Make time to live ...

A short story ...



Two friends were walking through the desert. At one point, both started arguing and one of the friends hit the other in his face. The one who was hit was hurt, without uttering a single word. He sat down and wrote in the sand,

"Today My Best Friend Hit me in the Face".

They carried on walking, until they reached an oasis, they wanted to freshen up and started to bathe. The friend who was hit in the face, got caught in the mud and was about to drown when his other friend saved his life. After he recovered he took a stone and carved into it,

"Today My Best Friend Saved My life".

Puzzled the other friend inquired, "why a stone, earlier you wrote in the sand?"

He looked up and smiled and said,
"When I was hurt, I wrote in the sand so that the wind can blow it, but when you saved my life I carved it on the stone. so that the wind can never blow it away".

We have to learn to write our pain in the Sand. The wind by blowing it away can help us to forgive. But the good moments have to be carved on the stone, so that we never forget them. Nature has given us many gifts,which are all around us. They teach us,
"Lets make time to live!"

Mirror, mirror ...

Mirror, mirror on the wall , "who is the most beautiful woman of them all"?

Age 3: Looks at herself and sees a Queen!

Age 8: Looks at herself and sees herself as Cinderella/Sleeping Beauty.

Age 15: Looks at herself and sees herself as Cinderella/SleepingBeauty/Cheerleader; or if she is PMS'ing: sees Fat/Pimples/UGLY ("Mom, I can't go to school looking like this!").
Age 20: Looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly" - but decides she's going out anyway.

Age 30: Looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly" - but decides she doesn't have time to fix it, so she's going out anyway.
Age 40: Looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly" - but says, "At least I'm clean" and goes out anyway.

Age 50: Looks at herself and sees "I am" and goes wherever she wants to go.
Age 60: Looks at herself and reminds herself of all the people who can't even see themselves in the mirror anymore. Goes out and conquers the world.

Age 70: Looks at herself and sees wisdom, laughter and ability. Goes out and enjoys life.
Age 80: Doesn't bother to look. Just puts on a purple hat and goes out to have fun with the world.


A Look in the Mirror...

Mirror now, with all respect, do not reflect what I expect. All the world 's a stage you know, foolish words have made it so Listen now, who do you see? Mirror, take a look at me.

Meree Awaaz Suno!

Being punctual sometimes is wasting your time, being alone, waiting, checking your watch every second! Craning your neck to see whether your train, your bus, your person is in sight!

Why be punctual then? Very simple. Punctuality is a VIRTUE and should be practiced and encouraged.

Everyday at eight in the morning ,the school bus picks four students from the stop near my building. I am at my study room window to view this. My son is one of the four students who boards this bus to school.

The bus is often punctual . It arrives late, only when the traffic is a bit slow .. All of them wait for it as I do at my window. Out of the four students, two of them are often late to catch the bus. The bus driver is considerate and waits until they arrive, while the other two are almost always on time.

But this morning was different; one elevator of our building was not working . Going down twenty-five floors is quiet a job .My son had to wait for the only other working lift as it served each floor. I was already at the window and I saw the bus ( on time today) approach the stop, the three kids boarded it. The automatic door closed and it moved away. My son reached the spot about 90 seconds late, seeing no one around he looked up to see if I was there. I signaled to him that the bus had already left. He rushed to take the public transport to be on time for his morning prayers at school.

Why did the bus driver not consider waiting (even a few more seconds) for the student (my son) who is always punctual? For a moment I felt he was not fair. Was the driver in a bad mood? I have seen him wait even for five minutes (300seconds) on some other days. Then why did he not wait today?

The only reason I could arrive at was if a very punctual student is not on time, it is assumed that he is not going to school. He must be absent for the day. Yet I feel that the driver should have considered waiting a few more seconds for the benefit of the doubt or my son.

I wonder if I should take to heart that although being punctual is good, being punctual ALWAYS may not be so good.

Does the virtue of punctuality ill suits the one who is always on time?

Sunday School ...

