Friday, January 25, 2008

Me? Growing up? Surprisingly, yes!

This is a quick post off the top of my head. Some thought that just caught me in the tracks.

I was talking to my dad over the phone this morning and he mentioned that mom has lost her new spectacles during a bus journey. She tucked them into a pouch attached to the seat ahead of her before she dozed off for the night. Upon waking up the next morning (possibly in a hurry because she reached her destination), she alighted without taking them along.

Now, why wasn't I surprised?

She had lost dad's wrist watch somewhere in the apartment's parking lot just a couple of days before. Now, don't ask me what she was doing with his watch in the parking lot. She neither follows a strict schedule, nor does she drive. So she has no valid explanation for having the watch on her self. And then she cried for at least an hour, alone, before she called me to share the news.

By the way, my dad keeps forgetting umbrellas in places. He must have lost about half a dozen of them over the years. Not to forget a couple of tiffin boxes and his helmet.

I was pretty calm when all of these events occurred. How come? Beats me! Maybe I've just grown up and become more patient.

Had something like this happened when I was a kid, I would have loved to yell at them or at least taunt them about being as absent minded as I was. Which I did, when my mom lost her purse a couple of times during my school-going years. And that was sweet revenge, because, obviously, I was yelled at when I forgot things.

And now, when it's their turn to turn forgetful with age (that's silly to say because they're not even 60 yet, but...) I think I'm being pretty gracefully understanding. And I feel this sweet halo around my head ;-)

Snootiness apart, another reason for my calmness could be that they're not losing anything that is earned by me. To a certain extent it is rational that parents get angry with their kids when they break or lose things bought with money that they have really worked hard for. And, usually, kids respond in the same manner when it's their turn to earn and support their parents. And then, there are those wonderful kids who learn from life, become wise, patient, and treat their people kindly. I only pray that I grow into the latter. Amen!

2 comments:

i-me-moi said...

isn't it a possibility that you have started making more money than you dreamed you would in your childhood, money has lost it's value as it used to be, and you have priority levels for losses, there are some you can take and some you can't?

Pallavi Sharma said...

Notwithstanding the fact that I have started more money than I could ever dream of, I think my responses are more than just reflexes these days. Even a year or so back I would have snapped at others' mistakes and reacted before I thought. What I meant to say was that I am slowly learning to make use of the space between stimulus and response. I try and keep my trap shut for a while, and think before lashing out my tongue.

Besides that, I am so glad you dropped by. Been missing you.