You have been around for 49 years and change and so assume that you have seen all there is to. Then oneday your son tells you where he had been with his friends the previous evening and you realise you have not done that so far and in all likelihood might Never.
So I made a list of all the things that nearly everyone I know has done and I have not. And I realised that I could easily do many of those things but I really don't want to. The irony is that the things in the list that I actually want to do are those that are difficult to achieve. Life is like that.
For example, I have never gone pubbing. Yes, I have lived in Bangalore for 27 years and yet. I was reading an article the other day on what pub culture has done to Bangalore and it seemed like another world that was being described in the article. I could not imagine it was all happening right here. I asked some friends about their experience with pubs and they spoke of dim lights, loud music and louder conversations. "you won't like it! But we could go if you want to experience" No, thank you. I don't want to pay and buy headaches.
I have never seen people dance to live music on a dance floor - of course my adorable young friend Anita has offered to take me there once. Trouble is I'd like to sit and watch but she says no one does that - everyone is supposed to dance. hm.Good deterrent.
I have never been to an all night party like new year eve etc. Even on Dec 31st we finish our dinner by 10 and watch stupid programs on television till we sleep and wake up bright and cheerful on jan 1 at 6. Actually I like to start the new year this way rather than go about the day half sleepy or with a pounding head.
I have never been on a giant wheel - I can't look down from any unenclosed space at more than 20 feet as my head starts spinning and I get panicky. Even watching people go up in the giant wheel gives me a panic. I am too fond of stability to try and upset things by going on rides that spin and make you go upside down etc..I like to be sure of the ground I walk on with my two feet firmly on the ground.
And here are some that I hope to do before my time runs out:
I have never travelled by ship - been on short distance cruises but not the "real" cruise. There was a chance to do that to Alaska from Washington but people warned me that if I have a tendency to motion sickness then I better not risk it. I cannot be in a bus for more than 3 hours without wanting to throw up. But it is a dream to go on a Mediterranean cruise someday or perhaps that one to Alaska even if it means popping a few pills every few hours.
I would love to swim in a river or the sea but there is a minor detail I need to take care of:I don't know swimming. Imagine going to places like Maldives and Mauritius and watching everyone else swim and have great fun, while you yourself are to be content with wetting your feet closer to the shore. Torture, and I have experienced this. But the good news is that I am already on my way to knock this off the list. Once I have overcome my anxiety to be found in a swim suit, the rest is easy right? If fish and turtles can do it so effortlessly, It can't be so tough for me. What do you say?
Horse riding: As a young woman I was busy with too many unimportant preoccupations like studies and missed out on dreaming about the knight in shining armour taking me along on his white steed. And by the time I was twenty-one I was already married and so dreams had to be traded off for reality. But when I watch people on those fine bred and majestic horses I feel a great longing to be on one of them. No, not the starved ones on marina beach and other tourist spots. The real ones on the farms.Aren't horses the most beautiful animals?
Never experienced snowfall - seen snow on the ground but not seen snow actually fall from sky. But I have this suspicion that snowfall is one of those things that are better watched in a film or through the window of a comfortable warm room. The romance is more in seeing it than being in it. Hmm, I am not sure I am going to go seeking this experience but if it snows in Bangalore someday, I'd certainly not mind it for a day or two!
Now this one is soon going off my list:
I have never changed a car tyre. I have a general idea about how to do it but twice when I had a burst tyre and was getting ready to change it,gallant passers-by had offered help and not wanting to sound rude,I let them. After all,there is so little of niceness left in the world and why contribute to finishing it off. But I actually CAN do that. So if you find a woman around South Bangalore area squatting on the road trying to change her tyre, DONT stop and offer help.:)
(Watch this space for more updates on the consequences ...)
Monday, August 20, 2007
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19 comments:
Ushaji,
We have so much in common.
I have never gone pubbing, all night new year’s party, giant wheels/tora tora/any form of spinning rides including roller coaster rides. I have been to dance nights though. Our college had two music nights per semester which featured hit songs (dance numbers) of that season. Our auditorium was big but the dance space was less and mostly it used to hamper audio technicians and their plethora of instruments. We used to have disco lights and spot lights on during special song requests. During my last semester, I was brave enough to dance a few steps with my friends. It was fun!!!
