A Snapshot of My Times - 1 (13th September 2014)

Before my reader speculates the story behind this almost-absurd title, I'll take you with me to the root of it.

A sudden pang of painful realization hit me today morning as I walking in the fresh morning air feeling effortlessly wonderful. Life is just moving by CRAZY FAST. You're a day older every morning. And you almost never realize how it adds on to our whole life. I thought about myself - there are only 17,163 days left for my 70th birthday. And I spent my entire day yesterday working on my Office computer, playing a bit of basketball, and trying to avoid the distraction called 'girls' in office. Phew.

Coming back to my point - life disappearing in front of your eyes is horrible. But it becomes more of a disastrous crisis if you're a writer. Or at least someone like me who loves to cast experiences, memories, revelations in words. THIS is why I kick start my 'A Snapshot of My Times' today, without further ado. Hope the reader can bear with my tiny moments of happiness, learning, failure, and reflection. If not, please comment below whatever you could have done instead of reading my blog. :P

So here we go.

13th September 2014

1. Turning 23 was cute. I had almost forgotten times of my childhood, when I was made to feel like the Royal Emperor. All silly mistakes could be overlooked (because it was 'my day!'), amazing chicken would be prepared, the house was decorated, friends invited over to the cake cutting ceremony, and it I was ECSTATIC when it came to unwrapping gifts to quench my mounting curiosity.

As the digital clock in my cellphone hit 12 midnight, 09-09-2014, I felt a hollow enveloping silence pushing me on verge of sleep. My oblivion for 'parental machinations' was hit with a thunder when Mum and Dad stormed in and hugged me as if I was a baby. I had forgotten innocent childhood love of this form, and so couldn't help smiling to realize that I was still a young boy in spirit for them. This was after five years that I got an opportunity to spend my birthday with family. I cut the cake, lots of pictures were click, with each of them having all of us - Mum, Dad, Brother and me, packed together in an embrace. I felt how special it was to be back, to forget for a moment the war raging outside, the battle of everyday life. It was the 'my day' feeling enveloping me all over again!

Having deleted my Facebook and WhatsApp, I had but a little expectations of being wished by friends. My mind was divided in pessimism between two fronts - of calling them later and playfully blaming them for not wishing me, and a wriggling feeling inside me if there WERE any people I could call my 'friends'. Amidst such useless reflections, a few people who called me up to wish brought me back to realizing how special it was to connect with people in all humility and honesty. When borders ceased to exist between us and life went spontaneously seamless. I know it is unfair for so many others who just could not wish, but you people will be the shining gems of my life. Thanks for that. Plus, I will strive harder now to remember DOBs.

With so much going around in my mind, the day just passed as if it never had come. A cake was cut in my office, and for a change I saw everyone smile. Colleagues were more sympathetic than usual, and I was not grilled for not being able to contribute anything substantial that day.

2. Winning the Toastmasters Speech Evaluation Club contest was a pleasant surprise. Honestly. I know I can talk wonderfully well at times, but I can screw it too, so there's never a certainty. Plus, it is SO EASY for me to just go haywire and lose focus when I'm talking. It's silly, but I constantly need to realign myself like a flight en-route its destination. Five participants stood against each other. Two experienced club members, and the rest three of us new joinees. A chit draw later, I was chosen to be the first speaker. Now out of my vocal literary experience, I know going first can be a bit unlucky. The judges are most interested, most critical and so the harshest while evaluation. Also, the audience responds to every glitch as if it was a blunder. Going second/third generally works out for me, more if the speaker before me did a horrible job. But well, the decision was made, and so it was Do or Die for me. I remembered how my mind was troubled last night - my childhood friend's father had come across a grave accident, and was in a critical condition. Upon being informed, I had immediately decided to visit my friend in the hospital. As my father got ready, I quickly watched an exemplary performance of Speech evaluation on Youtube, and THAT was all I could afford to prepare. We returned at midnight, and I was too tired and resigned to have any concrete practice. So when I stood there and the competition began, I knew I needed to give it my best shot and forget about the results (Easier said than done!). Five speeches later, the results were announced, and I was selected for the Area level competition, standing first among the five evaluations. Going first wasn't so bad after all, as I was lucky enough to listen to all speakers, and so could contrast what I lacked, and what I could polish more as my strength. I tried to maintain my calm and be humble when people congratulated me, but that smile of victory betrayed me. I was exploding in jubilation inside. "But this is just the beginning" I told my crazy self, asking him to calm down and at least act humble. Slowly the almost-orgasmic emotion settled down, and I was back to work, remembering that there's of course a LONG way to go.