I’ll be there for you…

It’s strange how one death can move you so much, can leave you with this sadness, this ache, that you feel the need to mourn them, to remember them, even write post about them. This then being someone you have never met in person, and it still feels like your own. Someone who you’ve only seen on the television, and still feel like they were your closest FRIEND.

Their passing has left this gaping hole, as if you’ve lost on of your own, someone dear to you.

They may have been a flawed and broken soul, with their own set of problems, with their own set of addictions. But despite this all you still embraced them cause their flaws made them human, their flaws made them relatable, their struggles and weaknesses made them human, maybe not like you and me. But in their acknowledgment of their struggles, their weaknesses, their brokenness, and their seeking out help, they became a someone more human and not a mere character, not a mere celebrity, a symbol of hope for those who felt lost and lonely, in this world.

Yes they will always be remembered for the laughter they brought us, their sarcasm, their wit, their funniness, their love ability. But something we will never forget how they helped us during the days we felt low, how they made us laugh when we felt depressed and wanted to cry, when we desperately needed a lighter moment in the drudgery around us, needed a pick me up when things didn’t always seemed to go our way, a warm blanket of happiness that we could go to when we ever needed a snuggle. That’s what the show meant to us, that’s what the character meant to us. 

There will be so many such moments that we could watch over and over again, still never get enough. There will be so many still so many memorable quotes that we will treasure with us forever. And though there maybe those who may not understand our addiction and devotion towards the show and it reruns, we will never care for those.

And still this is not what they would want us to remember them by. They would be wanted to be remembered as someone although broken and weak and with their own demons, but still someone who reached  out help to get them through, to rescue them, and then passed it on by helping others in need, people just like them, going through their own struggles, helping to fight their demons and helping them get over their addiction.

In the end, they would always want to be remembered and will forever be remembered as that friend who’ll be there for you, when the rains starts to pour.

Brunch... Lunch... and a Reunion of sorts

Is it still a Brunch if you turn up to the place at a time when you should be having your lunch (and your hungry self has already had a breakfast of eggs)??? Would it be lunch and high tea, LunTea (term coined by me which, from the looks, I am not quite good at)? But then I don’t think they serve tea, I am not sure if they even had Iced Tea (I think I did ask for it), unless it’s the Long Island kind.

To cut a long story short (was I even narrating one, I’ve only just begun), for all practical purposes we were there for a Brunch, so let’s call it what we there for, and that is Brunch. So Brunch it is (yipeeee, I seemed to have overused a single term)!

So the moment you enter, the view leaves you stunned. You practically have the entire Dubai skyline visible in front of your eyes (now how cool can that be). You can see the Burj Khalifa in the distance (is there any place in Dubai where you can’t see the Toothpick, barring my sister’s place, which technically is in Sharjah?). The ambience is to die for. You already picked out tons of spots where you want to click pics of yourself (obviously, always your first choice, me before the rest, talk about being narcissistic), and yes there will be great pics of others. So you go click happy (such a touristy thing to do, which also kinda ensures that people know you’re not a local). Was so happy clicking moments that my cousin tried to strike a deal that for every pic I clicked had to take a sip of the Shangrila (when even a sip of wine goes to your head, things can get quite quiet, its not funny).

Inspite of all the complaining, we all love to pose (oh come on now, you don’t have to be so modest), and so you capture memories with family and friends, leaving no stone unturned, and in this case, no family member unclicked (if that’s even a word). The food leaves you salivating, and you wonder if you just heard a bell ring, somewhere (a sidey attempt at ID humour). The beer is flowing, though it’s cranberry juice for you. 

Just as more people begin to appear (call it IST, or Indian Origin Standard Time, cause an Indian will be Indian no matter what, and where), the phone rings and it’s time for Prince Charming (for a change) to leave the Ball, oops I mean the Brunch (yikes did I just call myself that)!

You quickly say your farewell and quickly hop into a cab (courtesy of my sis) and off to a reunion of sorts you go.

Now the cab driver was quite a friendly driver, or should I say chatty driver, and me being me, was at my chatty self, a change from my loner, low self I was most of the time on the trip. But then you remember about the cautioning you have received, and you try to busy yourself to keep your pie hole shut (looks like I was hungry).

