Sunday, April 29, 2007

GOLDEN WEEK

The EXODUS has begun:

People leave the city to go back to their hometown and some, those who have planned their trips since last year, have booked to a place of their dream. For some, this is a great time for bonding with their own family; some couples spirit away to the beach: Hawaii, Phuket, or anywhere else they consider Paradise. Still others prefer to go travelling alone to a quiet place where they can relax.

But for me who have experienced those long queues at airport check-in counters, I prefer the solitude and quiet of this place I now call my second-home!

I have no idea why this week is called Golden: I don't see anything 'gold' in this, anyway. But any rest day is sure welcome in the fast-paced Land of the Rising Sun.

What I know is that April 30 is SHOWA Day. It is the birthday of Emperor Hirohito, called Emperor Showa [ his reign is also called Showa]. The current Emperor -Akihito's [Hirohito's first son-] reign is called Heisei.

Then May 4 is Children's Day: a day for kids, sons, mostly. This is the time when big carps flags are festooned on bamboo poles in front of one's abode. It flies high and mighty as a symbol and to tell others in the neighborhood that there is an heir that resides in that house. Still male-dominated, ei?


With all these holidays celebrated one after the other, perhaps the Government deemed it right to grant Holidays in bulk. However, not all Companies go on Holiday. Some are open on May 1 & 2 . Transport Companies, likewise have their skeleton force on call. Of course, department stores make brisk business during these days. Almost all troop to stores for food, or just fancy shopping!

Almost all schools have been off since yesterday. Kids are seen everywhere: playing in parks, trouping the department stores, especially the teens whose giggly voices are heard in every nook.

And I have enough time to watch the movies......


on the tube!

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Saturday, April 14, 2007

LIFE

ONE DAY

a woman's husband died.
And on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom,
the wife was strruck with the pain on learning that sometimes,
there isn't anymore....

No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate,
no more phone calls, just to chat....
no more "just one minute!"

Sometimes, what we care about the most
gets all used up and goes away,
never to return before we can say "Goodbye"
or say..."I Love You".....

So while we have it,
it's best we Love It,
Care for It,
Fix It when it's broken,
and
Heal It when It's sick.....


THIS
is true for marriage
and old cars,
and children with bad report cards
and dogs with bad hips
and aging parents and grandparents.

WE KEEP THEM
because they are worth it.

Some THINGS we keep.....
like an old friend who has moved away
or a classmate we grew up with.
There are just some things that make us happy,
no matter what.

LIFE
is important...
lik people we know who are special.
And so....we keep them close!


SOMETIMES,
we need to say what we feel.

Suppose one morning you never wake up....
do all your Love Ones, Friends included
KNOW you LOVE them?

I was thinking.....
I could die today....or tomorrow, or next week!
And I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed....
friendships that needed rekindling
or three words needing to be said.

LET
every one of your LoveOnes/Friends know
You LOVE them.
Even if you think that they don't love you back....
you would be amazed
at what those three little words and a smile can do.

AND
just in case, God calls me HOME...

I wanna say:

I LOVE YOU, guys!!

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LIVE TODAY TO THE FULLEST.
TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED!




CHOICES, Choices!

A MAN
wanted to get married.
He was having trouble choosing among three likely candidates.
He gives each woman a present of $ 5,000 each and watch
what they do with the money.

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THE FIRST
does a total make over.
She goes to a fancy beauty salon,
gets her hair done, new make up,
and buys several new outfits
and dresses up very nicely for the man.
She tells him that she has done this to be more attractive for him
because she loves him so much.

The man was impressed!

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THE SECOND
goes shopping to buy the man gifts.
She gets him a new set of Golf clubs,
some new gizmos for his computer
and some expensive clothes.
As she presents these gifts, she tells him
that she has spent all the money on him
becasue she loves him so much.

AGAIN, the man was impressed!

****

THE THIRD
invests the money in a stock market.
She earns several times the $5,000.
She gives him back the $5,000 and reinvests
the remainder in a joint account.
She tells him that she wants to save for their future
because she loves him so much!

OBVIOUSLY, the man was impressed!

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THE MAN
thought for a long time what each woman had done
with the money he had given her.....


THEN
he married the one with
the biggest boobs!

MEN
are like that, you know!

There is
more money
spent
on Breast Implants and Viagra today
than on Alzheimer's research.

This means that by 2040,
there should be more elderly population
with perky boobs and huge erections
............
and absolutely no recollections
with what to do with them!

Think....


.........I can only .....


LAUGH!

Hee-Haw!

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