Nine year old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned at Sunday school.

"Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. "

When he got to the Red Sea, he had his engineers build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely.

"Then he used his walkie-talkie to radio headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved."

"Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?" his mother asked.

"Well, no. But if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!"

Born_Anew

I was on Usha's blog, having some time on my hands, I clicked on a comment on her recent post only to feed my want - to inquire.

Friends,this click took me to a blog which has just begin to bloom.

http://hiphopgmom.blogspot.com/2006/07/canine-instincts.html

In her very first post she says, “My children tell me owning a blog is the surest sign that one is still young at heart :) ”.

Here, I read with a child-like wonder. Words that were deeper, simpler than my daily prayers. They made me listen and surrender. They confirmed my trust that the every day begins to remind that all want the same things _”to be happy and be loved”

This blog has just laid its foundation, its building and it is growing. She writes to tell about a wonderful life lived, and is going strong with the every U-turn she takes with her new acquired Red Maruti Alto.

I am with her on the longest journey which begins from my mind into my heart …

B
E
S
T


O
F



Friends...

I know this is weird to hear
and wow it's awkward for me to say
But I was hoping if you weren't busy
we could go out on a date today

I'm not a pervert or anything
but I appreciate all your qualities
And I hope you know
that friends are one of life's rare commodities

So if you want a joyous outing of smiling
until our nice time ends
I hope you'll give me a call
and we can be best of friends

How do we see yet, be so blind ...

You don't get it.
What does it matter,nothing will last .
You ask yourself, What is today?
"today is tomorrow a piece of the past".
It can never last.

The shared moments are only passing times
A piece of your heart lies forever in friends;
who never change your thoughts.

How do we see yet, be so blind

"Life is too short to live with regret"
It gets better as time goes by to look for the good,
at least give it a try ...

Completely Anonymous ?!!?

Hi, "Passer By" (I wish I knew you real name) -

Namaste!

I just heard about the commuter train bombing and wanted to check to see if you are ok or if you need any kind of help.

Please let me know when you can, ok?

Blessings!
Anonymous

Dear Blogreader,
I received this short caring message this morning, I extend this to one and all in mumbai.
I pray for peace, love and care.

I don't have a death wish ...

A broken heart, a trembling mind and a bleeding soul
Are what were left behind when you went with the waves

I keep trudging along our cherished memories
Did they realize that you were the right, me the left, treading together the desert and woods alike;
You my inspiration and my company your delight.

We balanced each other but now I remain collapsed;
I‘ve nothing left , but Faith that things will become easier; and keep me alive

Going on does not come easily as many see it to be

I recall all the good times we shared through all the years
The pain I feel will be within; until my fading day
Will we ever meet in this vast expanse before me.

No … I don’t have a death wish only feel loneliness and pain
That grows with every touching wave, but not taking me away .

pencilsoverpen

I was using it for a crossword puzzle book at the airport. The pages of the book were soft, I was irritated as my pencil refused to write at times. I always carry pencils rather than a pen in my handbag.

Pencils have always had a place in my heart. They write well on regular paper. I attend seminars and find they provide with pencils rather than a pen. I can chew, stomp a pencil, it still works. It needs no ink or battery to operate. It floats too. And can work just fine after getting wet.

My pencil also has a small “better than nothing” eraser at its one end. This encourages me to make mistakes. Wise men advice and encourage mistakes. The best thing about with a pencil is that you can change by simply erasing it.

Pencils can do extraordinary things, they are best for tagging plants; graphite does not fade in the sun, Pencils can be handy when you need to stir your coffee or tea ( not always you can locate a spoon ) incidentally the eraser adds a nice flavor to it. Pencils can be used as toothpicks and they are world-class back scratchers!

Like pens, pencils too are mightier than the sword, And you can hide this sword between your wrist, shirt sleeve and between you socks and ankles. An average pencil can be sharpened 17 times, write 45,000 words or draw line 35 miles long. No doubt, that is why Ernest Hemingway used pencils for writing.

