Epitaphs

An actual list of really humorous epitaphs from long ago.....i nearly died laughing (pun very much intended) ;)

For my unborn baby

It's a strange feeling knowing that there's a life growing inside you...strange, exciting and yes...very very scary!!! It's the first time I am totally responsible for another human being and a defenseless one at that...and that honestly scares the shit out of me! I was so scared at the beginning that i would almost look in the mirror and try and convince myself that I was just putting on yet some more weight...a trick that just doesnt work anymore, now that my stomach is assaulted at all times of the day and night with my baby's movements...flutters at first and slowly graduating to full fledged kicks! But I love feeling the lil one move...it's reassuring to say the least...

Baby understands my emotions...she (I am using 'she' just as a way to avoid writing "he/she" or some other equally silly thing!!!) really does...music soothes her, she gets all excited when my DH strums to her on his guitar...she even headbangs to 'Rammstein' and I know where she gets THAT from!!!!! :) She seems to understand when we talk about her or to her and responds with a couple of well placed kicks (like she's doing as I am writing!!!). It's a lengthy 3 month wait before I can hold her in my arms and time has never passed more slowly!!! I read this poem somewhere and really liked it...it's what I feel for my baby and then some....

I Loved You From The Start

I loved you from the very start.
You stole my breath, embraced my heart.

Our life together has just begun,
You’re part of me, my little one.

As mother with child, each day I knew
My mind would be filled with thoughts of you.
I’m daydreaming of the things we’ll share,
Like late-night bottles and teddy bears.
Like first steps and skinned knees,
Like bedtime stories and ABC’s.

I’m thinking of things you’ll want to know
Like how birds fly and flowers grow.
I’ve thought of lessons I’ll need to share,
Like standing tall and playing fair.

When I first see your precious face,
I’ll pray your life be touched with grace.
I’ll thank the angels from above,
And promise you unending love.

Each night I’ll lay you down to sleep,
I’ll gently kiss your head and cheek.
I’ll count your little fingers and toes,
I’ll memorize your eyes and nose.

I will linger at your nursery door,
Awed each day that I love you more.
Through misty eyes, I’ll dim the light,
And whisper, “I love you” every night.

As mother with child our journey’s begun,
My heart’s yours forever, little one.

I loved you from the very start.
You stole my breath, embraced my heart

Author: unknown

Let it snow...let it snow....

I have always craved for a white winter....my DH who's lived amidst 3ms of snow during his MBA years naturally doesnt pay much attention my longing...and unfortunately neither does Tokyo! Ofcourse snow piles up in Northern and Western Japan, but we Tokyoites have to be content with a few flakes here and there during the season....but not this time around! Last to last sunday, sleepy eyes opened to a dazzling white Tokyo!!! It had snowed during the night and by snow I mean the yummy kind that reminds you of vanilla icecream and makes you want to dip your hands in it and lick it off! Tokyo hadnt seen this much snow in 7 years!!! Our patio was covered with a thick layer of the stuff as was everything else around as far as the eye could see!!!










It was our own private winter wonderland and we (me, my DH and my brother-in-law) made the most of it...snowball fights, snow thingys, the works...I hadnt had this much fun in quite a while...



Cheers to a white winter....FINALLY!!!!!

Phenomenal Woman

One of my favorite pieces of poetry by an amazing African-American poetess..Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

A walk down memory lane...

Tokyo is cold during winter....and by cold I mean FREEZING!!!! Most of our winter evenings and weekends are spent huddled under the blanket with both the room and floor heaters on...sipping hot coffee and generally cursing the howling wind outside and its resultant sub-zero temperature. Coming from the sunny climes of Kolkata, where winter is a long awaited and cherished season... a season of light woollens and even lighter moods; the dark and gloomy winter of Japan is definitely not something I look forward to.