Reaching the destination safely, came the tricky part, finding where exactly your friends were. But thanks to Google Maps and

WhatsApp Live Location (no I am not trying to do a product placement), and a lot of effort to find my bearing (thanks to being directionally challenged) finally managed to find them. What followed was craziness, 20 years in the making, after all we were getting together after 20 years (duh).

So there was 20 years of catching up to do. There was a lot of reminiscing to do, loads of cringe worthy memories to bring up and relive, and bones to be picked, after all a lot of things can happen over a cup of coffee. So we behaved like we were not like the matured adults we thought we were. So there were pics with glares and then without glares, this angle and that angle. And if the pic wasn’t good then had to be taken again (posing for pics can be a pain in the neck).

In between came the discussion of Boyfriend or Husband Material (don’t ask me what they mean, cause I am trying to find that out myself), beside the reunion shifting from beach to beach. I am sure to have the title of most boring material. And yes also did give a salsa lesson (after all you just can’t your dancing feet still). 

It was good to catch with friends after all this while, though we missed all who couldn’t make it cause it’s difficult to get everyone in one place, and this was something quite impromptu (which are the best). Though tired and a bit stressed, after all there was a flight to catch, glad  to have made it, you never know when such a thing would be possible again.

Once again it was time to leave and rejoin the Brunch, which now had shifted to another location. Though you try to remain calm and not be on tenterhooks, you just can’t help yourself, it’s so in built in you. 

In the end had quite the hectic but satisfying last day of my Dubai diaries. Though was drained, but pretty happy, cause in the end you made memories that would last with you forever. More like saving the best for last!

The Zumba Master Class

When she called to tell me that she was finally having her solo Masterclass, I could sense the excitement in her voice, and I got infected by her excitement, after all that’s what friend do, they get excited too, for her, for the experience. However, when she told me she planned to have it in the complex’s clubhouse, became a bit skeptical. Not that I doubted her ability to conduct an event but I was concerned the issue of the people of the complex, the federation would cause.

Nonetheless, she was my bestie and I was 100 percent behind her, cause that was friends are for. At times tried to act as a devil’s advocate (figuratively and not literally), not to try and dissuade but to try and not let her get too ahead of herself (as I feared in my head). 

Met with her team and discussed the stage, discussed the capacity, the charges, met with the members of the federation to inform them about the event and get to understand the rules and charges. Once we had these sorted out it was time to bring in the registration.

I could see the anxiousness in her as the days went by. Days flew by but registrations were sluggish at the best, and I felt bad that I was doing nothing much to help ( I am really bad at sales). Nonetheless she didn’t want anything come dither her and she chugged on with the thought that she will give her best no matter who signs up.

So after numerous planning and choreographing with the team and her fellow Zins who would be with her taking the masterclass, overcoming setbacks and things that would throw someone’s mind for a spin, the day finally arrive. I knew my excitement and nerves were nothing compared to what was going through her head. But whatever was going through her head I knew she was excited and ready for this.

So after a quick prayers (as we macca pavs always do) with her family and Zins it was show time, time to put on a master class. The excitement was palpable as the ladies and few gentlemen and children were getting ready, clicking selfies. 

She informed me that her fellow Zin was doing a song which we had done and she wanted me to do it on the stage. Now my left feet syndrome took over me. Though I said yes, running through it I was several steps behind both of them. Even got me to think that it would be better I don’t come on stage.

When they started, I stood there observing her, a proud friend, seeing the crowds sweat it out, keeping up with the Zins on the stage. What’s stood out for me was my dearest and sweetest Anthony uncle so sportingly and free-spiritedly doing those steps, and my friend’s daughters keeping in step and very sweetly dancing.

And then it was my turn to go on stage, and made it through, literally stayed alive. Then you had the Zumba battle with the Zins leading their team in an interesting battle. Finally you had a cool down to the perfect song. And then it was time for clicking selfies and thank yous.

Tanya, buddy I am so proud of you and what you achieved and I know for sure you are going to go places. Keep at it and don’t let anything hold you back.