Among the crap, here is a good thing !!!!

At times some good things do happen. I tried to figure out a way to write something funny about it here and am still not able to find one. Let's come to the point here. I want to write something here and that's it !!!!! Read on !!!!!!

Yesterday, the 1st of May, there was this Housewarming ceremony I had to attend. It is called 'Grahapravesam' in Tamil and in English it's called 'Housewarming'. I doubt the correctness of the translation but I am absolutely clueless as to why the event has been named this way (why do not I write some crap about it ?). Could it be because everything under the sun is piping hot (40 plus is the temperature here !!!)

Let me cut to the point here. The new home belongs to our dear Peter Annan and it was real glad to see his family step into the new home. The new home is situated very close to the beach in the outskirts of Pondicherry (right on the ECR - more about the home later !!!)

For me, the day began at 6.30 am. Me and my friend Prabu were supposed to reach the new home before 7.30 am (which we never did manage and which is absolutely acceptable under the circumstances - am taking pains to explain this as none should get an hint that we are lazy !!!). We reached the place with a 'Gift' for annan & akka.

A very interesting custom in TamilNadu is to boil Milk as the first ever thing to be cooked / heated / boiled (whatever) in a new home. Not only in a new home but people who shift from a rented home to a new rented home too follow this custom (as to why this is still followed - let me come up with a new post). Friends and relatives would be invited to take part in this ceremony and after the milk boils over, will be distributed to all of them.

7.30 am was the time fixed for this to happen. The delay was because of a number of factors which were not under our control. Anyway, proceedings beagn. Pastor Noel prayed and blessed the home and the milk (after it came to a boil of course), was distributed to all. A few prayers were said and then it was breakfast time. The mason his helpers etc. etc all were given breakfast and we followed suit. At about 10 am we came back to town and got a few things ready which were needed for the evening (That evening was the actual function - All friends, relatives, friends of friends, neighbours etc were invited).

It was almost 12 noon and me and Prabu headed home. It was here that I committed a blunder. I had not had an haircut in the last 3.5 months as I had planned to grow it long(he he !!). Do not know what came over me yesterday, I decided to go for an haircut. I did. What followed was a disaster. I instructed the barber to use the cutting machine (I wanted it done fast and he did as instructed). The only thing I did not know (which the barber very well knew) was that clipper setting was at it highest (means it will take out a lotta hair and your scalp will be visible - tis' as good as getting your head shaven). The first swipe was above the left sideburn - what an hearbreak it was for me - the entire hair was gone and that part looked like a dressed broiler !!!! Cursing the machine, me and the guy, I asked him to use scissors, which he did. Alas, enough damage had been done already and after a few minutes, the left side was more uglier.

He then suggested that he would use the machine again to make my head look like it had been shaved off 2 weeks earlier - translates into - my head will appear shaven but it ain't - there would be a 2 week hair growth left. What could I probably do in such a situation ? This would go down as one the worst screwup barbaric barber job as I was supposed to get onstage and play music in the evening. The new bald look arrived after the barber huffed and puffed for a few mins and he was pleased with the way I was looking (all his jealousy (hair looking great) that would have flowed through his veins when he had seen me walk into the salon had evaporated by now). The worst part was, I had to pay him. Did that and walked out not with a heavy heart but wondering why this happened. Let me stop this barber ka story here lest you will never read about all the good thigs that continued to happen.

I came back home and heard the usual 'awww!'s and 'che's. I put up a show that I was cool with the new look and etc., and then headed for annan's place. We had lunch at his home (delicious chicken gray - tamilnadu style) and then Prabu headed out to get the PA and the DG guys ready. Meanwhile, I headed out on a different way to buy some stuff and then from there went to the new home straight.

Before I could reach there, all things were in place. The PA setup had been completed and Halogen lamps to light up the stage, the crowd and the home were at their right places - tied onto the coconut trees. There was this lovely looking Mapex Pro M drumkit on stage. Wow! it sure looks captivating and it was pleasure just to play for a few mins on that kit. Did I ever mention that it belongs to Prabu ? Well, it does and he is glad. There were this amazing Zildjain cymbals too. Prabu then finished up tuning the kit and it was ready. I, meanwhile setup the bass guitar and when all the issues with the power had been sorted out (the DG was behaving funny - we had electricity flowing in the Neutral, Power n Earth lines) it was showtime !!!!

The honour of inagurating a bathroom in the new home belonged to me and Prabu. We took a shower and were ready. It was 6 pm. The pastor from our church landed on time (that happens rarely) and so did a few. We began at 6 pm and after our pastor prayed it was time for some singing. It was good to see the crowd enjoy the music. We too, slowly got into the groove and from the 2nd song it was too good. We wanted to play more but after 4 songs it was time for the message. Pastor Noel shared the Word of God and then the new home was dedicated and blessed by Rev.Immanuel Bagawandoss.

It was 7 pm now and food arrived. Meanwhile, we were itching to get on stage to begin jamming up. The last time we had done so, was a few years ago (we all parted ways because our work places were different and then we never jammed together again till yesterday). We then decided that we will do so once the program ends. Naveen had brought his harmonica set and his new Mandolin (hope I got the spelling right) to add to the variety. It was about 15 mins past 7 and with the vote of thanks, the customary dinner began. It was at this time that we got on stage and we jammed n jammed for close to about 2 hrs (The 'Playin it till the fingers bled' thing doesn't happen for people who listen to DT and stuff). What a nice time it was to jam up with old friends. Lived and loved every moment of it.

After strutting our stuff, it was dinner time. We were looking forward to jammin' up after dinner too. Sadly, Pastor Noel had an appointment at Madurai the next day and had to leave. Naveen too had to leave as he had to see off Pastor. With a heavy heart, we started packing up and when we finished it was about 11 pm. We then prayed and then left for our places.

Looking back, I can very well say that I had one of the best days in my life. Hard to forget all the fun we had and the jam which we enjoyed to the core. At the same time I realise that these are moments which will not repeat, else their charm is lost.

Signing off with an undying hope that similar moments repeat themselves in the future !!!!