Share this:

“Grey Hair doesn’t mean you’ve let go! It just means you’ve let loose.”

What’s it like to go from staying black to going natural grey with silver strands? I thought I’d create a timeline of sorts with the most asked questions from acquaintances.

The transformation was complete. I was quite happy with it. My hair was completely Silver. I had accepted aging with grace.

A friend told me that it takes guts to go completely silver. I laughed when she said that, ” As long as you are comfortable and don’t get a fright when you see your face in the mirror, you’re OK.”

I had reasoned with myself that we cannot go on looking young. And why should you not look your age? At 67, I was in fact now proud of my silver crown. The advantages of short, silver hair were many.

Here are a few that I’ve quickly penned down :

 I was easily spotted and recognized

I could wash my hair every day. It would dry in a jiffy.

I think it has helped me to look distinguished and certainly a little glamorous.

People would graciously give their seats for me in a train or bus, sure now that I was a senior citizen.

Being a proud member of The SilverSurfers’ Club, I qualify to be a member so perfectly now. A Silver Surfer in the true sense!

My mind took me back to the time when I think I was about 30 years old. I had screamed one early morning. My mother had come running into the room ready to admonish me thinking that, I was as usual, screaming at the sight of a ghastly lizard or that of a harmless, but disgusting cockroach. No it wasn’t that. My problem was much worse. I had just caught sight of the first strand of silver hair in my beautiful, thick and curly jet black hair, worn shoulder length at that time.

I was upset and couldn’t accept the fact that I was beginning to grey. A sign of aging wasn’t it?My mother laughed at my silliness and got back to her daily chores, which I had interrupted.

But I was determined to fight the single strand of grey hair. So off to the chemist shop I went and equipped myself with a bottle of Godrej Hair dye (black), a pair of gloves, a packet of Mehendi and a brush to apply the vicious hair Dye.

After shampooing and drying my hair, I mixed the hair dye in the correct proportions and on a war footing applied the dye, followed by a coat of Mehendi. After an hour, I washed my hair again and was happy to see that the silver strand of hair was not to be seen.

I had spent one and a half hours in the process of hair dyeing and shampooing to cover up just one strand of silver hair.  The bottle had said permanent hair colour. But after a month the silver strand made its appearance again along with a few more. The strands kept increasing. Finally, it was down to colouring my hair every 20 days.

It was the most tiring thing to do. But, my vanity got the better of me and I was determined not to look a day older than I actually was. This activity was carried out tirelessly for 35 odd years of my life.

Many friends and colleagues had started going grey and were comfortable with their looks. I told myself a hundred times to follow suit. But no, when I had to attend any function or club meeting, out would come the tubes of L’Oreal and another tiring three hours would be spent in the ordeal.

Finally at the age of 67, I decided I had had enough. One day, I took my friend with me, marched into Bounce – a fancy salon for ladies in Bangalore, and had my hair chopped short.  I had never worn my hair so short in all my life and wasn’t sure I had done the right thing. But now, the hair had been cut and nothing could change that.   

It was a total transformation. I reached home and the first person to see me was our security. He gave me an odd look but dared not cross his limits.

At a wedding, someone asked me whether I had cut my hair as a ‘mannath’ or a vow. I was annoyed and retorted as politely as I could that I had cut my hair to be fashionable. 

I had many sleepless nights. Had I done the right thing? Had I done something foolish? These thoughts kept plaguing me for the first couple of days and continued to do so for almost six months.

My friends were saying, “It is 2018. Why do you care?” I avoided relatives for quite some time. But how long could I hide? I had to attend weddings and gatherings. I had cut my hair to stop colouring my hair and to look glamorous. I am glad now that I stuck to the decision. I had wanted a pepper and salt look, the in thing for senior citizens, but within six months my hair had turned completely and beautifully silver with not a strand of black hair. The transformation to a silver senior  had been complete and I was quite proud of the new look.

Some people liked it and some didn’t. But for God’s sake, I hadn’t gone short and silver to please others. And I hated the thought of going back to black. I think, I would scream at seeing myself with a single streak of black hair, now!

