The Best Gift

It's been over six years that Mr. G and I have known each other and been together. Weve been through numerous birthdays, anniversaries and V'days.

Each time we've given each other sometimes little and thoughtful gifts... and at others expensive gifts too.

But none can match up to the posting that Mr. G put up on his blog this V'day.

I never knew Mr.G that you could be so evocative and eloquent about your feelings. And I always knew that behind that tough exterior lurks the heart of a big softy.

I love you my darling. Nothing can ever change that. In fact each day I love you more than the previous one.

You make me complete.

A most humbling experience...

I understand now Mom and Dad...

- The nights you picked me up and carried me tenderly all around the house while I burned with a fever or a toothache.

- The times you tucked me into bed and were there when I screamed during a particular nightmare.

- The reasons why you stressed on me being a good and disciplined child.

- Why you made me brush my teeth well, rinse out my mouth when I uttered something bad and comb my hair a 100 times.

- Why you made me stand in the corner, confined me to a room, took away my chocolates / books and toys when I did something bad.

- Why you appreciated me when I did something good and chided me when I did something bad.

- Why you didn't bend to my every whim and fancy and demand.

- And all the birthdays and festivals when you bought me gifts and sacrificed some of your own.

- Why you sent me to the best schools and persisted that education is all important.

- Why you didn't like some of my friends and loved the others.

- Why you insisted I arrive early but never be late.

- Why you taught me all my good-morning's and good evening's.

- Why you sent me to Sunday School and pray every night.

- Why you insisted that I love my neighbour and forgive my enemy.

- Why I concentrate on my education and not boys.

- Why I give love rather than go ardently finding it.

- Why you still stood by me and supported me even though I went from one screw-up into other.

- And why your love has only grown and never diminished over the years.

I love you Mom and Dad. And as I prepare to be a parent myself... I just hope that I can do half as good a job as you have done.

The year I was born (Keep guessing!)

Richard Nixon is president of the US State of Karnataka is formed. A total ban on oil exports to the US for six months is imposed by Arab nations after the outbreak of an Arab-Israeli war President Richard Nixon announces that a peace accord has been reached in Vietnam Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, John Abraham, Tori Spelling, Carson Daly, Monica Lewinsky, and Kate Beckinsale are born India and Pakistan sign POW accord Miami Dolphins win Superbowl VII The Exorcist and American Graffiti are top grossing films Elvis Presley's Aloha From Hawaii television special is seen around the world by more than 1 billion viewers KISS performs their first concert, at the Coventry Club in Queens "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack wins a Grammy for song of the year. The Internet and Transmission Control Protocols were in its initial stage of development. On the lighter side, jumbo eyelashes and bright lipstick were popular along with polyester.

A puppy on a rope.

There is something about a pup and its soulful eyes that tugs at my heartstrings.

On my walk to work these days, I see a little pup on a long leash. Just that the long leash around its fragile neck is a threadbare rope. But the pup does have a once-upon-a-time red belt to salvage its pride.

The proud owners of this mangy little pup have all their belongings and worldly possessions piled onto a push-cart. The pup sleeps on a little hammock like arrangement at the bottom of the push cart. The early morning rays of the sun warming its furry little body. What a sweet sight to behold.

But today, the little pup was tied to the huge tree on the road watching the morning rush roll by. I whispered some sweet nothing babble to it as I walked past.

The little pup wagged its tail vigorously and its little body did a little jig. So much happiness bestowed on a stranger walking past. And that too not the canine variety.

How I wish we all could be like that. To be able to show love to all our fellow human beings. But this wish is far stretched from reality.

In a world dominated by much violence, hatred and jealously. There's a surely a lesson to be learned from pups and dogs!