To be or not to be

So I was reading this article tonight, in which the writer was talking about good-looking women being ogled at on the roads.

She said, "Do you know what is worse than being ogled at? Not being ogled at."

Funny and unfortunately true at times :)

Being Parents!

Recent conversations that have been taking place between my parents and me.

Me - "The computer crashed?? What did you do???”

Dad/Mom - “I didn’t do anything!!!! Apne aap ho gaya."

Me (on phone with Dad) - "Hello, technical support here. How can I help you today?"

Dad - "Computer is not working. Only a line flashes over and over."

Me - "Okay... describe to me exactly what you see on the screen."

"Now you move the mouse and bring the cursor here in the address field. Okay. Now click here. No. Try again. No. Again. Okay, now type the email id. Very good! Now click on send. See, its not difficul at all."

"No Shalu, don't help them! Let them try to open their inbox themselves."

Before my Mom and Dad headed out for their first international travel:

Me to Dad- "The atm in S'pore will give you S'pore dollars irrespective of what atm machine you go to"

Dad-"XYZ was saying there are SBI atms there, even they won't give Indian rupees?" :-|

Me to Mom- "Always stay with Dad, don't go anywhere without telling him. Anywhere you go, decide a place, you both will come back to, in case you lose each other."

"Wear comfortable shoes all the times. You’ll be doing a lot of walking."

"So did you like the hot air balloon ride?"

"Always have a valid ticket when you travel in bus or train."

"Donot throw any wrappers/waste anywhere except dustbins."

"Mom, always keep some money on you."

"What is my mobile number? Do you remember? You have to put +91 before my mobile number."

"Whenever you go out, carry a piece of paper with your hotel address, okay? Always!"

"If you get lost, ask a passer-by for directions, okay? People there are very helpful."

"Carry a bottle of water along. Don’t buy canned drinks. They are too sweet - bad for your health."

Me to Mom - "You should learn to be independent – learn to take the bus and train by yourself. Look at Aunty X. She saw all of S'pore by herself! Why can’t you do that?"

And finally the most important one, that we could not do without, and they can’t do without either.

“Don’t worry, I'm here.”

First your parents bring you up. And then it's time for you to bring them up.

They say- life runs a full circle. So true!

Freedom

When I get older, I will be stronger..They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag!

Is waving flag a symbol of freedom?

Not really. I don't think so.

It's freedom in confined space. Flag can flutter but it will always be tied to a post.

Our lives are just like waving flags. We're free but within certain boundaries which brings another question in my head- what is freedom?

So while searching (googling, okay!) I came across this which explains the meaning of the song Waving Flag.