The Last (W)rites
The feeling I want to leave you with when I write is a feeling of wistfulness.
All my life it has attracted me tremendously. Elusiveness, when “its in your face” yet not there. I read somewhere that to use exclamation marks in your writing is like being surprised at your own story.
Nostalgia brings forth sepia tinted frames which along with the smell of your Grandma’s favorite curry. I guess what I am trying to say is that nostalgia is a holistic experience, attacking all five senses, yet not letting you feel attacked. There in lies the beauty of nostalgia, its like a friendly enemy, a classic example of a femme fatale, who you know is bad for you but cannot ignore.
My earliest memory is of me planked on a windowsill with my mother trying to force me into a strawberry striped dress. It was my fourth birthday. In spite of size being on my mother’s side, I won the battle, but I guess I lost the war. She had her way with me on my wedding day.
That day is my happiest place in my mind. I remember the balloons, the askew streamers, my friends, grand parents, everyone around and celebrating just because a certain Mumu turned 4 that day. Somehow it was not just them, today when I look back I feel that they are all parts of my life who sat and rejoiced that day with me.
Funnily enough I felt the same on my wedding day. My entire family, seemingly converted overnight into jobless but efficient wedding planners, planning for important thinks like plants placement at the wedding venue, or flower arrangement for the bridegroom, or the blouse which has not been collected from the tailor, or maybe that one lipstick shade which is absolutely imperative for the bride’s trousseau.
Today, when I need to etch out a thank you note to someone for collecting a credit card cheque from my desk, I realize that there are certain moments which will always leave you feeling very wanted, complete and loved, yet they are scarce and hence to be cherished.We have all had our share of them, and somehow our happiest memories bring tears to our eyes. This is why I said nostalgia is bad for us.
All my life it has attracted me tremendously. Elusiveness, when “its in your face” yet not there. I read somewhere that to use exclamation marks in your writing is like being surprised at your own story.
Nostalgia brings forth sepia tinted frames which along with the smell of your Grandma’s favorite curry. I guess what I am trying to say is that nostalgia is a holistic experience, attacking all five senses, yet not letting you feel attacked. There in lies the beauty of nostalgia, its like a friendly enemy, a classic example of a femme fatale, who you know is bad for you but cannot ignore.
My earliest memory is of me planked on a windowsill with my mother trying to force me into a strawberry striped dress. It was my fourth birthday. In spite of size being on my mother’s side, I won the battle, but I guess I lost the war. She had her way with me on my wedding day.
That day is my happiest place in my mind. I remember the balloons, the askew streamers, my friends, grand parents, everyone around and celebrating just because a certain Mumu turned 4 that day. Somehow it was not just them, today when I look back I feel that they are all parts of my life who sat and rejoiced that day with me.
Funnily enough I felt the same on my wedding day. My entire family, seemingly converted overnight into jobless but efficient wedding planners, planning for important thinks like plants placement at the wedding venue, or flower arrangement for the bridegroom, or the blouse which has not been collected from the tailor, or maybe that one lipstick shade which is absolutely imperative for the bride’s trousseau.
Today, when I need to etch out a thank you note to someone for collecting a credit card cheque from my desk, I realize that there are certain moments which will always leave you feeling very wanted, complete and loved, yet they are scarce and hence to be cherished.We have all had our share of them, and somehow our happiest memories bring tears to our eyes. This is why I said nostalgia is bad for us.
posted by Debopriya at 7:27 am
1 Comments:
I disagree on this. Nostalgia reinforces the belief that bad times are not forever. There were good times and they may come again. Nostalgia always leaves me so helpless but hoping that tomorrow will be bright and sunny.
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