Encounters with truths of the unflattering kind

Two recent incidents forced me to confront two sensitive truths about myself....

Encounter 1:
As my tailor was measuring me, I asked him to make sure that he keeps sufficient margin in his stitching, especially near the sleeves, implying that the clothes should fit even if I put on a little weight.

The tailor reassured me with : "Madam, your measurements are not big at all, you just look fat..."

Despite myself, I had to laugh - what else could I do? I mean, is it better to be fat with big measurements, or to look fat even if your measurements don't reflect it?!!

(Of course, it probably means he's going to stitch me ill-fitting, tight clothes yet again, which is even more depressing)


Encounter 2:
I have been driving to a class on Sunday mornings, and for these drives, have settled on a radio channel that amazingly played all my favorite songs at this particular time on Sunday mornings. One of the best things is that there are hardly any announcements or talking between songs, presumably because most of the channel's regular audience is probably not awake at that time on Sunday mornings.

Well, the other day, I happened to be listening to the same radio channel at a different time. And up comes an announcement saying - "On Sunday mornings from 8am - 12pm, don't forget to listen to our Retro songs program " !!

My favorite songs are now "Retro"?!!

Age and fat have piled up unbeckoned and largely unnoticed (which is probably a good thing in itself!)....:-)

Rani's poem - "My Life"

A few days back, Rani's teacher asked for volunteers who could contribute some writing or art for their school newsletter. She gave them one class period to do it in. And Rani, relying on her 11 years of accumulated wisdom, came up with this incredible poem....

My Life

I sit here thinking all alone
Feeling a little melancholy
I sit there staring at a stone
Feeling a little lonely

And as I look around, so sad
I feel the world seems evil
But then my eye falls upon a crab
I stare at it until....

My stillness encourages a butterfly
To alight upon my hand
I'm startled from my reverie
And suddenly I hear a band

Consisting of bees and birds and things
A rich rejoicing because we're alive
And I realize that I want to sing
Because I am happy with my life!

Perhaps it's my motherly bias :-), but I still find it hard to believe that she wrote such a wonderful piece, and that too in such an impromptu manner!

"How did you come up with the thought and the structure?" I asked her. "I don't know, Mom, I just wrote it", she said shrugging her shoulders, with the nonchalance of an 11-year old.

Well, I am still amazed and so very proud of her...

....and of course, it did get published in the newsletter!