Serendipity

I keep falling in love with the Pachelbel Canon over and over again. And as I do, I keep on writing about it - in an effort, to try and express, to the best of my meager abilities, how this piece of music continues to envelop and embrace my life through crests and troughs.  There's such an enchanting and ethereal quality to it; a sense of timelessness, of everlasting beauty. No wonder that artistes over generations and decades have continued to deliver such hauntingly beautiful renditions. 'Nostalgia', 'wistfulness', 'longing' are some of the words that come close to describing my emotions while listening to the canon. In a strange way, that only great music can, it even makes sadness less heavy and darkness less oppressive. This mesmerizing performance (a variation on the canon) by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is my current favorite. Have a listen. :)

You always remember the moment when you discovered a song. When the lyrics first spoke to you, or they spoke about you. It is the beginning of a kinship, an unspoken bond, a 'private emotion'. It is then you realize that you are no longer alone in your thoughts. Someone, somewhere has navigated through the same whirlpool of emotions, or has, at least, recognized the turbulence. And they have expressed it eloquently and it is in their expressions that one finds much-needed comfort and succour.  These songs have played a very important role at crucial junctures in my life. They have given me hope and strength. They have taught me that life is too precious to wallow in misery and self-pity, and consequently lose sight of the adventures that present itself at every turn, no matter how small. Journey - Don't Stop Believin'  "Just a small town girl Livin' in a lonely world She took the midnight train goin' anywhere Just a city boy Born and raised in south ...

I'm not a movie watcher. I'm a movie lover. I don't leave the cinematic moments behind in the darkness of an empty theater. I carry them out with me, safely ensconced in a secret nook of my heart. Films sustain me, they carry me through crests and troughs, through ebbs and tides, through laughter and tears. One such recent experience was watching 'The Hunt for the Wilderpeople'. To me, it is undoubtedly one of the most stunningly beautiful, uproariously funny and deeply moving films ever. If the sole purpose of cinema is to bring us joy, then it can't get any better than this little gem from Down Under. As a friend described it perfectly, it is the 'It's A Wonderful Life' of our times. High praise, but richly deserved. Rarely does a film bring so much happiness and positivity, it lifts up the spirits like none other. It helped me pick up the pieces after a personal trauma, it made me happy, hopeful, more willing to embrace life. So much so that wa...

C.S Lewis's movingly beautiful dedication of 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' to his god daughter... "My Dear Lucy, I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand a word you say but I shall still be, your affectionate Godfather, C. S. Lewis."

"Far away beyond the pine-woods," he answered, in a low, dreamy voice, "there is a little garden. There the grass grows long and deep, there are the great white stars of the hemlock flower, there the nightingale sings all night long. All night long he sings, and the cold crystal moon looks down, and the yew-tree spreads out its giant arms over the sleepers." Virginia's eyes grew dim with tears, and she hid her face in her hands. "You mean the Garden of Death," she whispered. "Yes, death. Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one's head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no to-morrow. To forget time, to forget life, to be at peace. You can help me. You can open for me the portals of death's house, for love is always with you, and love is stronger than death is."                           ...

When the goings on of this world get you down, things like these act as a beacon of hope I came across this moving video on a site called Open Culture (http://www.openculture.com/), which is a veritable goldmine of arts, literature, music, films etc. In today's times, when the internet has become this dark, dangerous place, leading to skepticism and mistrust; sites like Open Culture define what the internet should always be used for. http://www.openculture.com/2012/07/beethovens_ode_to_joy_flashmobbed.html Before I watched this, my previous experiences with flashmobs had led me to believe that they catered only to flashy dance performances, to the tune of the latest chartbusters. Another manifestation of the 'hip' / 'cool' aspect of the generation Y. I had never associated it with something much more substantial and meaningful, not something which had a lasting impact. Definitely not something that had the power to tug at your heartstrings. What sheer joy ...

