LIVING MY CHILDHOOD AGAIN
Just read a post about a child
learning to walk holds on to things, wobbles and grows……..till he grows old and
traces the same way back, looking for support!
Certain memories don’t die and
remain impacted. I remember one elderly gentleman in our neighborhood who loved
caring for a very small well he had made, plastering it every day and enjoying
the act, and his love for eight chicks that had just hatched: Small furry balls
that would tumble without reason.
Life was all about restrictions: Don’t
do that and don’t do this. Places where children were not allowed. Often needed
permission to do things that did not need any!
Often I had not sufficient money
to do things I wanted to. Of course this carried on for a long time; I always fell
short of it. Even as a young officer I made good with a second hand motorcycle
and also a second hand car. Maybe I wanted to possess them before time.
So I always fell short of money,
but never borrowed or paid PDC. Cutting it short, it was just before my 60th
birthday, I was diagnosed with cerebral spondylitis. Did I lose time? Was it
too late? With the X-rays in my hand I headed for my car and not the medical
officer, lest he list down restrictions.
I sat for while inside my car and
decided to live my life…..and straight headed for the motorcycle showroom,
selected a brand new motorcycle and came home. Within hours I was back, riding
the black avenger….to celebrate my 60th birthday!
Giving it a cool thought I
reconciled that I was not needed by others actually….. (Difficult to express
but I did). All duties were done and I was free to lead my own life.
So I got down to list things I
would like to do to enjoy every moment, without the thought of earning or
spending. I also resolved to shed the attitude of an army officer. I just
wanted to dirty my hands with whatever I liked to do. Use my time my way, wear
what I wanted to, speak with an open mind…..maintain friendship with only those
who mattered!
So it was, that led to carpentry,
house maintenance, garden, terrace garden, hen keeping, and abstract painting!
Things that I do with childlike
happiness are like tending to my flock of five Rhode Island Reds. I built a
small cozy hut on my terrace within a green garden decorated with flickering
lights. Also tucked in a small seat for emergency conveniences.
Bose headphones and Sony speakers
for music that always ends my day.
With a few friends who really
matter, the count on FB has been reduced drastically. With very few outgoing
messages and calls…where I thank my groups to yet keep me posted.
Corona or no corona, life is mostly
unchanged comfortable. With profound thanks to my army life that fetches me a pension
and peace with my partner and son….I am living like a child.
