Feb 10 - Line for the day

"Sundays were different."

- Pg 92, A Year In Provence, by Peter Mayle

Hey look at that...today IS Sunday! Throughout my childhood, Sunday was the day to look forward to. The day of no school, watching tv, going out, interesting food, a day without routine! Of course Sundays were different. And throughout my worklife, yet again Sundays were sacrosanct. Work may spill over to Saturday, or Saturday was fixing home, doing laundry/shopping etc. day. But Sunday was whatever-you-feel like doing day. The freedom to do whatever you want to...which could even include doing absolutely nothing at all! Oh the freedom of that. When I took a career break and spent time at home, the only thing that marked Sundays was the fact that hubby would also be at home. Sometimes, it felt sad. Of course I loved the fact that now I had freedom to do what I want everyday. But the anticipation, the wait for Sunday, the actual taste of Sunday got diluted. And then I had a baby. And no day was Sunday anymore. But as she turns toddler and is now regularly going to school, I'm getting the Sundays of my childhood back again, albeit this time from a parent's perspective. The lazy morning, the being together, doing something, doing nothing...just a day to be. Sundays were different. Sundays are different. And they will always be followed by Mondays.

Feb 8 - Line for the day

"And still the deep husky sound of his laughter rang against the coming of the night."
- Pg 132, A Pirate's Pleasure, by Heather Graham

Ah romance book heros. Those with deep husky laughters and smooth baritones. And of course physicalities and personalities to die for. Deep in the malaise of a viral attack, what can give more pleasure than curling up with a good old fashioned romance novel. Its February. Spring is around the corner. Love is in the air. Actually, it is literally in the air. Pigeons have been sighted on my balcony in various stages of intimacy. And also on air, is the media with its blitzkrieg of shiny advertisements for Valentines Day. In fact, a cheery red-and-white mail in my inbox informs me, its not just Valentine's Day, its an entire week of (expenditure driving) celebration! So as a woman, let me see how the logic works.

Feb 9 is deemed Chocolate Day. And come on, if the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, surely the way to a woman's heart is through chocolate! So where else could we possibly start the celebration!

Feb 10 is Teddy Day. Cuddly, furry, cosy comforts that herald back from the days of our childhood. The warmth of a soft body next to you, a companion to stave away the loneliness of the world. Perfect metaphor of innocent physicality to set the scene for intimacy. 'Oh to be a glove upon that cheek ... said Romeo to Juliet'.

Feb 11 is Promise Day. Because women want commitment. And loyalty. Most of the time. Today's modern woman may sometimes go for a no-strings attached deal. But it will still have rules. And boundaries. And anyway, won't qualify as romance or love.

Feb 12 is Hug Day. Start with the innocent touch. Always. No need for any overthinking, or expectation building. Building the physical bridge with warmth, affection and reassurance.

Feb 13 is Kiss Day. All that slow build up. Finally time for some real physical intimacy. Something that differentiates a romantic relationship from an affectionate one. Though to think of it, there can be plenty of affectionate cheek kissing too!

Feb 14 is Valentine's Day. So if chocolate and soft toys are done, that just leaves flowers and jewellery. Wow. Nice marketing. After all that buildup, a rose is expected. But will it be enough? After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend!

I've got to admit it. The lineup works (especially for the retailers). But at the end of the day, a simple heartfelt 'I love you' would too. The best things in life are free. Just like the sound of a loved one's laughter in the wind.

Feb 3 - Line for the day

'I wandered lonely as a cloud..'
- Poems in Two Volumes, by William Wordsworth

I wonder if clouds get lonely. It seems unlikely. There are always many of them around. And even when there are just wisps of them, they seem to gravitate towards each other in a slow floating dance. And then there is the science of it. If clouds are a collection of water droplets, how can it be lonely. Can a collection of something, which by nature denotes large numbers, ever be lonely. Yes, one person can be lonely in a crowd. But can an entire crowd be lonely? Ascribing individual characteristics to a collective seems irrational. And yet, if we can personify the inanimate, say a lonely cycle on a lonely road, why can we not personify a collection of persons. Crowds can be lonely places. But not clouds. They are a jamboree of water droplets, who troop in like invitees to a party. Then they go out and try to gate crash into the neighbor's party. Which, of course, is incredibly rude and creates a dark gloom where sparks fly and light up the sky. And then, after a lot of shouting and hot headedness, everyone comes down to earth for a brief respite. Only for the cycle to start again. So clouds are really big parties in the sky. That really ain't so lonely Mr W.

Feb 2 - Line for the day

'A giraffe is able to clean its ears with its own tongue.'
- Fact of the matter, Gurgaon Times, Times of India, Feb 2, 2013

Why would I want to know this? How does it matter in my world whether a giraffe is able to clean its ears with its tongue or not? And why is the giraffe able to do it anyway? When no other living being without access to an ENT doctor or vet can get their ears cleaned, why is the giraffe singled out by evolution? Actually I don't know if there are any other species that can do this feat. If there are any, lets have a show of hands! Now that I think of it, you don't need doctors or a vet. One reads of so many mutualism examples where one animal feeds off another's detritus, thereby earning its eternal gratitude (presumably) and establishing a viable source of nutrition. There must be some who clean ears too. And that reminds me of the babel fish (from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series) which lived in the ear canals and translated galactic languages for its host. I wonder if it also cleaned ears.

Feb 1 - Line for the day

'Today if you feel frightened then feel inspired.'
- Season 6, Episode 7, Grey's Anatomy, TV Show

A line that stands out in everything I've heard or read today. Sometimes there are words that just fit. That are just right. That are simple and short. And yet they contain a cosmos within themselves. They echo in your head again and again, restructuring your thoughts, reframing your experiences, showing you a different you. A different you than what you think you are...but the you that you really are. Because we think linearly and in structured boxes. But we exist in omnipresence. And once in a while, there will be words, or an image, or an experience that suddenly makes us realize that we are more than what we think we are. We can be anything. It is only fear that holds us back. Beyond fear is inspiration. And equanimity. That there is no chaos. And all is chaos. Everything just is.