As written and contributed by Usha R. : Author, Silver Surfer, Blog Contributor, Actor.

To join our active fun community of Silver Surfers write in to us on info@silversurfersclub.in or visit us on http://www.thesilversurfersclub.in

WHAT HAS AGE GOT TO DO WITH IT?

To be on stage again after 55 years or so? I would never have thought it possible. But it was a dream come true.

We Silver Surfers, were told that it would be a two month work shop. I just added my name to the list thinking of having fun and my God what fun it turned out to be. Here we were, about twenty of us, all excited as ever, trying to learn how to act. All senior citizens, over 55. We were a mix of, black dyed, henna dyed, salt and pepper and silver haired beauties raring to take on the stage even at this age. We were an active bunch, ignoring our creaking bones, sometimes climbing up two or three flights of stairs, huffing and puffing our way up to @Atta Galata – a performance space in Bangalore.

Glimpses of our practice sessions

The workshops were initially conducted by the brilliant director Vivek Madan, who charmed all of us at the very first meeting. No absentees at for those first few sessions. One reason, I suppose due to Vivek’s charm and another due to the excitement of maybe getting to be on stage. Everyone was prepared to do better than their best!!! There were breathing exercises, bonding exercises and and a Hu Ha Ho session by Kavya Srinivasan, which was meant to help us to concentrate. Oh! The fun we had. The amount we laughed. It rejuvenated us all!

At that point, we weren’t sure all of us would get to act in the proposed play. We assumed only the best actors would actually get to be on stage. So it was a delightful surprise to know that we would all actually get to act. Prior to this, for fun, we started to woo UmaMadan, Vivek’s mother, to get us roles. The fun loving Vijaya Shenoy started wooing Uma with the following gimmicks.”I want to sit next to you Uma.” “Can I give you a lift Uma.” I remember Nandini saying, “Uma, I took delivery of a brand new car today. It is bigger than Usha’s Nano.” Oh goodness, we were in splits while vying with each other at Usha Varma’s place to sit next to Uma. Uma Madan was thoroughly embarrassed but I think she was secretly enjoying the fun and the attention!

After a month of the workshops, Vivek got too busy with other assignments and we were all sooo disappointed. I think we almost cried.

Anyway Kavya Srinivasan was roped in by Vivek to direct us. She is a bubbly youngster and was as delightful as they come. She brought in a lot of energy and fun into the workshops.

The date for the play was set for the 11^th of July and practice started in earnest. We took the workshops seriously now.

We assumed we would get a script and parts to act out-all tailor made we thought. But that was not to be. We had taken a collective decision to come out with ideas to enact with a message for senior citizens. It was a challenge really. But there was no choice. We were divided into three groups for the convenience of commuting to the workshops in Indiranagar.

So we put all our grey and silver haired heads together to come out with the stories. Three stories emerged finally from the three groups and Kavya made sense of them and came out with 3 brilliant scripts. We were free to add or subtract to the script. With the fluidity, the scripts kept changing and the final dialogues were totally different from the original. We would keep forgetting our cues and lines. But Kavya just said it doesn’t matter and to have fun. And in the end it didn’t matter really as long as we made sense and understood the gist of the play.

11^th July was a cloudy day. We didn’t have to worry too much about attendance since the attendees were mostly family and friends and we knew that they would come to see us perform, rain or shine. We were confident also because our families would surely overlook and forgive our mistakes. Still, in the green room we were a bunch of nerves before we went on stage.

Don’t we look like professionals on stage?

Finally, the show started, we gave it our best and we all sailed through. The laughter and the applause gave us a high. We shouted as loud as we could since the sound system was not loud enough. The play was a huge success. It had been worth our while after all. We had done it and HOWWWW? .WOW. All unprofessional actors, we had done it.

Thanks to the Silver Surfers’Club, Vivek and Kavya, our young volunteer Aaron, Shraddha, Dilpreet and of course our very own special Dipti for bringing out the best in us. Everyone was so brilliant and the team work was excellent. Cheers to more and more such events. And what better proof that we did well – Brigade Group inviting us for a repeat performance at The Sheraton. HIP HIP HOORAY!!!

