Close your eyes, and go back in time.... Before the Internet, VCD and DVD. Before semi-automatics machine guns, joyriders and crack .... Before X-Box, PS-2, SEGA or Super Nintendo or Video Games... Way back....
I'm talking about Hide and seek (Chhupan Chhupaee) in the park or on streets of Lahore. The corner shop, Butter Scotch Candy, Mitchells Milk Toffee, Jubilee, football with an old can, jumping in enormous puddles, Building dams. The smell of the sun and fresh cut grass. Mayfair bubble gum. A POLKA ice cream pop cone on a warm summer night,
Wait......Watching Weekday 5pm evening or Saturday Morning cartoons... short commercials, The Tom and Jerry, He-Man, Captain Caveman, Waltron, Walligator, Danger Mouse and Pink Panther. Or watching 7pm NTM transmission blasting off with Thunder Cats. Staying up late for Night Rider, Air Wolf or Power of Methew Star. Watching nice Urdu Plays like Un Kahi, Tanhaiyaan, Sunehray Din, Aangan Tera.
Remember that?
When around the corner seemed far away, and going into down town or Liberty Market seemed like going somewhere. A million mosquito bites, wasp and bee stings. Sticky fingers. Walking to school, no matter what the weather. Running till you were out of breath. Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt.
Jumping on the bed. Pillow fights. Climbing trees, building igloos Ice Lolies out of tiny amounts of snow. Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for the giggles. Being tired from playing... The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team. Water balloons were the ultimate weapon.
I'm not finished just yet...
Eating raw jelly, orange squash, ice pops, chocochums, top pops
Remember when...
You knew everyone in your street - and so did your parents! It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends. You didn't sleep a wink on EiD Chaand Raat or Christmas eve. Afraid of Neighbor’s dog-bite. When 100 Rs. was decent pocket money. When you'd get a coke for 4 Rs. When nearly everyone's mum was at home when the kids got there from School. It was magic when dad would "remove" his thumb. When it was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at real restaurant with your parents. When being sent to the head's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited a misbehaving student at home.
Basically, we were in fear for our lives, but it wasn't because of drive-by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc. Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! And some of us are still afraid of them!!! Didn't that feel good? Just to go back and say, Yeah, I remember that!
Remember when....
Decisions were made by going "eeny- meeny-miney-mo."... "Race issue" meant arguing about who ran the fastest. Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in "Monopoly". The worst thing you could catch from other person was germs, and the worst thing in your day was having to sit next to opposite sex. Having a weapon in school, meant being caught with a catapult.
Nobody was prettier than your Mum. Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better. Taking drugs meant orange-flavoured chewable aspirin. Ice cream was considered a basic food group. Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true. Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dare". Older siblings were the worst tormentors, but also the fiercest protectors.
If you can remember most or of these, then you have LIVED!
1 comment:
(k)
Post a Comment