We used to have rock concerts too and they caused headaches with blaring drums and guitars music. I avoided them like plague.
I would also like to go on a ship-a cruise but not more than two days. I am a hyperactive person who hates to be confined in a small space. Horse riding-I was scared initially but then got used to the horse on day two. We had been to Matheran and riding a horse with valley on one side and mountain side on the other was pretty adventurous. Mounting and dismounting were tough considering my short and fat legs (unexercised that too). But two days on a horse, I learnt the existence of muscles hitherto unknown to me. Now I am not that scared and would in fact love to go on a horse once again.
How I wish to watch snow fall. I do not mind getting cold and wet for that experience. I insisted on going to Shimla/kulu manali for honeymoon (in feb) expecting to catch some snow fall. I missed it by one day-24 hours!!! And about swimming, I am too inhibited about my own body to go for swimming classes in public pools. Honestly, I do not know how to shop for swim suits. And now you have made me think about my wish list.
Ohh..even I have not done any of these ..though I am behind you by 20 years but still watch is ticking...I should start living MORE.Thanks for the reminder :D
I wish you definitely get to experience snowfall sometime. It is such a romantic thing :-)
Actually, I have 'felt' it only once and that too was very mild...
but still - it was something that just made my heart flutter... to see the feather-like snow drift through the cool air and settle on your jacket or glove... it was just wondrous!
Dancing is again such a fun thing to do..but I haven't done it either..though would love to..not in a big party or anything.. just a little romantic place with 'decent' people that my husband and I can feel comfortable with...
Pubbing and late-night party - Nope. Such a stupid thing to do! Infact that word 'pubbing' sounds very annoying!
Giant wheel - Persuaded by hubby to try the 'normal' ones now and then to just get over my imaginary fears!
Horse riding - Rode on some well maintained ones in Nainital...but believe me - it is much more exhausting than one could imagine. The thigh and calf muscels kind of stiffened up. But it was a good experience...after all we don't do it everyday!
Swimming - Learnt when I was 12 or 14.. haven't tried it after that. Have to jump into a lake to see if I make it out! :-D
Very nice post Usha. Been lurking so far...decided to show-up! I guess even 'commenting' on blogs that I read is something I have to do more often :-)
Pubbing and dancing and giantwheeling, I have done, but New Year Party- No
Swimming and cruising and riding are nice things to aspire to,for me too, but changing tyres?? Naaah! Don't think I want to be that enterprising.
One of these days, will put up a post on things I really wnt to do/learn too.
oh, dear... this is going to be one of those comments in which i date myself as super-young. so yeah, i'm 24, and i've stayed out all night on a few occasions, gone clubbing/pubbing/lounging several times, swum in the sea, experienced 5 boston winters full of snowfall, danced to live music on a dance floor, and been on a cruise to the bahamas. i suppose it's the combination of having studied abroad at a young age, and having parents who are perhaps a little more permissive in a world that's in turn a little more permissive.
my cop-outs i guess are that i've only changed a tyre in driving class, not actually on the road in a time of need.. and that i've been on a giant wheel only if you count the london eye as a giant wheel. but it was a fabulous experience, not nauseating at all, as the wheel moves really slowly to afford you a great, lingering view of all of central london. that can be your way out, too :-)
jokes apart, it's heartening to see that you are actually willing to list the things you haven't done that most others have... i've never thought to do that except in the game "never have i ever" (in which the goal is not to list things but to get drunk and get others drunk too! :P)
although if i may be frank, your reasons behind not having done these things make you sound defensive and like you don't actually want to do them at all [with the exception of swimming]. do you? many of them are easy to make happen -- and without as terrible consequences as you might be imagining. swimming, i can promise you, is not that hard. and you don't need to "know" how to swim -- your body will naturally do the work of staying afloat for you as long as you can move your arms and legs!