The fun audience picking up our witty humour

Sharing here some reviews that really made our day!

“A well thought of initiative, which was brilliantly executed, highlighting various messages and deserves a definite repeat on a larger scale. Simple, funny and heartwarming to see performances by done by non professional actors.” – SHYAM MADHAVAN

“Our Pleasure Aunty. You did a fantastic job. Also it was good to see how people are finding new meaning in life….Very inspiring.” – MALINI PRAVEEN

“The plays were very good. They definitely send out a msg and it was very well portrayed…The topics were relevant yet presented in a light hearted manner which always leaves a very good impression.” – SIDHARTH MADHAVAN.

“Crisp, effective stories. Lovely performances and the perfect dose of humour and reality. Absolutely wonderful.” – ARCHANA SHYAM.

USHA RAMANATH

As written and contributed by Usha Ramanath. Author, Silver Surfer, Blog Contributor and now Actor.

 

Travel Tuesdays with the Silvers – World Heritage Sites

“The magnificent ruins dot an unearthly landscape that has captivated travellers for centuries. Heaps of giant boulders perch precariously over kilometres of undulating terrain, their rusty hues offset by jade-green palm groves, banana plantations and paddy fields. While it’s possible to see this World Heritage Site in a day or two, plan on lingering for a while.”

Our Silvers are going to be exploring this World Heritage Site in less than 10 days.

What is a World Heritage Site?

“A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area which is selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance, and is legally protected by international treaties. The sites are judged important to the collective interests of humanity.”

How does the UNESCO select a landmark? 

“To be selected, a World Heritage Site must be an already classified landmark, unique in some respect as a geographically and historically identifiable place having special cultural or physical significance (such as an ancient ruin or historical structure, building, city, complex, desert, forest, island, lake, monument, or mountain). It may signify a remarkable accomplishment of humanity, and serve as evidence of our intellectual history on the planet. The sites are intended for practical conservation for posterity, which otherwise would be subject to risk from human or animal trespassing, unmonitored/uncontrolled/unrestricted access, or threat from local administrative negligence. Sites are demarcated by UNESCO as protected zones. The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Program administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 UNESCO member states which are elected by the UN General Assembly.”

 

Fun Fact – As of July 2017, 1073 sites are listed: 832 cultural, 206 natural, and 35 mixed properties, in 167 states. The Table of World Heritage Sites by country, lists Italy as the home for the largest number of sites with 53, followed by China (52), Spain (46), France (43), Germany (42), India (36), Mexico (34) and United Kingdom and British Overseas Territories (31) .

We are 36 in India, 2 Exclusive + 1 Shared Site in Karnataka and we at the Silver Surfers are all raring to go. Our first on the list is – Group of Monuments at Hampi (Karnataka) – The Group of Monuments at Hampi comprise a sombre but ostentatious Hampi town, on the banks of the river Tungabhadra in Karnataka. Hampi subsumes the ruins of Vijayanagara, which was the former capital of the powerful Vijayanagara Empire. Dravidian temples and palaces abound in Hampi. These won the admiration of travellers between the 14th and 16th centuries. Hampi, as an important Hindu & Jain religious centre, has the Virupaksha Temple (different from Pattadakal’s Virupaksha Temple) and several other monuments, which are part of the cultural heritage site inscribed under the category (i), (iii) and (iv) in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

We have started striking off our list. When are you going to and with which place are you going to start? Comment below and let us know what you think we should explore next. And maybe even think of joining us.

World Heritage Sites in India

1

2

At 17 and hearing impaired she travelled alone as a Rotary Exchange Student to the US. Today as founder of Deaf Aid Society that celebrated 50 years of changing the lives of those partially or completely deaf, she battles Parkinsons. Meet our Super Senior this week – Aban Unvalla.

