Human
enthusiasm often fades away as one climbs up the ladder of age. Often
enthusiasm is associated with kids, infact the famous metaphor that
says “child like enthusiasm” is clear indication it's often at a
tender age that we find loads of enthusiasm. But for every rule,
there are exceptions.
My paternal
uncle is around 78 years old, he is the father of two highly
succesful sons and grandfather to two beautiful grand children, he
has had a wondeful life and is a quiet and reserved person. I am one
of the few people to whom he interacts quite a lot. We had some
lengthy and healthy discussions over various topics and I have had
the opportunity to help him out in various projects for his
grandchildren. He is a man who still enjoys his drink, is more
interested in following cricket and tennis, mind you despite all
this, he is a very spiritual and philosphical person.
Even today, he
hosts parties at his house and spiritual gatherings too.
There is always
an aura of enthusiasm around him and even at this age, his attention
for detail and his eye for perfectness has not faded away.
"Back
of every creation, supporting it like an arch, is faith. Enthusiasm
is nothing: it comes and goes. But if one believes, then miracles
occur.”
-Henry
Miller
My uncle's
grandson stays in the US, as part of a school assignment, the school
mailed to my uncle a fictitious character named “flat stanley”
and my uncle had to mail back flat stanley with souveneirs, post
cards, some interesting information about the city, the lifestyle of
the city. To carry out this project, he sought my help.
The task
involved in making 3 posters, the first one depicting the visit to my
uncle's native town Hampapur, the second one depicting flat stanley's
visit to a factory in Bangalore and finally flat stanley's visit to a
family function. We had to prepare three posters with pictures and
appropriate written inforomation needed to convey the details. While
carrying out this task, my uncle was so very particular about the
pictures that went into it. He also stressed on the postioning of the
pictures, the right words to be used, the position of the text. In
short, for him everything had to be right. I was unable to tell
whether this perfection was for his love towards his grandson or his
natural eye of perfection. Whichever it was, the excellence brought
out by the perfection was in a class of it's own.
The whole
project a lot of time and even by the end of it, he was still
enthusiastic and up for more.
I hope
this enthusiasm stays with my uncle forever!
