Gerald D'Cunha

  “Give the heavens above more than a passing glance.” From the song ‘I Hope You Dance’   M any years ago, there was this student of mine, who was excellent in her studies and a very talented dancer. She loved almost all forms of dance, although, being South Indians, her family had, by default, wanted her to pursue ‘Bharatanatyam’. But, my student was passionate about dancing – just dancing! Incidentally, this young girl was very fond of my writings, particularly the short pieces written like poems (I still don’t understand what poetry means… I just write!). So, on the last day of her class, she wanted me to write something in her scrapbook (Do young kids still keep them?)… I wrote the famous line from Lee Ann Womack’s   song – ‘I Hope You Dance’! Then, I played the song for her on my PC… The young girl was in tears, by the time the song was over. “Thank you, Sir… Thank you so, so much, for everything,” she said, with a warm hug… It’s about twelve years si...

  “Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.” Chili Davis   W hat would you call this: When my son was a little boy, I shouted and he shut his mouth; and, today, when he is a young man, he shouts and I shut my mouth? And, what would you call this: When, as a little boy, I screamed and woke up through my nightmares, my mom would put a holy rosary around my neck; today, at 62, when I still scream and wake up in my nightmares, I feel ashamed to talk about it? And, when that happens inside me, if my heart still feels the gentle comfort of my mom’s hands, even though, she is no more around me… Yes, what would you call it? D o we ever ‘grow up’ in life, or we simply claim we do? Or, as Chili Davis says, do we all ‘grow old’, by default, compulsorily, and choose to ‘grow up’ or not? I am confused, Sir! The child in me should never grow up, I feel. I don’t want to feel numb when there is a gentle touch, and, I don’t want to feel like a stone when the Sun goes...