THOSE SEVENTY PLUS FOLKS!!!!

As my mother sat in front of the mirror and started preparing to go somewhere, I asked her curiously - where she was off to. It was an unusual time for her to go out ( in the afternoon). "Oh..its my friend"s birthday, today. She is throwing us a party in a restaurant. So, I am off for lunch". With that, she continued putting her kajal and lipstick, before heading off for the rest of the afternoon, leaving me with my eyebrows raised.

Another day, I caught her in the same situation, at the same unusual hour. "Another birthday party?" I asked her.
"No, today we are going for an event. Its a visit to an old-age home, where we are contributing something each, collectively". She replied, a glint in her eyes. I was like...oh yea, sure...

Next time, I was left literally shocked when, I caught her packing her bags. "Now, what's up?' I questioned her. And she excitedly replied to that, albeit a bit casually too, "Oh we friends have planned a trip. We are going to Majuli, and we shall be back in a couple of days."
"But", I began, "what about tickets and all?"
"Oh don't worry about that. Everything has been planned and booked in advance. We simply have to land there. If we have time, we may go few other places too. I'll show you the pictures, once back". Saying that, she continued packing and re-checked her list, if she had left out anything.

I was left gaping, of course. These sudden burst of activity was surely a new thing happening in the house, each passing day. I was glad, but at the same time, quite overwhelmed too. My mother was catching up with her school buddies, and how. Mind you, they are the 70+ folks and they are not connecting though facebook, if you thought that, as many others do these days. They are connecting the old method - going each other's houses, and yea, perhaps little bit of technology too like the phone. But nonetheless, its a very exciting phase in all of these women's lives. All grandmothers now!

Was it always like this? Not at all. In fact, my mother hadn't met any of her school mates for decades, even after her retirement. She had no social life as such. A working woman, all her life was spent going to and fro her office, and bringing her two daughters up. She did go once or twice to her sister's place, but, that was it. Even almost half a decade after her retirement, nothing had changed, except that, she spent more and more time alone in the house.

Then one day, she decided to go to the nearest 'naam-ghar', where the neighbourhood women assembled once a week, to sing bhajans etc. Thats where, she actually started her 2nd beginings in the social sphere . Once she started attending this weekly affair, she started making friends with the other women folk. And thats also where, she bumped into a school friend. And like they say - the rest is history. That chance meeting led her to catch up with her other school buddies, and they all bonded. And how, may I add! Everyone exvhanged numbers. They started meeting in each other's birthdays, having fun ~ threw parties, exchanged gifts. They added more and more events in their schedules - like day-time picnics to nearby places, gathering and contributing to social causes etc, and even adding outstation trips in the itinerary. So, my mother got super busy within the last 3-4 years. In all of these, they never used any medium like facebook, instagram etc. They've been all old-school-methods.

And these interactions are so much more genuine. They all care about one another, visit each other in times of need, without a spectre of envy in each other's mind as it'd have been in the current generation ( nothing like the bitchiness of kitty-parties too ). These friendships are like a breath of fresh air. And if you think, they behave like a bunch of oldies - you are so wrong! Although, they don't use technology as such to remain updated, they are all quite modern in their thoughts and stylish too. You should see how they prepare themselves while going out. I had caught a glimpse once while seeing them off for a particular journey. Like my mother, many of them are widows now, but they don't believe in wearing dull colours ( as people would normally expect them to wear ). More colourful and bright, the better for them. And, I love this attitude.

In their old age, some of them have even departed forever ( onwards to their heavely abode ), but has it halted or dampened the spirits of the rest in any way? No way! They want to enjoy every remaining days of their lives without any negativity, or fear. They infact want to celebrate more parties, more picnics and more outings together. And I hope, they never call it a day.

Big cheers to these 70 plus folks! Their tribe are surely an insipration to the rest of us.