When I was in class two, I remember my classmate tell me, that one could make an eraser at home. She explained the procedure. I was happy to have learnt it. I shared this news with my younger sister, and we both decided to experiment it. We smuggled a box of 12 pencils from the stationery cupboard. Sharpened each pencil to the very end of it. This valuable dust we placed in a clean bottle, added lots of perfume ( this bottle of perfume was gifted to Mom) some glue and a little water. As per, her instructions, to protect this solution from sunlight, we placed this bottle in the extreme, dark corner of the wardrobe ( the way mom kept her pickle Jars).

My friend confirmed, that in a couple of days this would set (like jelly or custard) and soon we would have home-made eraser … wow!!!

... And On One Valentine's Day

Life went on monotonously. One valentine's day a letter arrived to her surprise. She tore open the envelope with a slight tremble


No letter was there except a few dry petals of a rose. Even though they were dry, the fragrance of them seemed so fresh.

She stared at them in wonder.

She noticed that something was scribbled on them. She took them out gently and placed them on her palm with utmost care.

They only said: "I erred everywhere in the name of love only".

Why does a true love ... ???

The sages tell us that this is one of the higher orders of love, and I wonder if they may indeed be right.. Most people already love their children in this way.

But, could we not, gradually, try to extend this kind of acceptance to other persons in our lives? For the more that we can bring acceptance into our lives, even in a small way, the closer we come to understanding true love.

Why can't we find
Feelings so gentle their power mightn't smother
Lavished onto one but not reflected to the other
Maybe caring mirrored but not to awe-worthy perfection
Why does a true love flow in only one direction?

Where did it go
Mystery so shrouded that we cannot pierce its veil
Magic only to be found in fanciful kids' tale
Fires of forever but requited with rejection
Why does a true love flow in only one direction?

I pound my fist
In wonder, was there a sign I missed
Some clue as to why you don't return my kiss

Leaving me lost in heart-aching perplexion
With a love that burns true ...... but not in both directions

Did you hear it ?

A big HELLO to all my blogreaders.
I was away, but am back now

One message I received in my absence which read as :

Hi! pass_erby, where are you? have you pass_edaway!! ... LOL

My lovely readers I did miss visiting your blogs and I missed commenting on your posts!


Did you hear it?

A raindrop fell down
All the way from the heaven's clouds
To the cold, hard earth below,
Leaving a splatter on a rock.
Did you hear it?

A leaf fell from a tall, strong oak,
Bumping into twigs and branches,
Rocked gently by the breezes,
Then lighting on the blades of grass.
Did you hear it?

The wind tossed a tumbleweed
Across the desert,Over rocks,
Between passing cars, unscathed.
Did you hear it?

Cat paws walk with careful stealth
Across the yard
While sparrow lifts itself from an egg-filled nest
To save itself.
Did you hear it?

An eye twinkles in a weary face
Releasing a tear
To trail down a cheek, over quivering lip,
To fall on a breaking heart.
Did you hear it?

by Barbara ...

You're this close to my heart ...

Three sons left home, went out on their own and prospered. Getting back together, they discussed the gifts that they were able to give to their elderly mother.

The first said, "I built a big house for our mother.

"The second said, "I sent her a Mercedes with a driver."

The third said, "I've got you both beat. You know how Mom enjoys reading the Bible and you know she can't see very well? I sent her a large brown parrot that can recite the entire Bible. It took twenty 12 years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribute $1,000,000 a year for twenty years but it was worth it. Mom just has to name the chapter and verse and the parrot will recite it.

"Soon thereafter, Mom sent out her letters of thanks.

She wrote to the first son, "Milton, the house you built is so huge. I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house."

She wrote to the second son, "Marvin, I am too old to travel. I stay home all the time, so I never use the Mercedes and the driver is SO rude.

"She wrote to the third son, "Dearest Melvin, you were the only son to have the good sense to know what your mother likes. The chicken was delicious."

