Gerald D'Cunha

  “If evolution really works, how come mothers have only two hands?” Milton Berle     T oday is my mom’s birthday… She completes 87. On her last birthday, mom was able to know, that it was her birthday. She was able to walk (with some support), talk, eat, pray, laugh, cry and feel. She was able to recognize everyone. But, on her this birthday, everything has changed: she had a fall, following which she was hospitalized, operated upon… since then, her condition has only deteriorated. Presently, she needs help for every little thing… She is unable to recognize any one or understand what is happening around her… She needs to be fed… A spoon of food takes time, and patience… Long time; long patience! Oscar Wilde had said this: “All women become like their mothers. It’s their tragedy. No man does. It’s his.” Often, these words make me wonder, as to why the poet had said this! Perhaps, I can understand why the poet had said it, by going back in time… A spoon of fo...

A round 12 in the noon, today, I received a call from my brother, Rony. He has come home (Mangalore) on a short vacation from Kuwait where he works. My parents had five children – all sons, and they were called Pandavas! I was the second son, Bheem (Not as strong as the mighty son of Pandu, though!). Rony was the fourth son, Nakul. Pandu, our dad, is no more… Mom, at 84, is still around (She lives with my eldest brother, Fanky’s family); and, she is very alert and alive as she always used to be. Her physical health is a lot better than many other mothers of her age (Touch wood!). She is extremely pious; and, she is very fond of her immediate and extended families. Whenever I call her from Mumbai to enquire about her, before I ask, “How are you, mom”, I end up hearing from the other end, “Koso asai putha ”…. Translated from Konkani, “How are you, son?” Though our mom is fond of all her five sons, she, always, had an extra soft-corner for me and Rony. I th...

Pic.: Amrita Jeurkar I had no plan to write this till a few minutes ago. I heard a knock on my office glass-door. When I turned back, I saw Vishaka and Prakruti, two l1-year-old girls, were standing outside the door. They wanted to show me a one-year-old baby, who they were holding in their hands, with loads of excitement... “Choooo, choooo, choooo sweet!” I got up from my seat and opened the door, “Bring in the joy.” I was enchanted to watch the glow on the faces of the two 11-year-olds. They  weren't  related to the baby. Still, they poured so much love and affection on the baby... so much faith... I said, “So much faith.” As I bent down to kiss the baby, gently, two lines from one of my favorite songs – ‘Mary Did You Know?’ – began to play in my heart: “And when you kiss your little baby You've kissed the face of God .” The song was about Mary, the mother of baby Jesus... “Mary, did you know That your...

Pic.: Chetna Shetty My   mother   said to me, 'If you are a soldier, you   will   become a general.  If you are a monk, you will become the Pope.'  Instead, I was a painter, and became Picasso. Pablo Picasso W ell, I was a teacher... and, I became Gerald... aka – Gerry. What else can I say? At the seat of every mother’s heart, there is this deep desire to see her child do well in life... to succeed. I don’t remember my mother ever telling me anything like Picasso’s mother did... What I still remember about her is: -          She never ever gave us – her little-growing-children - the feeling that there  wasn't  enough at home... Where our next meal would come from... How our school fees would be paid... How the guests would be served and accommodated... When would our drought end... -          The love and fea...