Closed bridges and open umbrellas...

Something funny happened today - something that made me smile a lot, and then ponder a bit...

I closed my umbrella as I approached the bridge on Kanjurmarg station, glanced on the platform to see which train was scheduled, and then started climbing the steps; when I saw something that made me smile - a guy on the bridge was walking with his umbrella still open - in the hurry to reach the platform and catch a train, he had forgotten to close his umbrella - didn't realize that the bridge was covered and he no longer needed to shield himself from the rain anymore. Quite commonplace. Have seen it happen quite often, and sometimes even have climbed halfway through a bridge before being aware, smiling goofily and closing my umbrella. :-)

Don't you think our prejudices, judgements and preconceived notions are a lot like these open umbrellas? There might have been times when we needed them and their protective shield; but after some time, we eventually come under safe bridges, where we no longer need the shield of these "prejudiced" umbrellas.
But we are unaware, and continue to keep them open. Perhaps, we often need to pause, think and decide whether it's time to close these self-created umbrellas, make ourselves free and move on...

After all, it's ridiculous to be seen under a closed bridge with an open umbrella, isn't it? :-)

Larger than life

In memory of the victims @the Denver carnage. I am not even attempting to write anything about that, because I simply cannot think of anything to say, except perhaps express horror and pray for strength and peace to the people affected. Anything more will be needless and superfluous.

Watched the Dark Knight Rises yesterday and the 160-odd minutes were full of awe-struck hero-ism. I won't review the movie (better people have done it), but just wanted to write down to stem the flow of thoughts flooding my head.

Is it just me or is there really something insanely addictive about super hero-ism? There is something about a "larger than life" hero that appeals, hell, there's something about a "larger than life" villian that appeals more! (Can't not talk of the Joker)

Mostly, IMO, reel life mimics real life...but many times it's just the opposite. Especially when it comes to complex and supremely "difficult-to-get-into-the-pysche-of" characters, one can't help but marvel and salute the creators and the actors. And almost all the villians of super hero movies fall into this category (The J obv takes the cake)

What appeals most to me about these super hero flicks are the grey characters. No one is perfect; the characters are a result of the circumstances they have faced, and the way they have reacted to them. The heroes themselves, (ok, it does become a bit predictable), stray away from the path, wander about with the wrong people, realise that they still have a choice, and go all the way out to come back on the right path; almost always setting a few other people on the correct path too...

Everyone of these characters has a past, a story where life dealt them blows, was unfair and unjust. Yet, there's always a choice.
They have a choice - to turn a darker shade of grey or to try and find the right path...

No matter what your situation in life is, you always, always have a choice.
Amen.