my only piece of advice: you have to pick the right kind of snow to have fall on you. the wet sticky kind is not 1% as fun as the dry fluffy kind (for obvious reasons!). and i'm not even a fan of snow, but i've grown to enjoy it once in a while. i can even remember my favourite snowstorm ever in boston: it was a sunday morning, and my then-boyfriend and i were marooned at his apartment with nothing to eat. i hate the cold, so i thought we could last it out and refused to step out. but hunger won over, so we decided to venture out for brunch, and just then the snow let up to a mere flurry. it was perfect -- a cold day, but not biting or icy. and i jumped around in the drifts like a little snow bunny, and we threw snowballs at each other all the way to our favourite diner where the coffee was warm, the mimosas cool, and the pancakes droolworthy.
moral of the story: happy memories are to be had even in the most unexpected and seemingly-daring of situations. MAKE IT HAPPEN! we're waiting to hear back :-)
haha, that's a nicxe list, of things that we wouldnt want to do and ones we couldn't do :)
Snowfall? Oh no, it's awesome alright. Especially the soft, dry kind, it's like jasmines falling down on you. Very pretty! You should coem on over during Christmas break, can see snow AND stay awake for new years ;-)
Usha :) That was such a sweet list. Reminds me of the song... dil hai chota sa, choti si asha! Swimming and watching a snowfall has been there on my wishlist too!
I hope someday it snows in Mumbai too :)
Thanks for the fun post. Makes me wonder about how much we have moved since the time we were raised in a so conservative society.
Guess it is never too late for experiences!
Am in my fifties and been swimming in wells :-) and swimming pools in Bangalore since my teens. But have swum in the sea only twice..the first time in my mid forties and once last year at Kovalam..I thought it was one of the most amazing experiences in my life, having gone in a couple of hundred yards, it felt like I was suspended in the middle of the Universe with water all around me..the buoyant water just rocking me.. the experience was surreal..
again snowfall..also saw snow for the first time in my life after age fifty at Oslo..I went into the office building one fine morning and came out in the evening to a white world.. foot deep snow and such heavy snow fall that I had to carry an umbrella to go back..I remember that it was the 7th of November and much surprise at so much snow so early in the season..
like you I dont think I can handle loud music loud conversation and dim lights..so pubbing in Bangalore is definitely not an adventure I crave for..
Go for the swimming..Basavanagudi aquatic centre has batches of 'learn to swim' for ladies Mon to Sat around 8 pm. I have a friend who went there in her forties and does 30 lengths freestyle in one session now every day!
Nice post! but i am woefully inadept with a tyre...uugh I hate to think of myself as a girly girl but I do not know what happens to me in a car!
lets a have a deal..come here and you can experience the snow and swim as well (not at the same time!) and maybe you can teach me that the round thing is called a tyre and how to change it!
Loved your list, and agree you should try most of the stuff - even the ones you're positive you won't enjoy - like the dance floor :) But on the snowfall thing - it feels wonderful to be in the midst of falling snow, sorta feel like little whispers made tangible. And it takes a while for the flakes to dissolve, so you're dry too... Do experience it when you get a chance!
Usha,
Re the snow I have an interesting comment. My brother is very well travelled and has been to many "snowy" countries but has never actually seen falling snow.Two years ago when he visited me it was snowing and that was the most exciting thing for him. Ever so often he would be found missing from the home and my SIL and I would catch him standing in the driveway with his hands stretched out, face raised up and his tongue stuck out to catch snow flakes. I found that one of the cutest sights in my life, my BIG Brother, catching snowflakes with his tongue....
aofufromuofa
I think I've told you before that we were two of a kind.Reading your comments I see that there are more like us.welcome to our league friends.Whuy don't you write abt what you did and the curent crop missed out on.
