Traditions

Traditions. We all have them. Some we like while some annoy us. Some that we religiously follow and some that we just want to get done wit. They are part of almost everyone's life. It's one of those human experiences that is hard to escape. Traditions are generally defined as experiences that are past on from one person to another. These usually have a religious and cultural connotation to them. These are not the kind of traditions I want to talk about though. No. What I want to talk about are traditions that are personal. That are usually platforms for discussing our present and threads to our past whether good or bad. Traditions that are not handed over but created by us and for us using the people and things around us.

Recently, I had another visit from my parents from India. This was the second time in 2 years. I think in hindsight its because of frequent visits of family, that maybe I don't feel that strong an urge to go back as soon as possible. I think I get the necessary recharge from time to time :). Since parents and cousins were all around we  decided to call the grandparents back in home. After each one had had their fill of conversation we kept the phone down and discussion was shifted somewhere else.

My mind though stayed back to my grandparents. Its no secret that my grandparent's town is one of my favorites. Countless summers lazing and playing around a certain place does tend to create a bond. Speaking of my grandparents, one thing about my grandparent needs mention for this discussion. My grandfather, who works around the house at an age well past 80 is probably the most hard working and no- nonsense people I have seen in my relatively short life. He has always been a shining example and inspiration for hard work and good work ethic. Though another thing that has struck with me through the years is the weekly card games my grandfather plays with his friends. Every Sunday, without fail, for the past 60 plus years the half dozen friends get together and play cards!!! This activity has outlasted all kinds of achievements in each of their lives. Jobs, marriage, children, grandkids and great grandkids. In case of some of the players the game has even outlasted their entire life. Now after 60 odd years, some of the players aren't even alive. But still the games continue, every Sunday, without fail. This is the sort of tradition I want to talk to about.

Its a funny thing with constants in life. Even though we change all the time, these constants remain the same. Traditions which I want to talk about fall under the same category. Though they never change, our perception of them changes over time. When I was young, I could not understand why my grandfather, who did not like wasting a single minute, used to spend so much time doing practically nothing. I grew up a little more then I reveled in the fact that atleast there is a lighter side to my grandfather. I grew up a little more and then I was in awe of this endeavor. For me to be able to do something continuously for so many years, come hail or rain was exemplary. It was amazing how these group of friends managed to keep their small tradition alive for so long. No matter how much their lives changed, they all came back to this constant once every week. Why come back though? That is something my then teenage mind could not answer. Was it habit? Was it lack of creativity to do something else? Was there some real sense behind it all?

Now as we kids in the family have all grown up and went our own way. As we have moved away from each other and our friends, our constants, I think I finally realize the sense behind the trivial exercise. I realize the drive behind keeping it going for more than half a century. Its probably not an intense love for card games ;). It probably is preservation of that constant, that is a recurring reminder of good times and a platform to share more of their lives with each other. A platform to share troubles and joys as these emotions enter and leave their lives all the while under the pretense of a silly game. A simple yet effective solution.

When I said these thoughts out loud I was told that it was probably easy for my grand father to do this. That since they all stayed not far away and even though they achieved success individually they were still within visiting distance that it was possible. I had to disagree though. Now, in this day and age with all the technology that we have to play with, I feel its even easier for us to implement these simple solutions in our lives. I don't think distance and time are adequate enough excuses for us. With every second in this rapidly changing world our excuse sounds lamer and lamer. We have more ways to implement such simple solutions that there ever was.

Its probably why my grandfather, even at an age of above 80 is never bored, but we are bored, sad, depressed at quarter that age. I think it would serve us well to cultivate such traditions too. Something trivial, something simple to keep us connected, to maintain our constants.