PLAYING THE "GLAD GAME"

"The -- game?"
"Yes; the 'just being glad' game."
"Whatever in the world are you talkin' about?"
"Why, it's a game. Father told it to me, and it's lovely," rejoined Pollyanna. "We've played it always, ever since I was a little, little girl. I told the Ladies' Aid, and they played it -- some of them."
"What is it? I ain't much on games, though."
Pollyanna laughed again, but she sighed, too; and in the gathering twilight her face looked thin and wistful."Why, we began it on some crutches that came in a missionary barrel."
"Crutches!"
"Yes. You see I'd wanted a doll, and father had written them so; but when the barrel came the lady wrote that there hadn't any dolls come in, but the little crutches had. So she sent 'em along as they might come in handy for some child, sometime. And that's when we began it."
"Well, I must say I can't see any game about that, about that," declared Nancy, almost irritably.
"Oh, yes; the game was to just find something about everything to be glad about -- no matter what 'twas," rejoined Pollyanna, earnestly. "And we began right then -- on the crutches."
"Well, goodness me! I can't see anythin' ter be glad about -- gettin' a pair of crutches when you wanted a doll!"
Pollyanna clapped her hands."There is -- there is," she crowed. "But I couldn't see it, either, Nancy, at first," she added, with quick honesty. "Father had to tell it to me."
"Well, then, suppose you tell me," almost snapped Nancy.
"Goosey! Why, just be glad because you don't - need -- 'em!" exulted Pollyanna, triumphantly. "You see it's just as easy -- when you know how!"
- Pollyanna, Eleanor H. Porter

This the essence of little Pollyanna's "glad game". Find something to be glad about in everything. And according to Pollyanna, the harder it is to find something to be glad about, the more fun it is to play. So play along, keep li'l Pollyanna alive... when you're feeling low, be glad that at least you haven't hit rock bottom, and if you have, be glad you can't go any lower! :)
And for those of you who haven't read Pollyanna, be glad that you still can! :)
Cheers! Smile.... Play the GLAD GAME... Spread the Magic!

Silence...

She stands there still. It's been hours, days, months, years...eternity... Just her. Alone. Not alone. Her...and the silence. The unbearable, impenetrable silence. She calls out. At first just a hesitant whisper...and then a little louder. Loud... but not enough to shatter the silence. Her questions hang heavy in the air...unanswered. "Speak to me... give me an answer....", she cries, "Are you even listening?" No response. Again the silence. She asks again...yelling now... but the silence yells back... louder. Emptiness...darkness and silence. Deafening silence broken only by her anguished sobs.
Silence... sobs... silence... emptiness... silence... darkness... silence... She covers her ears. She falls to the floor. And the silence is quiet once more.

Smells...

What is it about smells??? Different smells that mean different things... they can transport you to another place, another time...

There are good smells and not-so-good smells... good smells arent always the ones that actually smell pretty, nor are the not-so-good ones always the ones that smell bad. They are the ones associated with the good things and the bad things in your life.

Now good smells for me could be anything... theres this distinct smell at all airports... i love that smell...its associated with happy times, holidays, family time, meeting people, having fun...all of that.
Then there's this empty bottle of the moisturizer my best friend uses that i have... it smells like her... it's one of the nicest smells in the world. It's funny how, when i miss her, closing my eyes n taking a whiff off the bottle makes me feel better, like she's around. That's also probably why there was a time when i used the same brand of shampoo and soap as she did just coz it smelled like her. :)
Another crazy smell i love is this smell of a certain detergent which for some reason smells like "London". It's the same smell in everything that's from London. I love London, have happy memories of the place and happy times with my family there. It's a lovely smell. :)
The smell of the fresh, crisp, night air... that's beautiful anyway, but more so coz it reminds me of the long walks on my college campus late at night, the freedom, the conversations, the songs, the guitar, the midnight Maggi sessions... Those happy moments... :)
And then, the smell of rain...wet earth...all of that... they don't need a reason to be good smells.

Then again, there are the "not-so-nice" smells... the ones that bring back unpleasant memories or just make you sad. Lucky for me, I can't recall a single one right now. :)

AND I MISS YOU...

I stand on the cliff and watch the sun set
I remember this was where we first met
The sky changes colour, such sunsets are rare
I feel the beauty, and I see you there…
I see you watching like you always do
And I miss you…

I walk on the beach, my feet sink in the sand
I remember the times when we walked hand in hand
The moonlight on the waves, the spray in the air
I feel the ocean, and I see you there…
I see you walking along the shore
And I miss you…some more…

I dance in the rain, in the beautiful weather
I remember the times when we danced together
The fragrance of wet earth spreads through the air
I feel the falling raindrops, and I see you there…
I see you dancing alone in the rain
And I miss you…again…

I look up at the sky and see the stars shine
I remember the feel of your hand in mine
I see the stars sparkle, I know you still care
I feel your presence, I see you there…
I see you look up, I see you smile
And I miss you…all the while…

I stand at the window and watch the snow fall
I remember us out there, I remember it all
The snowflakes make patterns, I stand and stare
I feel the crisp winter, and I see you there…
I see you outside enjoying the chill
And I miss you…still…

The tears now fall softly, I miss you so much
I remember your face, I remember your touch
My heart aches for you, I feel you somewhere
I feel so lonely, yet I know you’re there…
I cannot forget you, I know I will never
And I will miss you…forever…

THE TARNISHED SILVER CHEST

There it stood in the corner
Holding treasures from the past
I couldn’t seem to recall
When it was opened last
My gaze fell on it this morning
The now tarnished silver chest
Where memories of the years gone by
Were carefully put to rest
I sat down beside my treasure chest
That was now layered with dust
I fumbled with the stubborn lock
That had long begun to rust
It finally broke open
The dust blew in my face
I undid the long forgotten latch
And my pulse began to race
What would I find inside?
After so many years
Would it bring back to me again
Those smiles and those tears?
There lay my precious diary
That from you I’d always hide
I’d laugh to see you wonder
What secrets it held inside
I now wish I had told you
Id wish I’d let you see,
For pressed between the pages lay
The flowers you’d given me
And the little notes we passed in class
When we sat side by side
And the smiley face you’d drawn for me
Once when I had cried
It held my deepest secrets
I’d treasured them like gold
Secrets that I now wish
I hadn’t left untold
An old pile of letters
Dated some years ago
They held promises to keep in touch
In strokes of indigo
Those years seem like forever now
The ink’s begun to fade
Just like all those dim memories
And promises you made
There were bundles of cards
All tied with a string
More precious than a diamond
That pretty paper ring
My gaze fell on a picture
In a pretty silver frame
I wonder if I saw you now
Would I still feel the same?
I sat still and quiet
With a smile on my face
Lost in happy memories
Of a different time and place
Then finally, now satisfied
I put those things away
Safe in my chest of memories
Where forever they will stay