I know lots of people have done things like this with still photography…but watching the video of this child’s development from zero-12 years in 2 mins 45 seconds really, really is fantastic.
This father had the foresight to document his daughter’s (and son’s -the link is available on the same page) development. We’re so lucky to live in a time that has so many resources for us to safeguard memories and preserve parts of ourselves. Living “forever” somewhere in cyber space is so scary in one way but at the same time so invaluable!
Life goes by quickly; 13.75 seconds per year, actually (yes, although I teach English, I think I have done the mathematics here correctly). So lets enjoy our seconds, whether we document them or not. Lets live, love, and laugh!
Everything is a struggle; everything is an obstacle to overcome; everything must be fought for, as there are so many more people vying for space, time, and attention.
You must be first.
You must undo your seatbealt and jump out of your seat and grab your bags from the overhead compartment, and race through to the exit door (which isn’t even open yet). To do what, I ask?
Wait. Wait. Wait. Impatiently. Wait. For your luggage to make its way through the slow conveyer belt. Wait. To line up to get out of the airport. Wait. To get out of the airport parking lot. Wait. To get on to the toll. Wait. Wait. Wait.
But it’s not really waiting is it? It’s more of a:
“I think I can go a centimeter more if I switch lanes now.”
“I think if I ignore all these people waiting in line and move to the teller, she’ll attend to me.”
Is that the worm everyone wants?
There is this rush of impatience in Asia; yet at the same time, there’s the most ingenious ability to be the most patient people.
The man said he would arrive at 5pm to fix your leaking ceiling. It’s now 9pm and he’s just showing up. We let it slide. He had so much to do. It’s OK. What’s three more inches of rain in your living room anyway?
Walking along the streets. People stop. They smile. They want to have a conversation. It’s not the standard,
“Hello; how are you?” and walk away question. They wait. Patiently. Wait. For you to stutter in broken Indonesian that you’re fine. They wait for you to ask them a question. They smile all the time. Truly interested. Truly trying to connect. Letting you know they have all the time in the world for you. There’s no worm to catch.
There’s just this ability to be completely polar opposite in Asia.
My parents, younger sister, and 8-month old niece are visiting. Every day my niece does something new. Every day she realises that there’s something else to discover. She’s taking baby steps to exploring the world. Along the way, I have learned a lot by watching her. (Please note, I do not have children of my own, so this has been really interesting for me. I have an 8-year old niece and a 3-year old nephew and spending time with Aryanshi right now, has really reiterated everything I thought when Riah and Ameya were babies).
So, in no particular order, here’s what I think babies know and what I’ve learned:
1. Babies know what is essential for survival: food, going to the toilet, and sleep! (probably in that order.)
2. Babies realise how special everything is. We forget so much; things become second nature. We don’t stop and reflect enough. The rainfall is magnificent. The blender making a noise and turning solids into slush is really amazing. Watching the following on YouTube: mesmerizing!
3. Babies know that smiling and laughing are as important as crying and throwing a tantrum.
4. Babies know that when someone loves them they are protected and can take risks.
5. Babies know that it’s the little things that go on to make a big difference: turning on your side; gearing up to crawl; crawling and then standing up; standing up and then walking; walking and then running. And then? No turning back. Just keep going!
6. Babies know not to give up. If you try again and again, you will eventually be able to clap your hands.
7. Babies know that it is easy to communicate with others. You need to let them know exactly what you want: “I need a change”; “I am hungry”; “You’re annoying me now”; “Really, lady, all I want to do is sleep now”.
8. Babies know that, although grown ups act really silly around them, they are actually OK. Grown ups should be sillier more often.
9. Babies know that you can focus for 30 whole minutes on “If you’re happy and you know it” and still not be bored. They also know that sometimes it’s OK to concentrate on “If you’re happy and you know it” for 30 seconds and then switch your attention to the fan for 1o seconds and then to the quacking duck for 2 seconds and then….short attention spans aren’t that bad. Babies know you learn by observing.
10. Babies know that laughing is infectious! Laugh. Laugh. Laugh.
Here’s what some other people had to say about babies:
Vincent Van Gogh
If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle.
Frank A. Clark
A baby is born with a need to be loved — and never outgrows it.