Hi Usha,
Thats a pretty small list and fortunately you are still quite young, so you can do this and more, I am serious and not sarcastic.
usha, gr8 post, u can definitely achieve this, reaching my fourth decade and i haven' done some of those things either,..dancing, i love to dance, so in my varsity years i never missed an opportunity to get down on the dance floor.haven't done that in a looooong time.
the sea, that is my absolute joy, since we were little and my dad could manage to get a car,..he would take us down to the coast, to frolic in the strong indian ocean waves of durban beach.
he never learnt to swim himself, even though we now have a house on the beach, my dad never ventures down there, unless taking my mum for a walk,...u should definitely put on a bather and try,... i know how my mum ,longs, to not fear the waves, she too never learnt to swim, though she enjoys frolicking on the waters edge, i sense the longing to be able to emerse herself in the warm water. this is something you must do.
horses, i've never learnt:) once in zimbabwe, we went game viewing on horse back, my steed, felt the need to rub his rump against evey passing tree, so i spent the day with my feet on the horses head,..definitely makes me think that learning to ride a horse should be put on my list of things to do.
i've seen falling "snow", in johannesburg twice in my life, the last time was a couple of months ago, snow after 27 years, the result is that most people stay home from work and school,to frolic in the snow, wich doesn't last more than a day.
if you're passionate about these things, it is never to late.
Lavs: I saw your wish list and realised I want to do most of them too! :)
Swati: YOu have the time and energy - start doing whatever you want to. At my age you lose the initiative to try a lot of things!
DC: Thanks for delurking! Wow - youve done it all!
JLT:looking forward to the post!
Sim:Super young but seen it all - wow! Today's youngsters know how to get the most out of life _ i am happy for you.
I loved your description of your experience of snow - wow, now I've got to experience this. First let me find a boyfriend..hehe...
And yes, I am going for it all.
rads:Ok deal...you asked for it!:)
WIN:Oh yes chinna chinna aasai...But all achievable.
Usha2:Loved your comment. Will check out the basavanagudi pool.
random:Ok..xmas with rads and newyear with you! and no prob with tyre change.
Priya:ittle whispers made tangible? WOW! must must feel it now!:)
aofu:Thanks for sharing - really cute. I bet i'd do exactly the same.
Hipgran:Nice idea, will do it.We can exchange notes. Pallanguzhi, sozhi, Pandi etc.
hari: :) sure I'll try to do as much as I can while I still CAN.
Rouhana:Wow. and lol about your riding experience! you must do a post on this!
Yes, I am going to try them all.
I read this post yesterday and it touched a chord. I wanted to leave a comment, but was unsure of my words. So I blogged..
http://thekarmacallingblog.blogspot.com/2007/08/unchased.html
gosh, i have a new purpose in life now ;) you absolutely have to go pubbing once at least, for the experience. and don't worry. i'll take you to a sober place where everyone is middle-aged and over (like you and me, hehe). so you'll totally fit in. and then take you dancing. and not to worry, i can't dance too. the nice thing is that they have these really DIM lights so you can really just about anything including michael jackson moves and no one cares :) and thirdly, ah. i must take you to the jayanagar swimming pool. i tell you, even grand mothers learn how to swim. it's a great deal of fun!
i experienced snow fall in auli while skiing. it was beautiful, the snow is soft and powderlike when it falls. i loved it!
and till now, touch wood, i haven't had to change a puncture but i know one day, on a deserted road with no one to help, i'll probably have to!
A very interesting post. I am working on a blog asto what distances us from the younger generation. Perhaps, pub culture is one among them.
I enjoy all types of music, including the louder ones, but am averse to dancing on the floor, though uncounsciously i tap my feet. New Year, I enjoy like you, sitting in the comforts of my home.
Cruised in a catamaran of Damania Shipping from Goa to Mumbai for eight hours. But was uncortable atleast for a few hours. Learnt swmming in swimming pools and never ventured beyond swimming pools.
I can never be on a giant wheel. Rode on a walking horse and not galloping ones. Changed tyres, yes. There are plenty of Sir Lancelots around. Changing tyres should not pose problems for ladies.
I enjoy long walks. Once I walked 20 kms covering the distance in six hours. It may not be possible to repeat the performance.
Hi friends,
Even I was shy of dancing, and the shyness was removed in Meditation camp. First I danced in Advanced Meditation Camp of SSY (Sidda Samadhi Yoga). Now every month I visit OSHO Sannidhi at Coconut farm Mysore. Its all about meditation techniques with lots of dancing to great music. All decent people, no liquors or non-veg. Atmosphere is more rural, divine, lovely. Interested then call Khushi 9739319242 or Maneesha 9844963775
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