Daddy Stories

Father: Happy Birthday Sweetheart. What do you want for your birthday gift?
Daughter: I want some video games.

At the video game store,
Daughter: Wow. there is a BIG shop that sells only video games. Why did you never tell me about this? This is heaven.
Father: Well you know about it now. Go ahead and make your choice.
Daughter: But there are so many of them. Harry Potter, Pitfall, Age of Empires, Nancy Drew. I want them all.
Father: Now, now. Let's not be greedy, shall we?
Daughter: Alright..then I want all seven of the Harry Potter games.
Father: That's a lot. Plus, you have already played part 1-4.
Daughter: Alrighty, I will have Tomb Raider and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
Father: Good. That should keep you busy for a bit.

A week later,
Daughter: I finished both the games, Daddy. Can we go back to that shop again, please?
Father: We will go there on your next birthday, sweetheart.
Daughter: Humphhhh!!!

Snowed In !

Welcome to Minnesota! The Land of Snow! 

Where, when the temperature goes forty below zero,

people wear gloves, hoodies and boots 

to go out and shovel the snow

out of their driveway and sidewalks

only to find it back there in an hour.

Where, the cold wind blows at seventy five miles per hour

in your face, you take a breath of air

and your nose gets frozen shut.

Where it warms up to seventy five degrees

two days following snow day

bringing along with it, the aftermath of Red River flooding.

Where the snow still lingers on

during the end of April 

when you are supposed to be out in  your porch

and sunbathing.

Where, having lived for nearly four years,

I can brag about making it through!

Book Review - P.S. I Love You

SPOILER ALERT!

So I just finished reading one of the most beautiful book ever written. Yes, I know it is sad but still beautiful :) It made me cry a few times (and this has never happened before, ever) but it made me appreciate life more. As humans, when our loved ones are gone, we are angry and depressed. We take that anger out at ourselves and blame God or life or whatever you believe in, for having given us such short time with that special somebody. This book helps you cherish the special memories that you have had with your special somebody and move on in life rather than crying over how much more time you could have spent with them.

A couple of things that I really like about this book.

First of all, the book is so much true to life. It shows the grief of a woman, Holly mourning the loss of her 30 year old husband, Gerry, to brain tumor. She is devastated, but of course and so are the other people around her such as her husband's parents and their best friends despite their normal attitude. Just because Denise is getting married and John and Sharon are having a baby, it does not reduces their grief over Gerry's death. From Holly's perspective, people expect her to get out and about and find a job and settle down to a new life without Gerry. They know that Holly has gone through a lot but sometimes they fail to understand that she is still going through it.

The book also shows how powerful love can be. Gerry was the centre of Holly's life ever since childhood. So now that he is gone, she is completely clueless on what to do. Gerry's death has created a complete void in her life that she doesn't know how to as well as she does not want to fill. That's when Gerry steps in and helps his sweetheart get over him. Wouldn't it be nice when those departed souls can guide us to a life without them?

Anyway, I think it is a must read for all and especially if you miss somebody or need help on how to cope with your loneliness. Here are a few of my favourite quotes from the book...

"Shoot for the moon, even if you fail, you'll land among the stars."

"... God leads you to it and takes you through it."

"Sometimes there is only one thing left to say, P.S. I Love You..."

Oh and a little spoiler, whenever you are sad, a cup of tea and some fresh air really helps ;)

P.S. Do not read it when you are bubbling with happiness and... I love you :)

50 Shades Of Men

• A well-to-do, intelligent and educated man in his early thirties...a loyal son, a mischievous friend and a protective gentleman. He motivates you, he inspires you. He gets caught in a turmoil between his father's perspective and his rational thinking. Instead of communicating and clarifying the situation, he blocks you from all social websites leaving you completely appalled. Why did a grown up man behave like such a child?

•  A decade old friend... sensitive, caring and a good listener. He knows your weaknesses yet he always reminds you of your strengths.  He always critiques, motivates and supports you. His friendship is a lifetime guarantee for you but in reality, no guarantee lasts that long. Hypocrisy, indifference and greed creeps in. He is superficial; he is judgemental. Was his friendship always such a lie?

• A sweet, polite and friendly guy... He is willing to travel 25 kilometers in the wee hours of the morning just to brighten up your mood. He can talk to you the entire night to listen to your girly fusses of life. He can carry your shopping bags for you. A good companion soon turns into a perfect boyfriend unless you find out that he is cheating on you with your own friend. What made him take such a big risk without any fear of being caught?

• A fun-loving, handsome and playful flirt of the college... he falls in love with the simplest and the most innocent looking girl of the college who later breaks up with him 'for a better option'. He yells, he cries; he is hurt, he is angry. He curses her to never be happy in her life again yet when he meets that girl, 12 years later, completely defeated in life, he vows to keep her happy forever. Why does he care for her so much?

What is it with these men that we can never figure out? How do they always end up surprising us either with their goodness or with their childishness? I understand that men hate to talk about their feelings. That is why sometimes we can never figure out who the real person is. Many say that people change but I say that people are always the same. It is just that in times of difficulties is that their true self is revealed.