Carl Sandburg
A baby is God’s opinion that life should go on.
Louisa May Alcott
Father asked us, “What was God’s noblest work?” Anna said, “Men”, but I said “Babies”. Men are often bad, but babies never are.
Jakarta traffic is a mystery to me. I’m not quite sure what’s going on, or why traffic gets backed up. After being at a standstill for 20 minutes then slowly inching our way closer to our destination, there’s a breakthrough! The roads are clear. Traffic speeds forward. My question? What happened to the vehicles?
These are some photos from this afternoon:
It’s really easy to complain about the traffic because it is frustrating. A journey that should take 30 minutes can then take up to an hour and a half. However, living in a country that has the world’s fourth largest population (most of whom live on Java island), what else can we expect? The traffic must be some kind of statement on economic development, right?
If you’re not driving yourself, it is a great place to catch up on things. It’s a good place to reflect and sort out muddled ideas. It’s also a place where curiosity and inquiry abound.
Jabiz commented on a previous blog post of mine and stated, “We should do a series of posts about songs and memory. To keep us motivated. One a month….pinky swear? First one due January 31st.”
So here I am, trying to sift through the memories and the music to decide what I’ll write about.
I’ve thought about it, and it’s going to have to be ABBA and in particular, “Super Trouper.”
This takes me back to the early 80s when we lived in the UK and HK. It takes me back to a time when the music my parents listened to was cool. This takes me back to a time when my sisters, parents, and I danced together and sang at the top of our voices as the album played (on our ultra cool hifi turntable). There we were; the five of us, lost in our own worlds, but still together. My sisters and I would still get a little embarrassed when our parents shared a little too much love between them. We giggled when they danced with us. We had the best moves in the room. Yes. We would give Mick Jagger a run for his money! My sisters and I had a routine for all ABBA songs. We especially loved showing off our dance for “Super Trouper.” I bet all three of us still remember the moves. I know I do.
This group is etched in my mind. What are the names of the members of the group? I still couldn’t tell you off the top of my head; hence the link above. What I can tell you is their music influenced my childhood. Our New Year’s Eve parties (for a good part of the 80s) always included ABBA and their “Happy New Year” track.
As we counted down, we’d run to change the track and maybe wipe a cloth on the record as the record turned. Excited. The possibilities of the New Year were around us. With tinsel in our hair, with way cool sweaters on, and with a little fruit punch on New Year’s Eve, as ABBA played, my parents, sisters, our parents’ friends and our friends sang in the new year.
ABBA has filled my life with wonderful memories and so I say “Thank you for the Music.”
It’s India’s 63rd Republic Day on January 26th. Thailand’s first female prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, is the chief guest this year. For the last few years India has invited a dignitary from Asia to serve as chief guest, this is all part of India’s “Look East” philosophy of late.
So India gained independence on 15 August 1947, but celebrated it’s first year of being a republic on 26th January 1950.
I really like this clip on Indians. I’m not sure I can do the part of “more spice than food” but I do understand that and the rest of the sentiments on this clip.
Those are the words my mother had to say about her 40th wedding anniversary. “You know what, Shruti? I’ve been cooking for 41 years.” My dad’s response? “What do you mean, you’ve been cooking for 41 years? You haven’t done it by yourself; I’ve also been cooking for 41 years. We’ve done it together.”
My parents have known each other for 41 years and been married for 40 t0day: January 25th. That’s a really long time to be with someone. I think you grow dependent and add your own special recipes to surviving relationships; to learning different levels of love: from madly in love couples getting to know one another, to parents, to grandparents; through good times and bad; through hospitalization; through deaths and births. You learn more about one another.
From the youthful 22 and 27 my parents are now a lovely 62 and 67. They’ve cooked and fed; they’ve loved and been loved by not only their children but also friends, extended family, and now grandchildren.
I asked my dad today, “So did you buy mum rubies?” He then asks my mum, “Shruti wants to know if you bought me rubies for our anniversary.” I laugh. I know he heard me correctly. He comes back online, “No. She didn’t.”
Well it’s all about reciprocity for my parents. Everything is done in partnership : cooking, cleaning, and buying each other rubies.
That said, my mum does have some pretty, pretty diamond jewellery. I guess diamonds aren’t part of the reciprocity!