So I discovered THIS today! Pure joy. Sheer bliss. Gratitude to the kindred spirits out there in the incredibly loving and warm Hiddles Family. Trust Tom to make even a simple word association game the most charming, humorous, disarming, spontaneous and fun discussion ever. And what captivated me was the chain of thought behind each answer; each word that he uttered was like a key to the portal of his beautiful mind. Starts with a cutesy intro. He's probably a bit taken aback to introduce himself. Poor guy, don't blame him. It surely has been years since he had to do that. 'Dangerous game' , 'Box of cats' - ahaa, his Loki is showing. It's so endearing to see Tom's love for the character he has so memorably brought to life. Q1: " Thor:- Hammer. Time. " I'm sorry I didn't understand that last reference. Could anyone please help me out here? Q2: " Odin:- Father. Complex. " Oh yes we get that...

How often do we see a movie star espouse philosophy to eager admirers? How often do we see a movie star espouse philosophy to eager admirers without the least display of condescension ? How often do we see a movie star impart life lessons with such passion? How often do we see a movie star impart life lessons because he truly cares for his admirers and wants them to follow their dreams? How often do we come across a delectable combination of Greek-god looks and incandescent brilliance? How often do we come across a movie star who actually rekindles your interest in academia? The answer to all the above lies in the indescribable magic that is Tom Hiddleston. Like the perfect romantic movie cliché goes, Tom Hiddleston makes me want to be the best person I can each day. Here he is explaining a French quote, something that inspires him ceaselessly. He never sounds pretentious as he talks, just someone who is immensely grateful to have been given an opportunity to sha...

Sometimes the search for one thing can lead you to another, which may turn out to be an even greater source of joy! I was searching for a particular music piece, the one which had accompanied the 'How I Met Your Mother' episode 'The Final Page'; where a breathtakingly beautiful background score had played as the sixteen steps of the final play, 'The Robin' were gradually revealed. It was such a singularly haunting tune and I couldn't get it out of my head. Immediately, I hit the treasure trove of the internet to discover and download this tune. Since it was an original, composed solely for the tv show, with no names mentioned in the show credits, it was a bit difficult to trace it. Opinions on the forums varied. I downloaded a few tunes, but none of them was the one that I was looking for.  Then I chanced upon this glorious composition. It seemed that most people had mistaken the show tune as a rendition of the famous Pachelbel's Canon. For me, ...

"Is anybody out there reading my blog?", this question has been on my mind for quite some time now. Though I write chiefly for my own pleasure and contentment, it does feel wonderful to have my words read by others, and maybe, appreciated as well! It serves as a great confidence booster, a big motivating factor, gives the urge to go on; it is indeed the greatest reward. Just today, when I have been happily receiving and answering new year wishes, messages from two dear friends touched the heart and brought a smile to my face - Please write more, they said. Whenever I check the 'Audience Stats' section of my blog, it shows me page-views from across the globe. Till date, I have had readers from India, USA, UK, Germany, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Ukraine, Finland, China, Indonesia, Spain, Romania, Belarus, Canada, Netherlands, Thailand, Russia, Malaysia, Poland and a few others I cannot recall. It is a surreal feeling to have my words reach places where I dream of ...

iGoogle was effectively the first platform for personalized themes and apps. Google sunset it on November 1st, 2013. One of the most interesting stuff I found on iGoogle were motivational posters. I had, in fact, downloaded the lot and saved for my collection. After many months I chanced upon them today. Sharing them here - evocative pictures, inspirational words!                                                                                                           ...

Disney's philosophies, which they espouse in their beautiful movies and in some heartwarming quotes, resonate deeply our everyday lives. All we need to do is believe and see; or see and believe, any which way. This is my humble attempt to look beyond the obvious, delve a bit deeper and try to discover those pearls of wisdom in my own way. "Everything the light touches is our kingdom" ~ The Lion King Bonjour Paris ~ Sunset on the Seine from atop the Eiffel Tower "Don’t just fly, soar."  ~ Dumbo Through the looking glass ~ At a Parisian shop window      "Home is the comfiest place to be" ~ Winnie the Pooh                           Home away from home ~ My home in Stockholm for 18 amazing months "Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart." ~ Winnie the Pooh    Pictures say a thousand words ~ Goodbye gift from my wonderful host family ...