The best gift I ever had: My father

Words from my heart
.... for my loving dad






I will never know the innumerable times you held me high, to make me gaze into the wonderful sky; to see the twinkle in my eye.
I will never know the innumerable times, your hands pray that I be born as your daughter
I will never know the innumerable times, you made me call ' Father'

I see your hands when you raise to bid me goodbye, how tired are they for raising me up.
You cherished me in my darkest moments and your tired hands comforted me
This place in my heart loves you, and I am proud to hear you say ...
"My daughter call me, My Father“…

miles to go before I sleep ...

Frost is one of my favourites.
And this piece never fails to uplift my spirits....



Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep ...

Mis_understood

“Is it so bad then to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood”…

“Crows never stopped crowing since this morning, Didn't I tell you, someone is coming home for lunch?” said Mom, looking at the sky. “I need to cook an extra cup of rice” . However, when at times nobody showed up, the street dog (I and my sister had named him Dev ) enjoyed an extra meal.

I haven't seen too many crows in the place I reside. Anyway, nowadays guests sound you before they visit. The cell phone has come in handy, guests can now contact even on their way.

On the twelfth day, after grandma left for heavenly abode, Uncle took a clean banana leaf and served on it the best of all dishes prepared on that occasion. He then placed the leaf on the compound wall. He folded his hands to pray and then waited for a crow to take the servings ...

A friend told me that he enjoyed taking photographs of Crows. He felt that it was the most misunderstood of all the birds. They can be great friends if we took some time for them … (The above photograph is taken by him and it is named 'The Pensive Crows')

Seemingly trivial events, like the one involving crows and guests, have a common place with Mom till date. Yesterday I called her to tell, "I am coming home" and immediately she says, “I thought so, my friend has been crowing the whole day today on the kitchen window“...

"Cheeeeeeeeese"

"SAY Cheese" it always leaves people smiling!

It was almost time for school to dismiss and a mother noticed it looked like rain. So she drove toward school to pick up her eight-year-old daughter.

She turned down the street to see her daughter running toward her down the sidewalk. A lightning bolt flashed and the little girl looked up towards the sky, smiled and then began running toward her mother's van.

Another lightning bolt flashed and again the little girl looked towards the sky, smiled and resumed running. This happened several more times until the little girl finally arrived at where her mother was parked.

Her mom immediately inquired as to the strange behavior. "Why did you keep stopping and smiling at the sky?" she asked her daughter.

"I had to, Mommy. God was taking my picture."

06-06-06

It rained yesterday, and the weather changed. It was a pleasant morning and I got out of my block to feel the fresh breeze.

I walked down a tiled pathway . The hedge along the pathway was freshly pruned. The cool breeze cleared my cluttered mind, and then something wonderful and colorful caught my sight. I looked around, and picked it up. I slipped it into my pocket, and moved on my path.

I was happy to find so beautiful , shinny and colorful Blue Marble. The sight of a Marble are like happy thoughts. The last I hold such was many years ago. When Bahi(Big Bro) agreed in advance that we were playing 'for fair' (all marbles are returned to the owner).

Then I lost contact with it for the rest of the day. Late in the evening, I was helping my son with the history of Ancient Heritage of India. The chapter ran into sixty five pages, quiet a volume for him to hold interest. Around eleven thirty he left the study for his bed.

I continued, to read ...

A tinkling sound made me lift my head. I saw the saucer placed on the glass of water moved to make it. The ceiling fan was off, the windows were shut. I puzzled. I closed the book and reached to switch off the light. ..

And there on the book shelf , my eyes caught the sight of the reflecting Blue Marble, and the colours inside were spinning around, making it look so nice ...

Who's the Boss? ...

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/sounds/whosthebosscd.wav

Who's the Boss? was a television sitcom.

I always found it funny and it is one of the few sit coms I would ever actually sit down to watch. And it's probably the only sit com I ever felt sad to see end. The theme song would actually entice me, make me put away whatever job i would be engaged in then. It was aired for eight seasons from 1984 to 1992.

Some shows have a magic touch!