FIFTY-FOUR YEARS OF SOLID GOLD
Like many of my well-wishers, Paul, my friend, too, had sent me B’day wishes, this morning. In the end, he wrote, “I, for one, believe that we should live life as if each day is our B’day.”
I had said the same thing, so often, to so many
before! So, when Paul reminded me of it, this morning, I thought I would reflect
on it for a while.
“Do I live my life as if each day of my life is
my B’day?”
No sir, I don’t! Honestly, I don’t.
Like all of you guys, out there, I wait for my B’day
to come… and, when it comes, I cut the cake, blow the candle and have some
special time with my family…
My B’day is
on 24th July… I wait for the day to come, to celebrate it!
No matter how old we are… how rich and how poor,
how literate or illiterate, how handsome or how ugly… a B’day is a special day
for all of us. When someone calls you or message you to greet, it does feel
good. You feel young and counted… cared for and honored. And yes, though,
sometimes, I pretend before the world that it doesn’t really matter, the truth is
– at least in my case - it does. Yes, it does matter.
So, if my B’day is my special day, so be it. If I
am unable to live each day of my life as if it is my B’day… so be it. Maybe,
because I am not able to live each day as my B’day, this day looks so special.
That is the reason why, I must pause, today, and allow myself to savor all the
good wishes sent by my fiends and well-wishers… and, thank God for giving me such
a wonderful life, filled with such wonderful dear ones… And, I must reflect on
the times I have been ungrateful for such a marvelous privilege… I must
sincerely ask God to have mercy on me…
When everyone around you greets you ‘Happy B’day’
or “May God bless you”, it leaves you but humbled!
This life – of fifty-four years of solid gold – has been
worth every nano-moment of it!
No regrets for the sins I have committed. God, my
most ardent well-wisher, has washed them away… and, given me a million chances
to make a fresh start. I hope, I have not let Him down in this regard.
No justification for any hurt or pain I have
caused to any one. I have asked them to forgive me… and, if I haven’t been able
to, for whatever reason, I do it now with not strings attached.
Every moment of my life has been coated with
gold… and, I can’t thank enough for this blessed opportunity. Even the most troublesome
moment, even the most heart-breaking incident, even the most hell-bent
tormentor – has been there only for the right reason: to make me a wonderful
person… wiser, stronger and saner. “Thank
you; thank you; thank you!”
I have been blessed with a wonderful spouse who
keeps me firmly grounded, and who constantly acts as my lighthouse…
Life is all about coming home!
Isn’t it?
I couldn’t have asked for a better son than the one I am
blessed with. They say, “God always gives you what you had missed in your life
through your children!”
I can only say, “How true it is!”
If there is heaven on this earth,
it has to be my
home.
If that is not,
I doubt, anywhere else it can be!
“Thank you, dears.”
If there is
another life for me on this earth, I would plead God to make me a teacher
again. “No, I am not bored, my Lord… Nor
tired!” I would tell Him… and, send Him this wish-list:
“Grant me, once again, my Lord, the
boon of expression – ‘Vaachas Chame’!
Give me the gift of writing my
simple, heartfelt notes of the day…
Give me the same humble parents,
the same sane spouse and gifted child…
Give the same – very same –
students who I adore so much…
Give me the same friends, and
yes, the same enemies…
But, never forsake me my Lord,
when it comes to keeping-up my zest and sense of wonder…
Never allow, even for
a day, to turn bitter about life…
May the same Stars light my
hopes… May the same Moon keep my romance on… May the same Sun bring me promise
each morn… May the same Rainbows and clouds keep my heart eternally tender and
sensitive.
May there be strength in my
sorrows all over again…
May there be steely substance in
my setbacks…
May there be someone always
waiting for me on the ‘other side’…
May there be my cheerleaders to
pep me on…
May there be my heroes to
inspire…
May there be those wise ones with
their good counsel!
Give me this very life, my Lord…
this very life!”
So, another
fifty years?
No, another fifty reasons why I wish God gave me
the same life as this one… fifty-four years of solid gold!
GERALD D’CUNHA
Pics.: Sony Ullal
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... Priya