“Today’s society, across the globe — whether driven by genuine altruism or mere political correctness — has evolved less judgmental ways of referring to and dealing with fellow-humans who have one or other form of disability. Take, for instance, terms like ‘specially abled’ or ‘differently abled’.

But long before such terms came into vogue, and at a time when societal understanding or resources in these matters was nowhere like what it is today, a young Parsi girl envisioned a school for children who, like her, were fated to face life with perhaps the most cruel disability of all – that of being cut off from one’s fellow beings by an impregnable wall of silence.”

Presenting to you our Guest Silver for the week – Aban Unvalla, sister of our very own Silver Surfer – Yezdi Unvalla

Down Memory Lane –

“Aban Unvalla initially studied at the Little Flower Convent in (then) Madras from the time she was five-years-old. Aban was all of 17 when she went to the United States in 1960 as a Rotary Exchange Student with the help of the late Behramsha Sidhwa. She spent three years studying at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and a year at Gallaudet College in Washington and, on her return, worked with hearing-impaired
children at the Little Flower Convent.

Though she was qualified as a trained teacher for the deaf, the government
refused to recognize that a deaf person could teach another deaf person.
This was in spite of the fact that her school made a representation to the government that it is a unique understanding that deaf persons have amongst themselves.
It was during her American sojourn that a deep desire to open a school for
similarly disadvantaged children in Bangalore started to take shape in
Aban’s mind. Her parents, Dasturji Nadirshah and Manijeh, set the ball rolling and,
with the support of some like-minded friends, the Deaf Aid Society was established on September 12, 1967. In a notable endorsement of the moral force of the initiative, Bangalore’s very own classical violinist par excellence, Philomena Thumboo Chetty (whose daughter was hearing-impaired), was a founding member of the Society.
Help, either as donations of cash or teaching aids, was not long in com-
ing. Among the several who chipped in were Aban’s Pennsylvania school headmaster, John Nace, her American guardians Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Leech, a family friend of the Unvallas, Mrs. Cariappa, who offered the use of her house for the proposed school, and
an Australian lady, Pat Pengilley, who provided valuable pedagogic inputs.

Most crucially, the Little Flower Convent deputed one of its own trained staff, Sister Rachel, as the very first teacher. The school, which started functioning on June 5, 1967, passed another milestone when it was christened the Sheila Kothavala Institute for the
Deaf (SKID) after the late Mr. and Mrs. Zal Kothavala offered a plot of land for
the building.”

Cut to 2017,  a whole half-century later, and SKID – an affectionate acronym among alumni, parents and well-wishers alike – marked its Golden Jubilee, in September. At an early bird function organized by the old students on July 30 this year, and attended by former principals Margaret Joseph, Asha Dey and P.J. Christopher, and incumbent principal Jessy Samuel, the audience was treated to performances and presentations, which would have been the envy of many ‘normal’ participants!

Needless to say, the young girl whose vision started it all was the cynosure of
all eyes at the function. All of 75 today, and unfortunately beset with a Parkinson’s-related disorder since some months, Aban was ferried to the venue
by her close-knit and caring family –her brothers Adil and Yezdi, sister-in-
law Kamal and niece Kainaz.

It was a moment to savour as all those in attendance, her own contemporaries and the younger lot, gave her a standing ovation and milled around her.

The palpable sense of devotion and indebtedness was hardly surprising, considering that over the years virtually all the alumni have gone on to make successful careers for themselves in various occupations.

Indeed, one can say with conviction that Aban, who was the first hearing-disabled person to get a job in Canara Bank and earned her employer’s praise for her hard work and diligence throughout her long innings, was instrumental in opening the eyes of the banking sector to the intrinsic employability of others with a similar handicap.

Today, SKID’s journey has come full circle, as it were. In 2001, the school got its first hearing-impaired teacher, Srinivas M.N., who has a Master’s in History and Economics from Mysore University and a B.Ed from Lucknow University.

