Never Say Goodbye

That, Amulet, was a perfect word picture that evoked the very scene before my eyes. That, however, typifies the world of adults, filled as they are with formalities. The world of kids is, however, very different. I can see two scenarios to typify the kids that have to say good bye to visitors.

1. Favourite aunt/uncle/relative: They will be bawling their eyes out, begging them not to go. I remember visiting a French family in the Alps. They had two kids. They grew so fond of me in the two days I was there and when I left, the little fellow (around 5) was bawling away. He even gave me a lovely gift he had made with his own hands.

I have been told this story of the BH as a 3 year old. When leaving the uncles and aunts asked him whether he would go with them to Delhi. The poor innocent went and packed his aluminium box (not unlike those school boxes of old) with one pair of shorts and shirt and got ready to leave with them. And then they did not take him. My heart went out to that child who was cheated.

2. Pain in the you know where aunt/uncle/relative: They will be very delighted and refuse to go to station. If forced by parents, they would probably go to the station, sit on a bench, head between the hands, bored expression on the face, swinging legs forward and backward and looking here and there. The departing relative would be the last thing on their minds. Some other exciting event on the platform would probably evoke their fancy!

 

I am sure Minnesotans would feel very 'at home' in India and vice versa.

 

Viswa, I am so bad at anything to do with computers (except to sit and hammer away at the keyboards here on IL) that I would be hard pressed when it comes to getting rid of the encryption and figuring out the real message. Seriously, though, you are right. A few of these extremely painful goodbyes (or hurtful behaviour from near and dear ones) and one starts withdrawing from such contacts.

I have just started realizing that after so many years of enforced solitude, I now find it extremely physically and mentally exhausting when I spend time with people. Not that I don't like them coming, rather I would love to meet my dear friends, cousins ..... but I guess I have lost the habit of talking so much. A few decades ago, I'd love people coming home and then when I set up home, I'd be over the moon and go out of my way to cook a variety of stuff for visitors. Don't know if this helps the process of disencryption any or whether it is just simply the result of physical limitations and mental laziness.

 

Dear Shyamala,

Thanks ever so much!

Yes, that is Murphy's law at work.