Monday, August 08, 2005

Friendship Day

Saturday was my Uncle Ronnie’s birthday. As usual the family gathered at his and Susan aunty’s place in Basavangudi. Uncle Ronnie is an entrepreneur and his charming wife Susan aunty is my mom’s second cousin. The youth after the usual pleasantries drifted to the verandah , our favorite haunt. As cousins we do get along well and soon the jokes and leg pulling started. One cousin ( lets call him Jose), a brilliant recanteur kept everyone in splits with his jokes and an account of his visit to the movies with his fiancé on Valentine Day. He had noticed quite few ‘Uncles’ and ‘Aunties’ at the theater and made quite a few digs at the pot bellied uncles and fat aunties who were watching the mushy romantic fare at the theater that day.

I felt it was soooooo sweet that these couples with teenage kids would take the time out from their busy schedules to watch a movie together on Valentine Day. All the girls agreed with me emphatically. Some of the guys of course had a different opinion. My aunt Susan who is always welcome at the youth ‘enclosure’ as she terms it was privy to this conversation. She is a vivacious person, with a sparkling personality and wit to match. As the hostess that day she could not devote much time with us as but she kept meandering into the verandah to join in our conversation. For most of our family gatherings (which are many) she is usually found with the youth keeping us in splits with her witty anecdotes. She is in her early forties with a 14 year old six footer of a son and a gorgeous 12 year daughter. Her rapport with her children and relationship with her husband is amazing. I couldn’t help but notice the deep friendship that they shared and the pleasant atmosphere in the house.

“Well Jose, you are going to be an ‘uncle’ soon” she remarked to my cousin Jose. His smile dried up instantly. And the cocky attitude gave way to an uneasiness, we had never seen before.

”Scary, isn’t it?” continued aunt Susan. “You are not going to be in your 20’s forever you know. Soon you will be 30, then 40 then…..”

Jose had the grace to look a little ashamed. I was thoroughly enjoying his discomfiture.

“What matters is that when you become an “Uncle’ you and your fiancé will be able to go for that mushy romantic movie on a Valentines Day.”

So saying she walked back to into the house to attend to her guests. A simple sentence, but you could hear that proverbial pin drop in the silence she left behind.

I watched her recounting her husband’s frequent attempts to diet to an appreciative audience inside, and felt a strange sense of happiness. If there is a God I prayed please fast forward me this instant into her shoes, with a loving husband, one or two kids and contentment I am sure she worked hard to bring into her home. But life aint that easy is it? Guess I will have to slog and work at my relationships and be content if at aunt Susan’s age I will be half as happy as her.

So this Friendship Day I wish all the Aunt Susans and Uncle Ronnies in this world “Happy Friendship Day”. Frankly I can’t think of any other people who deserve this more.

(Also Happy Friendship Day to my mom and dad for remaining such good friends till today. They can still sit and talk till the wee hours of morning.)

And Happy Friendship Day to all of you!

30 comments:

zimblymallu said...

poor josettan.
didn't anybody start calling him Ungle jose?

Jake said...

fast forward you to 40 .. ? kid or two ..?
we are growing old arent we ?

Anonymous said...

Why do you have to so brutally put things into perspective Anju? I was expecting another dig at me.So true (groan)and well said :)

Trisha Palat

zimblymallu said...

Notice that i was first off the block with the comments. i AM the mackdaddy.
lol. anonymous trisha, we'd be happy to spread that love if you're feeling left out.

That Girl said...

HAPPY FRIENDHSIP DAY TO YOU TOO! :) this made me smile esp that part bout your parents.. mine are stil best friends and so in love to this day... sigh i envy them..i guess we gals have tostick together and keep hunting for that "best" friend to come along.. sigh...nevertheless...CHEERS! :D

Jake said...

if you gals stick together what are we guys supposed to do ? :-P

lot of 'sighs' today. :))

Fundoo said...

Oh boy! So very nice of you to log a comment on my blog that gave me an opportunity to explore this this space! You've got way witht he words is to say the least gal! Just can't stop grinning after reading those Miss Communication and Bride Seeing episodes! ROFL.. Glad I came to your blog. You can certainly expect more of me here! :)

Oh and btw a Very Happy Friendship Day to you too!!

Pratish Menon said...

Ello madam. Happy Friendship Day to you!

Geo said...

First a detailed description of a PKC (as good as a first hand narration...)
Now a wishful thinking about a blissful married life (full with details abt life @ 40+ years, including 2 kids...) U forgot to mention the baby names though.

Whats cooking, young lady? ;_)
Started practicing that backward bouquet throw, or what?

Anonymous said...

