Twenty- five Seven

You are the sunshine of my life

January 13, 2013

Radio is a medium that is familiar to those over fifty. The below fifty generation has iPods, and iPads and a whole lot of virtual music in their virtual world……….which actually makes me wonder if people listen to music in their isolated bubbles, how does it become popular? Considering how most kids are wired up these days, how do they share music without playing it out loud?

But that’s not my problem.

I love the radio and always listen to it while driving or while getting ready for the day. Besides, I always feel that the songs aired have subliminal messages – the Universe’s way of connecting me with the unconnected.

This morning while listening to Mumbai‘s Radio One, the only station that plays “pop” music or music that I’m familiar with, I heard the velvet voice of Stevie Wonder singing “You are the Sunshine of my life“. Immediately I went on to that wonderfully accessible treasure trove of music YouTube and downloaded it on my iPad so that I too could listen to it in the privacy of My Own Personal Space Balloon.

I love the lyrics of Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t she lovely” another personal favourite that were written on a pregnancy manual I’d bought thirty years ago. It was a beautiful book , well written and wonderfully illustrated which de-mystified my first pregnancy . Unfortunately the baby that emerged from that pregnancy returned home one day and made me throw out all my books claiming that they were clamouring to “get ” her.

I feel bad that the sunshine of my life turned out so strange but hearing Stevie Wonder always reminds me of her and uplifts my spirits no end.

I wonder what subliminal message this song was today……………………
END OF SEASON SALES

January 12, 2013

Happy tired or tired happy, basically I am tired and happy.

Tired because I’ve spent a whole afternoon shopping

and

Happy because I spent the whole afternoon with Anna Shetty.

Garment District (clothing retailer) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is a vibe about Phoenix Mills which makes you really happy. At any given time the place is a buzz and with every shop with boards flashing SALE, the place is even more happening. And unlike most days when footfalls do not translate into ringing cash registers, the bi-annual sales actually see happy people with wide grins and shopping bags. Though End of Season Sale is a bit of a misnomer for there is really no season in Mumbai which ends – it just moves seamlessly from one hot day to the next………However, we have to move with the times and if the fashion gurus say it is the end of a season, who are we to complain? For finally Sales do translate into savings.

Gone are the days when sales meant a marginal discount on shabby merchandise. Today’s shops actually have stuff that you can wear and use without feeling apologetic about purchasing during a SALE. In fact the savvy shopper would do well to wait and strike bargain. Last week high end shops at the spiffy Oberoi Towers had fashionistas picking up Ferragamo and Jimmy Choos for half the marked price!

But like with every other deal do not forget : caveat emptor. This afternoon we picked up a garment at ZARA from a rack distinctly marked ALL Rs. 1399 ( or some such figure ) only to find that the garment was marked down only 10% unlike the promised 40 and we had to shell out Rs. 2000+. I was quite horrified as was Anna Shetty and we had half a mind either to insist that ALL was a collective noun which applied to each and every garment or return the piece . The surly sales girl at the counter told us that ALL meant that the garments started from the stated price but could vary…….Obviously she knows only Spanish.

Since Anna Shetty really liked the garment and it fitted her well, we went ahead and bought it rather than spoil a good afternoon by higgling and haggling……….but buyer truly beware – Do not get seduced by the tantalizing offer of 50% off – the January sales often have merchandise that you could do well without, or they could be marked wrongly or they could even be damaged.

p.s. And if you’ve missed this season’s sale, you can wait till July when the shops of Bombay are far better to hang out in than the wet and miserable streets!
Paid in Full

January 9, 2013

This mail message came to me this morning. I thought I’d like to share it.

Paid In Full

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his Mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:

For cutting the grass: $5.00

For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00

For going to the store for you: $0.50

Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $0.25

Taking out the garbage: $1.00

For getting a good report card: $5.00

For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00

Total owed: $14.75

Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he’d written on, and this is what she wrote:

For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me:

No Charge

For all the nights that I’ve sat up with you doctored and prayed for you:

No Charge

For all the trying times, and all the tears that you’ve caused through the years:

No Charge

For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead:

No Charge

For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose:

No Charge

Son, when you add it up, the cost of my love is:

No Charge.

When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight at his mother and said, Mom, I sure do love you.

And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: PAID IN FULL .

Lesson from the above Inspiring Story:

1) You will never know how much is your parents worth till you become a Parent.

2) Be a giver not an asker, especially with your Parents. There is a lot to give, besides money.

Advice: IF your mom is alive and close to you, give her a big kiss and ask her for forgiveness. If she is far away call her. If she has passed away, pray for her.

via Fwd: Paid in Full – unishta@gmail.com – Gmail.

You are the sunshine of my life

END OF SEASON SALES

Paid in Full