At her recent felicitation, old friends of Aban were visibly dismayed at having
to see her cope with another cruel twist of fate in her life. But they can, and
should, lift up their hearts and rejoice in the knowledge that their fellow-in-
disability planted a seed that has, over the course of half a century, blossomed
into a source of hope and opportunity for the hundreds of hearing-impaired
children who have passed through its portals.

And in the stillness of her spirit – untrammeled by the cruel caprices of nature, guarded over by the ruwans of her beloved parents, and safe in the all encompassing bosom of Ahura Mazda – Aban Unvalla will have found a way to smile along with them.”

As stated by the Jam-e-Jamshed.

Travel Tuesdays – Walking Tours with the Silvers

Who hasn’t connected walking tours with boredoms and yawns? We all have.

With the Interpretive Strategy, wherein you provoke the attention or curiosity of a tour participant – Walking Tours has evolved from the boring guided walks they were to quirky and fun adventures on foot. Oh and with Walking Tour Guides having left their drab voices at home and having had it replaced with fun and excitement, Walking Tours has a whole new face now. Whether you want the focus to be on history, art, food, or culture, there’s always a tour for you.

A Walk Down Memory Lane – With all of us living in a fast-paced world, we have to agree hands down that “There’s no better way to explore a new city than on foot, where you can take in the sights, sounds, scents, and scenery first-hand.”

Each one of our best walking tours hasn’t been the predictable landmarks around the city — instead, they have been neighbourhoods we chanced on and swore to come back, parks and alleys where our most fascinating stories spun a yarn to hidden and secretive discoveries that we couldn’t wait to share with the world to a food hopping tour which gave us a gastronomic high. “After all, to understand a city, you must walk the paths of its nonconformist residents.”

What we would love? – The world is “full of such discoveries and little-known trivia, all of which you can learn when you take a walking tour.” As avid pedestrians, we’d love to hear what your favourite walking tours in and around Bangalore are and we would love for you to share a part of what made your history. Who better to share history with than with a bunch of super Silvers.

 

Silver DIY for the Weekend – Suncatchers

We’ve all heard of dream catchers. With winter drawing near, it would just be sensible to catch a bit of the sun. Yes, I have been told that my jokes/ puns are not crafty but jump right in and tickle your crafty bone.

 

Our chosen DIY for the Weekend is a Suncatcher.

Age limit no bar – Silvers can do it with other Silvers, Grandparents can do it with Grandchildren, the permutations and combinations around the age limit are just limitless.

Material availability no bar – We have gone straight ahead and ensured that these items are available on Amazon.in (links have been provided) and we have even checked on the availability of the same in some of the stores in and around Bangalore.

Difficulty – Minimum, Number of Steps – 5

Safety – We ensure that all DIY’s are child and adult friendly alike.

Supplies – (With Amazon Links)

• Clear Glue
• Glass Gems –
  • Variant 1 – Mixed Color
  • Variant 2 – Aqua Blue Color
  • Variant 3 – Transparent
• Plastic Container Lids – In your kitchen.
• Ribbon, Yarn, Fishing Thread Line
• Optional – Drill
  • Variant 1 – Bosch
  • Variant 2 – Black and Decker

The How to Do and the What to do Question – We felt that our answers were best answered by Amy Sue and we had a wonderful variation coming not too behind in terms of difficulty but a little behind in terms of safety from Courtney.

Anything else – Let us know what you think and also show us your fun variations. You could even join our fun Silver Crafts Group to get together to do some fun crafts together. Also, if you have some fun and quirky crafts that you have tried and been successful or you would like to try with a fun set of people. Holler back!

Have a fun weekend, good people.

Marvellous Mondays with Bhanu

Presenting our Silver for the Week – Bhanu.

Down Memory Lane – “I’m a simple Bangalore hudugi who grew up studying in the city, then went away wherever marriage and life took me – to Bombay, Chennai and Calcutta, then Muscat, Bahrain and Al Khobar. Decades later, Ashok and I have returned to this city (Bangalore) to roost! What a livable, lovable city this was during my school and college days. Cool and verdant, sedate and gracious, there was a bit of Anglo India left yet in those early days of a post-Raj hangover.”

