Filed away...

It is a three day weekend and is the case with long weekends, the first day goes in sleeping. Then, mom kicks into action and berates me for not taking care of all my paperwork...my papers, bills, certificates, documents, office papers that are all over the place.

So it was with great reluctance that I gathered up all the papers, old bills, debit card receipts and what not. But little did I know that what I thought would be a boring task would be a great way to relive some old days.

Every piece of paper had its own memories...every bill had a reason for why I had splurged...every marksheet told a tale of how much effort had gone into getting those marks...how much coffee I had to drink to keep myself awake...

Of course there were some marksheets which I would simply like to forget...some bills which I regret running up - especially the silly PS2 and Drive Wheel which I have hardly used. I came across my MH-CET marksheet and admission papers...I remembered how I had almost cancelled my admission...and how, thankfully, I had not.

Then there were bills which bought back some really sweet memories...of running all the way to an ATM to take out money to buy a hard disk drive...of days spent hunting for the perfect gifts...of rushing to Phoenix to buy a bracelet and hoping it would be liked...buying a T-shirt or a particular piece of clothing because it was recommended...

These pieces of papers can be filed away...but not these memories.

Happy Friendship Day

It is the first Sunday of August...more popularly known as Friendship Day in India. A day which until 2-3 years had no value to me. I never even acknowledged its existence until then.

But today I can't but help go back 2 years in time. A day when everything was perfect...a day which ranks as one of the happiest I've ever lived. Little did I know back then how things would change...how things could get so out of hand. But well...no use harping on what has happened. I made mistakes and am paying the price for them.

Anyways today is a day to celebrate friendship...to celebrate life. So I dedicate this song for you...a song that I hope gives you the strength to navigate life with all its troubles and trials...

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat

But always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed

I hope you still feel small

When you stand by the ocean

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Living might mean taking chances

But they're worth taking

Lovin' might be a mistake

But it's worth making

Don't let some hell bent heart

Leave you bitter

When you come close to selling out

Reconsider

Give the heavens above

More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

(Time is a real and constant motion always)

I hope you dance

(Rolling us along)

I hope you dance

(Tell me who)

I hope you dance

(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)

(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small

When you stand by the ocean

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

(Time is a real and constant motion always)

I hope you dance

(Rolling us along)

I hope you dance

(Tell me who)

(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)

I hope you dance

(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)

I hope you dance

(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)

(Where those years have gone)

--Lee Ann Womack

Happy Friendship Day