I had my height checked recently with one of those old-fashioned weight machines, (you know, the one that has a measuring scale built in) and I kept hoping I would be like an inch taller than before, 5'3.5" = 5'4" right? And the young Doctor turned to me and announced happily that I was a whopping 5'2" tall! I probably shrunk because of old age or something!
Anyway, it must be a lot of fun to be a tall person, no need for heels, no pillow needed to drive and when you are making a point at work, it's so much better to be looking down or at eye-level than craning your neck and looking up. All the time. That's not true actually. When my colleagues are sitting down and staring at their screens, I stand a few inches taller than them and that's one time, I don't have to look up :p
About Golu...Anyway, it's navrathri time and this time, we built a modest forest for our golu. Sowmya aunty had a very nice Andaal story depicted in her golu (see pic). Someday, I want to do that too...for now, pictures of our Golu will be up soon :)About being fortunate, guilt, fate and serving...have you ever been served by an old Desi uncle or a young girl about your age at an Indian restaurant and felt guilty about it? You probably smiled a bit more, tried to act natural, maybe didn't quite meet their eyes or maybe...it's just me :) Not always though, I normally reflect what I see, I get uncomfortable whenever I see an uncomfortable waiter...know what I mean? Anyway, I wondered, what put me where I am and this pretty girl where she is, wearing slightly battered old clothes and trying not to meet my eye? Fate? I don't know. And why Indian restaurants in particular you ask? Because we as Indians have never given the art of serving the respect that it deserves; for us, it's always something we do because we have no other go...I guess. Remember what the head waiter says in 'Maid in Manhatten'? "Remember that we serve them but we are not their servants..."
About Ubuntu...This article says it all, am all for ubuntu :)
14 comments:
Hmm..back to the Cosmic Theory - why am I where I am?
Recently, I was arguing with S about Karma theory. He disagreed with me..:)
If that doesn't come into play, I am left without an answer...
What about desi uncles who serve you in India? :-)
Being tall (assuming 5'11 3/4" as tall :) i clear 6'1" with shoes on ) has it own disadvantages when it comes to cars. All the small cars like civic, corolla are ruled out and the ride in them becomes a pain after a while. Getting in and out of sedans also gets a little clumsy. Once i was in a maruti Zen and it felt as if i was sitting on the road itself :)
As for the servers, i dont feel anything bad at all no matter who they are or where they work. Its a job and no one should be ashamed of it.
For a couple of months in the first semester I was a Cashier/Food line worker in the campus eateries. Everyone from the GM to the Professors and fellow students were cool and you dont feel anything different at all. It rubbed off me, so i am also cool with all servers whether it is a desi joint or not. Volunteer for a job in some food stalls in the stadiums or other public places that are run for charity purposes, trust me you wont feel guilty at all after that :)
the golu looks cool...i hd emailed u my number...call me or send me ur number...
subha - karma...there's another theory that I know very little about... :)
parth - frankly, this whole post doesn't apply to an Indian context at all. There, the desi uncle would come, give us the menu in rapid fire mode, I would quickly pick an item so as to not waste his time and he would be gone! :)
hellboy - I would be completely ok volunteering/serving people food, it's when other people are uncomfortable that I get conscious and start thinking a long stream of complicated thoughts :)
rt - ennoda email check pannu...
siva - it's all about my theory of reflection - I unconsciously reflect what I see! :)
You mean all the seat height adjustments don't help? My friend used to pull the seat in front as well, getting a better view.
Oh you're 5'2" ? What about the story people used to tell me ? That you were 4'9" and you got into UK through the midgets quota ? Ellam poyya ? Ada paavi pasangalaa ! :)
Desi uncle..India or US does not matter actually.
For me , I have felt that way my entire life. When I went on the 17D PTC bus to Don Bosco when I was in 11th standard..I used to feel very bad when I saw anyone of my parents age..who is struggling in that crowd. I see them sweating and panting..and holding on to that pole with a yellow bag tied to it.
Life is a bummer sometimes..In fact , they might be totally OK doing that , but I cant bear to see elderly people struggling to keep up with the demands of modern life.
jinguchaka - yup, I move the seat forward and upward and still need a pillow :(
dinesh - sigh...enna panardu? Kadavul unnoda width = ennoda height akitaar! ellam avan seyal :) :)
sayee - true. Reminds me of something kamal wrote sometime back about the fear of growing old without means...
If u are feeling guilty abt being served etc etc thingy, u shud feel guilty abt feeling guilty. Ur guilt shows u consider urself in higher plane and serving person is in lower plane and u make an effort to adjust urself so that servers might feel better. Guess this will definetly embaress them. Instead ur mentality shud be, I am not great for being served by them or they are not lower to me by serving me. That will put both parties at ease.
PB, the problem arises when they start becoming uncomfortable, I find it difficult to remain unaffected by it by telling myself we are all equal, act at ease.
I have had some of the coolest people waiting on me and have enjoyed their company! My post is not about them.
certainly they wont..even if they did ur being comfartable with them will change it. You may not get it until u feel that equality in u.
I am sure it is just perception problem. For some reason u are thinking u are superior. Say for instance u go and meet SPB with awe and wonder for him, instead if he moves with ease u too will soon find urself comfortable in his company. Lemme ask one thing u be having enormous stage fear. Do u?
sari sari ithkum serious reply pannatha..kalachifying u..
PB - idhukku mattum artham sollidu.
"Lemme ask one thing u be having enormous stage fear. Do u?"
Please !
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