Occasionally on such cold wintry evenings I find myself turning back the pages of time and revisiting my childhood. As it is with most schools in Kolkata (specially the non-Christian ones like mine), winter holidays were almost an after-thought. While the summer and the Puja holidays stretched over a month and a half...the winter holidays were a measly 2 weeks, and it was within those 2 weeks that we managed to cram in all possible fun activities. We would usually go on our annual family trips during the longer holidays while the Christmas vacation due to the shortage of time, was mostly limited to local attractions.



Some of those attractions which remain vivid in my mind (and I am sure in the minds of every true-blue Kolkatan) include visits to the Alipore Zoo complete with badminton racquets, Frisbees and of course a picnic hamper; at least one visit to whichever circus was in town (Nataraj Circus was my particular favourite, although in my late pre-teens, I started appreciating the Russian circus more) and of course the event I personally looked forward to the most, the "Boi Mela" or the Book Fair held every year at the Maidan. Earlier, I used to go with my parents and a brood of cousins and later on with my friends...but the magic remained the same irrespective of my companions - the crisp smell of new books mingled with the mouth-watering aroma coming from the 'Ben Fish' stall, the endless queues outside the popular publishing houses and people just sitting on the fair grounds and soaking in the ambience; all went towards creating an unforgettable experience. I have not visited the Book Fair in the last six or seven years, but sadly I hear from the people who still go, that the fair is not what it used to be...its magic has been greatly diminished.



While these are all memories of outdoor events, my favorite memory associated with winter is an indoor one, a memory which I am sure, most Kolkatans will recognize and reminisce about - eating 'komla lebu' (oranges) and reading a book while soaking in the warm afternoon sun! Right from my early childhood, I was an avid reader, everything from books to magazines to 'kagojer thonga' (paper bags made from recycled newspapers) would be gobbled up by my hungry eyes. It was a habit my dad was only too happy to encourage and encourage he did. Our school back then, had its mid week holiday on Thursday unlike many who broke for the whole weekend. Every Saturday, I would come home from school to find my favorite sunny corner of the verandah set up with quilts, pillows and a brand new book inscribed with a funny message from dad. As I crossed over into my teens the authors changed from Enid Blyton to Erich Segal, but, the scenario remained the same. My 'baba' (as I used to call my dad) would then serve me my mid-afternoon snack (usually a variety of sandwiches and of course the ubiquitous orange in all its peeled glory), while I lazily laid back and turned the pages of my new book. Sadly, those times are no more and neither is my baba...but if I close my eyes and try hard enough I can still feel the warm sun on my back, hear the rustling of the crisp pages and smell the oranges.......

A non-valentine 'Valentines Day'

My DH (Dear Husband) hates the thought of 'Valentines Day'...it's not that he's unromantic, quite the contrary...what he hates is the commercialization of love! According to him, love is something to share, to give, to express every single day...so why should there be a day specifically set apart for it? Other than the historical importance of the day (St. Valentine et al), which anyways very few people know about...what differentiates 14th Feb from the rest 364 days (365 days this leap year)?

Today is Valentines Day and it's just like any other day in our house...infact my DH wont even be home till quite late at night...he is going to a 'Police' concert, something he had been wanting to go to since a long time and something I know he would have willingly given up had I told him to....that is love. I let him go...that is love too. Well...didn't let him go that easily either...I made him promise to pick up Chinese from my favorite chinese joint on his way back home!!! Bee Hoon (thin rice noodles), Cashew Chicken, Mabo Dofu (Tofu in a spicy minced meat sauce) and Gyoza (the japanese equivalent of dumplings)...in one word...YUMMILICIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Right now, I am going through my chinese phase, earlier it was thai and even before that I would only want to eat 'Bento' that's Japanese style set meals...pregnancy has some weird effects on taste for sure!!! They say that cravings are your body's way of telling you what you are missing out on...i wonder what form of nutrient does oily and spicy food provide my body with???? Anyways I had made up my mind long ago not to worry about looking like a beached whale and enjoy my pregnancy the best I can..but it's easier said than done...at least some times....the rest...i just dont look in the mirror!!!! 'Ignorance is bliss' and all that jazz!!!!

Baby's kicking...time for lunch i guess!!!! :)