. Poor guy, he was looking so puzzled. I guess in hindsight seeing me fall was worse.

Dinner yesterday night completed the week. Went out with bro, mom & sister in law. Good food, good company...very nice time.

Realization this morning that yesterday was parents wedding anniversary when I saw the date on my cell phone. Felt so foolish, mom was very pensive yesterday. Now I knew why.

Gave mom a hug & kiss...and apologized for forgetting. Kids can be so callous at times. I don't think any of my brothers remembered either. And this was a day we'd plan in advance for my parents when Dad was alive. Missed dad so much!

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Little Things...

Why is it the little things that make me happy.

The unexpected smile

your voice in my ears.

Being there have my heart singing with joy.

It's always the little things that show you care.

I find it strange how my life has changed.

Big brown eyes, wagging tails

Crisp mornings, foggy streets, blinking lights, curious meows.

Shivering in the chilly air.

Friends who care.

Buck teeth, whiskered faces, golden eyes, fishy breath.

Yellow flowers, green ferns, blue skies.

The rain on my face, the breeze in my hair. The smell of the sea.

I hope you can feel these little things too.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Music is back in my life....

Am feeling happeeeee. After 2 weeks without music, its back in my life. How i'm dependent on my memory card! Never even thought of it till I lost it. Music that is.

Memory card on phone died on me 2 weeks ago. Tried in vain to reformat it. But no luck. Searched for the warranty & receipts. Took it to the shop where I bought it. Gave it for reformatting. Got a replacement memory card (I actually managed to kill my earlier one :D) Too much of amy winehouse it just couldn't take any more & committed hara kiri is way I explain it to myself of course.

Walks were without music. Walk to station again without music. Realized that I observe so much more when I'm not lost in the music playing in my ears. Suddenly noticed all the people I share train with. Notice what people are doing, wearing, saying on phone. Envied people blasting music loudly into ears on walks...damn they still had music!

Got a mini shock from colleague at work who actually asked me Shilpi not blogging anymore. Mind was like WTH are you reading my blog too?

Just goes to show; you never know who is reading your blog. Bit invasive i think. But that is the price you pay I guess for sharing your thoughts with the world. You can't decide who forms part of that world...

Anyways it's ok i guess. Not exactly sharing international secrets on it. Only very random thoughts that intersperse my mind. Thats all!!!!

If I haven't yet been able to understand myself for 37 years...how in the world can someone else? I always put it down to being an aquarian (hehe..)

Life is certainly looking brighter again. Mouse stays home at night. Sharing bed with 3 cats every night. Wonder what will happen if & when I get a human to share it with. Will he mind the cats?

One thing I do know, waking up & seeing the greenest eyes in the world is certainly not bad. Always thought of myself as a blue eyed girl. But you never know do you. Still remember another pair of blue-green eyes. Very gorgeous eyes on a gorgeous guy....very professional of course. The first person to take me seriously as a fellow mushroom grower. How can one forget that....the respect & equality shown to me a very new person in the field by someone who was brought up in the field. At 24 I certainly felt very grown up that day & proud of myself :)

I'm digressing....as usual. Somehow the yearning to grow mushrooms is back. You just can't bury some things I guess. I am so out of touch. Damn it.

Listening to Amy Winehouse as I write this. Very free this weekend. Actually have no plans.
Gonna take a evening walk today; skipped the morning one. Felt too sleepy with 3 warm bodies snuggled up with me.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Undying Spirit

Feeling so lucky since yesterday after watching Sitara Devi's kathak performance. She is in her 80's but her spirit is surely undying. She was so feisty and brave to dance for us. It was an amazing experience, one that will stay in my memories for a lifetime.

It is very hard to meet someone like her, so forthright & bold. She reminisced about some of her older performances one where she danced for 12-13 hrs. It had me wondering what must she have been like when she was younger. Bolder than this or more muted; a milder version perhaps of the woman I saw yesterday.

Whatever she was I'm quite sure she has always been unforgettable!

Which made me think; aren't all of us unforgettable in our own ways. We each of us have something that makes us very unique and imprints itself in our thoughts when we think about that person. Isn't that what we all leave behind. A bit of ourselves with everyone we meet.

And aren't we lucky when we find that most people we know are that unforgettable. Imagine living with people who are completely boring with no personalities and no thoughts. Imagine finding yourself surrounded by people who are completely forgettable. I'm sure each & every one of us knows many such people who live life like ghosts. Who go thru the motions of life without really living each moment.

Who crib & cry about the injustices of life when life really hasn't thrown any challenges their way. What happens to them when they do find themselves challenged i wonder. Do they cope or buckle?

I think I've been very lucky with friends and family till date. Each and every one is unforgettable. They all have their imprints on my life. I hope the luck continues with lovers as well.