Careerwise, Bhanu is one of the “very lucky” to choose to do whatever she fancied, even changing professions on a whim! “With Ashok’s very successful career graph on an upwardly mobile track, I took whatever opportunity came my way at each city we were posted in. I initially taught kindergarten kids in Bombay (while settling in as a young bride and awaiting the first of our two girls). Years later in Calcutta, as a lecturer in home economics at the JD Birla Institute of Home Science” – Bhanu is an MSc Home Science Silver Medalist from Bangalore University.

“Thereafter followed a decade in the Gulf where I gave up academics to put my love for wordplay to creative use, as a copywriter in an advertising agency. Writing copy for sticky British and Arab clients was challenging but so worthwhile and fun!”

“Craftyness” runs in Bhanu’s blood – “I have craft itchy fingers that love to do anything creative and don’t mind getting my hands dirty even, literally. I’ve dabbled in mosaics, made large wall murals as well as smaller artefacts. I have been painting since my college days, and I still do – mostly acrylics on canvas and have participated in group shows and exhibitions in different cities over the years. A fair bit of crochet and knitting fills up those spare times and the latest interest I’ve revived is sewing – So thrilled to be making cutesy clothes for my little dollykins granddaughter!  Our 2 daughters are happily settled abroad and nothing gives us more joy than travelling to be with our 4 grandkids. Both Ashok and I simply love to travel (we’ve seen quite a bit of the world) and meet interesting people.”

“Reading and writing are my other hobbies I’m passionate about. I’ve been a prolific freelance feature and travel writer right through the decades, for magazines and newspapers both in India and the Gulf. But that short story eludes me yet! Give me a good book to curl up with and I’m in paper heaven! I meet up with my 10 avid bookaholic friends once a month to brainstorm over a mutually selected bestseller fiction title. Eclectic music tastes too, everything from Carnatic music to Bollywood to contemporary jazz.”

Bhanu is a trained Carnatic singer. She doesn’t sing anymore but she enjoys a good concert.  Her 15-minute claim to fame? Singing a popular Irish ditty solo to a crowd of cheering Irish drinkers at Murphys Pub near Limerick!

Being a member of the Inner Wheel Club and the Tangent club gives her the opportunity to give back to society through meaningful social work. And now as members of The Silver Surfers Club, “we’ve added a whole new dimension to enjoying life. What an amazing inspiring set of folks we’ve met, we are sure to have more than our share of both and look forward to some wholly enriching times!” 

Golden Words of Advice to the Millenials – “Do different things and do things differently” – that’s my mantra for getting the most out of my life and the time I’ve left in this beautiful world of ours! For today’s young – Fly high, go ahead, grab today’s wonderful opportunities and challenges and seize the day! But do stay grounded too, don’t lose sight of those traditional good old fashioned human values of compassion, altruism, empathy and caring.” 

She is Alzheimer’s!

She started by forgetting the little things in life, though she could recite what she learned several decades ago.

She went on to forgetting the routes to her favourite places, though she could clearly recollect the route from her house to her school.

We blamed it on old age cause we weren’t aware.

She greeted everyone with a broad smile and sometimes a grumpy face, when everything was normal with the world.

She was asked by everyone if she remembered them. She looked back blankly and said, of course quick-wittedly.

We blamed it on old age cause we weren’t aware.

She started forgetting how to go about her daily activities, never once giving up on her fight to live life.

She began asking our names several times every couple of minutes, just to engage in a healthy conversation.

We blamed it on old age cause we weren’t aware.

She tried her level best to stay active and engage in all the activities she could, even if it meant reading her Granddaughters comic books.

She could no longer speak as fluently and as fast as she could, but she held on to those dear lines lest she didn’t know what to say –

“See you soon.

God Bless you, my dear.

Cheers!”

We blamed it on old age cause we weren’t aware.

She could no longer recite all her favourite verses from the Bible, verses which she knew by heart and had taught two full generations the same.

She felt neglected and she was physically abused by the maid but she drowned in her confusion, not knowing if it had ever happened.

