Reflections

.. and the plethora of related security terms? Its easy and real simple..

Wanted to make a note of it, since this would be the last time we’ll be seeing him in the home turf for quite some time I believe. I am eagerly hoping that he’ll come see us DownUnder, more often than he possibly could!

With him he brings home Christmas, and its easy to see why. Firstly with him comes a truck load of goodies for all of us – these days of course mostly for little Evelyn. And then, all of a sudden we re put in seventh heaven, where we sit back and wish for that favorite menu for lunch – and it happens instantly. Doesn’t matter how impossible it may seem to the others, but with him around, things just happen. He needs no flashy car to bring us exactly what we ask for from the other end of the city – and he does it, always with a smile on his face, and so much eagerness. I’ve always wondered if it could ever make you so happy, to do so much to make others happy, even if it is your own family . Certainly not always, and not everyone.

Not sure how and why.., but its only when he is around I feel I’m connected. Connected to my origins, and I’m at peace.
I remember reading a prose written by one of my mom’s friend at work, and it was all about why everything a dad does is so special, when it is your dad. It was titled ඒ මගේ තාත්තාය (” and that is my father “). Now I realize how very true that is. I remember how when back in the days when he used to work in SL, how he brought certain delights from the Fab outlet in Nugegoda. Like a prayer, he’d do this every day. And in case if you happen to mention that you liked one more than the other, it was guaranteed that he will bring a box full of that one, the next day and many more days to follow. And just when you think you’ve had the best and seen the best, he’ll still manage to surprise you with yet another. Some stuff he used to bring were completely hideous like a highly decorated piece of cake with all the colors in the rainbow, and he’ll usually keep it hidden until we finish eating lunch. He’d then take it out from some hidden spot in the fridge that I could never figure out and give it away as the ‘reward’ for eating all!.

Since leaving home, I’ve found it very difficult to understand the dynamics of filling up a household fridge:D I somehow had come to believe that it all happens so very effortlessly, that fridges are always full of stuff (we like). To-date it continues to disappoint me how my fridge at home is so empty, and not have those surprises, even as I continue to shop sometimes several days a week. To earn the money, buy the stuff, bring them home and fill up the fridge, and then to come behind us with a reminder every 5 minutes – is really a much harder job than I imagined for very long .

I remember going to Fab once after he left the country, and feeling so empty looking at those very same things that he used to bring home. For, without him, none of that looked half as good or tasty – I swear on that. Everything looked like very commercial, mindless and soul-less. And I never went back there again.

Father is the most generous man that I have seen up to date. Whichever part in the world he was coming from, he always brought home truck load of things. Never in 1ns or 2s. And always the best of brands – no compromise:)

Dad’s also a walking dictionary. I’ve always been amazed how much he knew of so many wide varieties of topics, far from maths and physics. He knew a whole lot of poems, writings, history, music etc. For a man who came to Colombo from a very rural area in Galle (southern Sri Lanka), and considering there was no Internet for the most part of his life, he actually knows quite a bit about the world. What’s wonderful is that he now carries data in a pen drive all the while referring it with all possible alternative terms – mostly to confuse my mother, no doubt

All in all, I suppose what he’s shown us is what they call unconditional love. Dad, we love you heaps..!

My latest project has everything to do with cartoons. I’ve seen some crazy stuff only for today. Here’s one that I found quite amusing.

.. and here’s another:

What a week it was! I started it listening to James Clerk speak on M. The day ended with a business get together at Barefoot Cafe’ celebrating the official launch of WSO2 Inc. locally. With the rest of the day spent at marketing meetings, Tuesday night was team dinner. I skipped that, as I was worried that I wouldn’t make it for Gayani’s wedding, the day after. And, I couldn’t risk that.

This beautiful girl got married on a beautiful Wednesday morning, and we were all there to witness the ceremony. I’ve been to quite a few weddings, but this one was very special. Apart from having worked with her for the last 3+ months, in which she proved herself as a very talented and a committed person, I also found her to be a good friend and a lovely person. Amidst a pile of work at office, and lots happening at home, she together with her fiance’, pulled off a fairly tale wedding that we enjoyed heaps.

Despite all great things that were taking place, there were also a couple of baffling incidents as well.

First and the most disturbing was the death of a girl from College, who was shot killed together with her mom and dad by her very own husband. Lakmali Perera aged 26, leaves behind her 2 young children, who will not only have to fend for themselves but will have to bear the shame of this shocking tale. Newspapers also reported that, at the time she was killed Lakmali was 2 month pregnant with the couple’s 3rd child.
On hindsight, I remember how hard growing up was. Without parents around, and such a huge tragedy to shoulder – the fate of these 2 young children are looking very wicked indeed. Sadly such is life.

As if things weren’t bad enough, there was also the terrible news of Michael Jackson passing away that we were woken up to on Friday morning. We grew up with listening to him perform those breathtaking performances. There were quite a few in school who mimicked his exact moves and to date I have not forgotten their performances in school talent shows. Whatever the world said about Michael Jackson, it must not have been easy being in his shoes. We loved him and will always cherish him for who he was. Long live the legend.

With all that’s happening around me, I remembered an old poem by Rudyard Kipling.

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you, are losing theirs and blaming it on you.
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too. If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, or being lied about – don’t deal in lies.
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating. And yet don’t look too good – nor talk too wise.

If you can dream, and not make dreams your master. If you can think, and not make thoughts your aim. If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two impostors just the same. If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken, twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, and stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools.

If you can make one heap of all your winnings, and risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss
And lose, and start again at your beginnings. And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew, to serve your turn long after they are gone. And so hold on when there is nothing in you, except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, or walk with kings nor lose the common touch,If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you. If all men count with you, but none too much. If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it.

And, which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!

1. Blood on our hands, but this too shall pass
2. The Man Who Destroyed Eelam