Few of My Favourite Things

Julia Andrews sings in the movie, The Sound of Music:

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favourite things.

Cream coloured ponies and crisp apple strudels;

Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles;

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings;

These are a few of my favourite things.

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Silver-white winters that melt into springs

These are a few of my favourite things

When the dog bites,

When the bee stings,

When I'm feeling sad,

I simply remember my favourite things,

And then I don't feel so bad.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens

Brown paper…

With Covid amidst us, and a pall of gloom, I thought today we would celebrate great memories together (rather than just things but that is welcome as well).  I am sure we all have some favourite memories while growing up. I will share a few:

As both my parents were busy at work, I remember the time spent with the household help (Ayah’s - stay home nannies) at home, post returning from school. She and the neighbour would tell me a lot of stories and my interest grew that there was such a world where so much could happen. That inspired my love for books, a steady companion and friend.

Once in 1971, in the midst of the Indo Pak war, I remember my father had to put newspapers covering all the windows, and cars in those days had the blank off the top of the headlight by black paint. These were war time instructions we were required to follow. All the houses too had that bleak look – it seemed all so strange. Then ever so often, there was the wail of sirens that rent the air, and with that signal, all house lights had to be switched off, and I imagined enemy planes flying overhead. I was both scary and thrilling.

I remember during the summer vacation, we had gone to our Aunt’s house in Aldona, Goa. There, I learnt to play chess for the first time. We had no board or chess pieces, but just wooden props and stones to represent the chess pieces. Several months later, I was pleased to win a game between my brother and I, and who was the school champion at that time!. He asked me to keep this a secret! ? My dormitory matron, Mrs Malini (name changed) would often call me to her room to play chess with her, just before she retired to sleep. There, in her room, I was served with Bournvita or Horlicks and i felt very special and 'grown up'. This became quite a regular schedule except during days of exams.

I am sure each of you have a cherished memory growing up. Would you like to join me and share what memory came up for you while growing up. Do comment.