We didn’t blame it on old age anymore cause we were aware.

She is Alzheimer’s.

40 million people worldwide and a cure still eludes researchers.

To the victims of Alzheimer’s, who are unable to speak up for themselves and the caregivers of these patients who are too worn out to advocate for change – Join the Silver Surfers in continuing to celebrate age and help speak up for them.

Share this:

As part of my mission to strike things off my bucket list for the year 2017, I just had to make a pitstop to Beijing for a couple of days. Why Beijing? The Great Wall of China, of course. Travelling solo I have realized that I am drawn to groups with the elderly than with them young guns. Post this trip and the learnings which came along with it – I would urge every millennial to be daring and travel with the elderly. It’s going to be an eye-opener and an epic adventure.

WHY?

Here is my list of “The Top Things I learned on my Solo Travel about the Elderly” which reasons out why this definitely is a bucket list goal –

They are game for absolutely anything – You want a selfie with them. Their selfie face is A-game and reminds you they were present several decades before you even came into existence. Some even want to ride the toboggan with you from the Great Wall all the way to the bottom. Trust me, it’s one scary ride all the way to the bottom.

They tug on your heart strings – This was a photo I took of an elderly lady.

The young ladies around her seemed to have been super distracted taking pictures of their pretty faces and ensuring their pouts and eyebrow angles were on fleek. When I went up to them and asked them whether I could take a photo of the elderly lady. Their face was a mix of confusion and amusement and they went ahead and said, “Shi”. I went up to the elderly lady and showed her the photo I had taken and her face lit up. My heart was full.

Which brings me to my next point –

It’s the simple things which fill your memory box and not the big things – I trekked the Great Wall of China. It was on my bucket list for the longest time and it got crossed off. But what blew my mind away were the little things – The excitement on the gentle lady’s face, the fact that my trekking partner was a 65-year-old and she could walk down absolutely anything without fear. The fact that innumerous children brought their elderly parents to walk the Great Wall or even ride the Great Wall on their wheelchair. This made me want to salute their bravado. Trekking the wall was one helluva roller coaster for us, Millenials but trekking with wheelchairs and the elderly was just awe inspiring.

They know how to have fun – They can teach you a thing or two about life in general and also give you a run for your fun quotient if you allow them to show you yours. They have a wealth of knowledge to share with you and they most definitely don’t want you being a spoilt stuck up millennial who thinks no end of themselves. This, in turn, changes something in us. Travelling with the elderly exposes what doesn’t come forth in the comfortable routines of life.

They teach you things unknowingly – Being on planet earth for two scores more than you. They are bound to teach you a thing or two especially about patience and grace. Trekking alongside with a silver and with others who had silvers along, I realized that it was definitely a test of patience. Watching them walk up the stairs along the Great Wall with dignity and grace makes you want to grow old like them. They teach you to be flexible as they tell you about the fireballs they dodged in their life. They make you realize what an easy life we have now and how we can create whatever we set our minds to as long as we are dedicated.

IMHO, YOLO. Experience Life – ALL OF IT!

 

 

Share this:

Presenting our Silver for the Week – Khurshid.

Down Memory Lane –

Khurshid was born in Bangalore. Finished her schooling and college in Hyderabad and lived in Pune until marriage.

Khurshid starts by reminiscing, “School and College was great fun.” She quickly adds, “I was a good student. I took part in all forms of extracurricular activities. I was an NCC cadet in college and represented my college at the Republic Day Parade, New Delhi. This was indeed an exhilarating experience that I will never forget. It was tough and it made me a stronger person.”

Khurshid has the experience of many professions backing her, “I started working as a teacher right out of college, filling in for a friend who needed to take a year off for maternity.  With absolutely no teaching experience or degree, I was put in charge of teaching Class 8. Some of the students especially boys were much bigger in build and height than me. I had to dress in a Saree to look big. That was fun and a big joke, as I could hardly take care of it throughout the day. My stint with teaching continued for not that one year it was supposed to, but for the next three years.”