@geo: nooooooo absolutely no (shudder).Appreciation tats all.
@grafxgal: Yeah dear, its that elsusive best friend that we all seek :)
@fundamental: Your chapathi post was hilarious:))
@pratish: thank you
@zimbly and Jake: You are zimbly insufferable, both of you LOL

Praveen said...

Good to see you dedicate the friendship to all the aunts and uncles. There are no "Uncle" days and "Aunty" days, are there? :)

-Poison- said...

uncle ronnie is a lucky man then... there are millions of marriages ending up in doldrums nowadays...

Anonymous said...

@zimblymallu mebbe we should call him joseanna.....
Happy friendship day back @ everyone
but the thought of our parents getting romantic is something which we never contemplated. maybe that is why.
but geo does seem to have a point the facts seem too related for it to be coincidence:P but love still remaining that late in life is a good thing .. never know how our lives will turn out...

Leon said...

Why fast forward and miss all the wonderful experiences in between? You will get there in good time.. :p

All you need to do is find someone with a good heart and some good humor... :-)

crossblade said...

ur posts and wonderful and though provoking..
'marital bliss' is a blessing...
God bless ya
thomas

silverine said...

@Leon and Kickasso:Guys all I want is to last my twenties as as single gal. Gimme a break :))
@Trisha: Sorry to spoil your party girl:)Why should you take everything I say so seriously?Chill maadi and see ya this weekend.
@crossblade: Thank you :)

Goan Pao said...

Nice post...
however if you do find a way to fast forward into the 40s..with a best friend as your mate for life..let me know I'd like to do it too...

Anonymous said...

I login 2 comment on ur Miss Comm post as per the ultimatum and lo presto u already hav anothr post already !

Different one this time..wistful, longing, (and slightly scary eh??)

Well from wot ive seen i guess that perfect fast forwarded scene will become a reality in quite many relationships ; but maybe if the "Mute" button is used liberally ;-)at certain critical occasions along the way !

Being the diehard pessimist in certain matters i dont think i'll hav such luck with a perfect marriage ; but well who knows!

And yeah; Happy Friendship Day 2 u Anju!

Jiby said...

paavam jose...i really dont blame guys for making comments like that bcoz deep inside they are shit-scared! very touching post...one of the greatest pleasures i find in life is watching happy couples interact though i get irritated these days when they catch me smiling at them and the first thing they say is my time will come. Happy Friendship Day, Anjali and all you blog pals!

vijyan said...

lil things are really big things in life and relationships....nice write..

happy frienship day

Praveen said...

I forgot, Happy friendship day to you too, Silverine :)

Matter of Choice said...

missed the friendship day..was at home and the first thing i knew about friendship day was when a friend mailed me!.

mom n dad didnt knew it was friendship day..but maybe somehow they knew it. coz after a lazy lunch somehow the conversation turned to her PKC with dad circa 1974(subjects which are but rarely touched upon in my presence). How he came so late that she had changed from the half sari to pavada blouse and he saw her first when she had gone to put all the wet clothes back in the sun (these were taken out of sight for the PKC). Guess why dad was late? he saw a very healthy ox on the way, farming season was about to start, and he went in to meet the owner of the ox hoping to strike a bargain. well he didnt succed in that but succeded in wooing mom. i shudder to think what would have happened to me if he had stuck the bargain (he says he would have gone back home, went around till he could borrow some money to buy the ox skipping the PKC). mom tartly replied that she was the best bargain he ever got and from the contented smile on his face i conclude that he agrees!

happy friendship day to u too :)

cheers
looks like PKC is entering the mallu lingo atleast in the blog world..wow!

scorpigle said...

Nice perspective and we need a lot of aunt Susan's and uncle Ronnie's in this world.. gear up India.

Sujith said...

happy friendship day! :-)

kickassso said...

first of all....jiby..>:P

"all I want is to last my twenties as as single"
aah yes the late marrying mallu female...Cant blame you tho..lets us menfolk lead more time as free spirits

silverine said...

@kickasso:Free spirits??? You guys are so lucky! :)) ROFL

Anonymous said...

A very belated friendship day to you too madam... I am one of those few who keep myself only to a circle of friends .. we are all in constant touch and hence for me every day is a friendship day.

silverine said...

@injinuity: Thank you :)

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said...

hi silverine

just keep reading ur id "silverline" :)
Nice that you liked my blog on "parenting". I am bad at posting and reading blogs. Seeing ur comment thought shall try reading ur blog. Soon "freindship day" got my first attention.

Guess the important thing about the blogs that appeal are about experiences and feelings that people go through during such times.
Keep it up. And wishes for u to be Aunty Susan Some day

jaycee