RAMs and ROMs: real events and divine contents

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Thu
2
Nov '06

rose

a story of rose appeared in my e-mailbox yesterday
content of which i share its pearly ray
to ponder on growing old vs growing up
life is what you choose, what and how you sup

first day of school, the professor challenged us
get to know someone, to quench our thirst
i stood up and looked around
a gentle hand upon my shoulder found

a wrinkled, little old lady beamed at me
her smile lighting up her entire being like shiny sea
hi handsome, my name is rose and i am 87 years old
can i give you a hug bold, you to behold

of course you may, and a giant squeeze rippled through my cartilage
why are you in college, at such young, innocent age?
i’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of kids, she joshed
i always dreamed of having a college education, now getting one, of course!

after class, to student union building we walked to share a milkshake
instant friends we became, everyday mesmerizing conversations make
a “time machine” she shared her wisdom, experience and friendship spread dear
rose became a campus icon over course of the year

she loved to dress up and reveled in attention bestowed by all
she was living it up and having a ball
at semester end, rose was invited to speak at our football banquet
as she stepped up to the podium, her 3×5 cues dropped which stirred a racquet

frustrated and embarassed, she apologized
i gave up beer for lent, oh this whiskey is killing me, my jitters dramatized
i’ll never get my speech in order, so
just let me tell you what i know, off the cuff i go
we do not stop playing because we are old
we grow old because we stop playing, she told

there are 4 secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success
you have to laugh and find humor everyday, in life to caress
you’ve got to have dreams, fill your life to the brim
cos’ when you lose your dreams, you die – she beamed
we have so many people walking around who are dead and don’t even know it
there is a huge difference between growing older and growing up, she lit

if you are 19 years old and lie in bed for 1 full year
and not do one productive thing, you’ll turn 20 years old, my dear
if i am 87 years old, just stay in bed and never do anything
a year later, 88 years old i ring

anybody can grow older, it doesn’t take talent or ability
the idea is to grow up and always find in change, opportunity
the elderly usually have no regrets for what they did
but rather for things they did not do, kid
for you see, the only people who fear death are those with regrets
concluding her speech, she sang “the rose” for us to place our life bets

at year’s end, rose finished the college degree she begun all those years ago
one week after graduation peacefully in her sleep, rose gave up her mojo
over 2000 college students attended her funeral
in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example
that it’s never too late to be all you can possibly be
that’s all you need to earn life degree

these words, in loving memory of rose, to live life optimal
growing older is mandatory; growing up is optional
we make a living by what we get
we make a life by what we give, you bet

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage
if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it, is the message

shahzad_rose8.jpg

bette midler sings:
some say love, it is a river
that drowns the tender reed
some say love, it is a razor
that leaves your soul to bleed
some say love, it is a hunger
an endless, aching need
i say love, it is a flower
and you, its only seed

it’s the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance
it’s the dream afraid of waking
that never takes the chance
it’s the one who won’t be taken
who cannot seem to give
and the soul, afraid of dying
that never learns to live

when the night has been too lonely
and the road has been too long
and you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong

just remember in the winter
far beneath the bitter snows
lies the seed that with the sun’s love
in the spring, becomes the rose

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