Her next stint came as a Dental Assistant, not being a person to back down from something new to learn and do. She went ahead and dived straight into her new job. “Unfortunately, it did not last for more than two months or so. The doctor was a dental surgeon, and it was then that I learnt that I could not stand the smell and sight of blood. I fainted twice on different times on a patient while assisting the doctor. That was the end for me as a dental assistant. Extremely embarrassed and sick at the stomach I quit.”

When Khurshid’s life took its first major turn – “It was then that I joined a tailoring school, which was a turning point in my life. I took to it like fish to water. Thus, began my passion for making clothes for babies and little girls. I learnt cooking, knitting, embroidery, smocking, patchwork, cross stitch, and toy making around the same time.”

Her passion for the art of making clothes continued even after marriage. “I have two beautiful daughters for whom I have made dresses, knitted and smocked, till they grew up and told me to stop making clothes for them. That’s when I started making dresses for others. I got a lot of orders. I opened a boutique with a friend which did very well for about five years. At that same time, I continued to make dresses on my own and having exhibitions not only in Bangalore but in Pune and Hyderabad, which again was a big success over the years.”

But that was not all, our ever vibrant Khurshid also ventured into the food business, “I sold grilled chicken under the brand name ‘Golden Delight’ through Indiana (a famous burger joint in Bangalore before the McD and KFC craze kicked in) on Brigade Road in the early 90’s. A great success it was till it lasted. I had to shut it down due to a serious back problem which had cropped up by this time. Then came an opening for me to work at Hotel Harsha as a PRO. It was a great learning experience and I enjoyed every moment of working at the hotel.”

When Khurshid’s life took its second major turn – A life-changing experience for Khurshid was losing her father to cancer. “Not able to come to terms with the loss I went for counselling. That was the turning point of my new career. After gaining enough self-control and going through the grieving cycle I decided to become a therapist. I joined a course and trained to become a clinical counsellor. Did further studies in Transactional Analysis and later joined hands with like-minded colleagues and opened Sparsh Foundation-our counselling and training center, which is functional at Charles Campbell Road, Cox Town since the year 2000.”

When hobbies turned to businesses – Khurshid had started writing short stories, something which she wanted to do from her college days and had kept at it just as a hobby. Writing continued after she lost her father. She joined a writers group, learnt a lot about writing here from other writers. “I made friends, and a few of us got together and formed our own women writers of Bangalore group called Inklinks. We have self-published three books of short stories so far; as a group, our books read by a small niche of people mainly known to the group members and their friends and families, have been appreciated and done well. Our books are even available on Amazon. Not too long after, came my love for beading by chance. I started making beaded jewellery. And this is the time that I came to know of The Silver Surfers Club, I took part in the ‘Under the Sky’ exhibition – This was indeed a wonderful experience.

Khurshid’s take on The Silver Surfers Club – I would love to be an active member of the club but due to health issues with my husband and myself, I am unable to take part in the activities organized by Dipti and the club. I hope to become more active and get to know the members, old and new. And of course, all the travelling to the wonderful and exciting places the Silver Surfers visit.

Golden Words of Advice to the Millenials – Khurshid is a Parsi Zoroastrian by birth. She has walked on this planet for 69 summers, accumulating experiences and lessons which has guided her on her onward journey, weaving her life’s lessons into a colourful tapestry of joyful and sometimes not so joyful moments. Khurshid doesn’t shy away from saying that she has gained a lot of experience doing different things over the years.

• Be Grateful – “Life has been good and I am very thankful for everything that the Almighty has bestowed on me over the years.”
• Multiply your interests and Never Stop Learning – My interests are many. Being in the prime of my life, my experiences, knowledge, and interests have multiplied over the years. I like to read and write. I write short-stories, articles, and occasionally poetry.  Music fills me with peace and harmony.
• Try to add value in all that you do – I am a Trained Professional Counselor/Psychotherapist and I am one of the Trustee founder members of a counselling centre run by me and my colleagues here in Bangalore, called Sparsh Foundation, Sparsh meaning, to touch, to connect.