The Old Order Falleth.....

I find myself making more and more condolence calls these days. What's gone wrong, I wonder. Then, I realize and though it's as clear as daylight, it hits hard. 

I now lie in the demography where parents are getting old. The waves of time are crashing at the shores of life and chipping away at its fragile walls. A friend's Mom passed away due to cancer. Another friend's Dad submitted to heart attack. An aunt was taken away on account of an illness. 

Well, illnesses are just an excuse. The real killer is time. Those sentinels of my childhood, who once looked sturdy and invincible, aren't able to contain the vagaries of time. 

These seniors have all touched my life at some point or the other. A friend's Mom was an integral part of school lunch hour with the delicious pickles she packed. Another friend's Mom welcomed us with mouth- watering goodies whenever we visited them. An Uncle dabbled in homeopathy and dispensed neat little packets of pills for our common complaints. Another maintained a lovely garden and would share fruits of his labor with us. Someone sang very well and played dholak at every gathering. Another neighborhood Auntie had us in splits with her dance moves. A friend's father was strict and told us off if we were too loud and in turn made us burst into suppressed giggles.

They all are wafts and weaves that make the rich tapestry of childhood memories. From seeing them regularly during childhood, to meeting them when they visit their married kids during adulthood, their presence is always reassuring and full of warmth. They bring back a whiff of old days. They give a feeling of wellness and completeness. As if 'All is Well' with the world.

Now, whenever I get news of anybody's parent passing away, I realize with great sadness, that time is indeed fleeting and life is just a bubble which can burst anytime. It gives a new perspective on time. So whenever I meet a senior citizen, be it a relative or friends' parents, I like to chat with them and hear their stories. Like it or not, our days with our seniors are limited and we should make the most of them.

Make memories, get kids to spend as much time with them as possible, take a ton of pictures, learn life's lessons, hear their stories from days of yore, sit with them, talk to them, make them laugh, share our favorite memories of them, pamper them. 

Because soon, the wheels of time will turn again, and this time, they might not be around to share our victories and joys or soothe us with their words of wisdom, nor to bless us with all their heart or to complain with all their might. They will not grace our lives anymore. And that will be a deep, deep loss.