The Okay People

Always count your blessings, and when you count them do not forget to count your family. I have realized this in the twenty five years I have spent in this world in all the growing up with three simply complicated people I know of, personalities just poles apart and yet there is one common denominator that binds the four of us.  Love and understanding are some underrated terms if I use them here. Until today I have not understood what makes us bear and care for each other so much, because disasters like quakes and tsunamis are a common scene in the house. It kind of keeps us going. And right now being away from home I miss them and more pretty much. Funny but true!

This may sound philosophical,a fact nevertheless, a family grows like a tree with branches facing different directions, and yet they stay together sharing the same water and light. No matter where we are. No matter what we do. No matter what is happening in our life. No matter if we are sad or happy.  If there is one thing which keeps us rooted to life it is our family. And if we were asked to pick just one person amongst them or just one moment that we spent with them, I guess that shall not be enough justice.

I realized this when I found this photo frame in the attic while cleaning the house few days ago. It is calmly but oddly sitting on my bookshelf right now. And not very surprisingly I still am figuring out which photograph to put in, the problem is not the lack but the choice.  A family gives us enough moments. Some in photographs, some in gifts, some in talks, some in fights and some by just being there.

I shall tell you my first and the best. I was equally hesitant and curious when the brother was born. I had rocked his cradle for almost the whole day with all the lullabies the mother used to sing to me, so my folks tell. I was three years old then. Our story began on that day, and has continued. The mother always told me that he is my ‘only’ brother and with him I shall share “Is it okay?” and this she wouldn’t mind saying even now. The father like most fathers has always been the kind who would get toffees and chocolates without any tummy or toothache issues. He would hand it over in my hand and say” Is it okay?” and he wouldn't mind doing this even now. I have always been the sister who has shared her stuff with the brother, even the birthday chocolates and Christmas goodies given in school were opened only at home.  Back then I used to give half of anything that I owned to him and say “Is it okay?” and I wouldn’t mind doing this even now. We have made this ‘Half-Half’ pact for life. I told you, we are weird people.

The brother is not any far behind, with all the news about the quake and tsunami hitting the coasts today, guess what he did. For unknown reasons he is not one of those phone people, but today he called me soon after the news was on air only to ask “Is it okay?” just because I live in one of the coastal cities, and more  because he cares. It made me smile, now tell me how do I capture this moment? I cannot click a picture of it, neither can I explain it. But the feeling was priceless. I have had many such moments, I am sure you would have to :-)

The best moments of life with your family, well according to me are not in any photographs, are not in any gifts, and are not in any hours that you spend together. They are in what you have in your heart and what you feel for each other. They are when your dear ones are somewhere around and make you believe now and then that  "It is really okay”.

"If you don't have the support and love and caring and concern that you get from a family, you don't have much at all."

-Professor Morrie in Mitch Albom's 'tuesdays with Morrie'-

PS: This post is for my Okay People. I love you. You make me and my life.

-R.

This entry is a part of the contest at BlogAdda.com in association with imlee.com