All Grown Up

          If you happen to know me well enough, you'd probably know how I absolutely hate visiting temples. However, this was not always the case. As a kid I did in fact love visiting the temple. It wasn't for the tasty prasadam, it wasn't to pray to the deities (I had no clue who they were) and it certainly wasn't to hear the chanting of hymms (most of which i don't know or understand even today). I went there for myself, to see if I was "all grown up". My criteria - To see if I could ring the biggest and highest bell at the entrance of the temple.


           Yes, that was the prized catch. The highest bell, just hanging there, tall and proud, far above my little reach, mocking me like a perennial nemesis. Well, accept the challenge I did. Starting by stretching my arms out as far as they'd go, then jumping up and down like crazy, to finally running starts, I tried everything. Ultimately, tired and dejected, I'd head up to my dad who'd promptly lift me up and with the clang of that bell....Mission Accomplished!! The childish joy in me knew no bounds but also a resolve set in, to do so on my own one day.


          
          Well eventually (and inevitably), I was able to ring that bell on my own. At this point, the realization struck (little) me:"Well, I'm surely "all grown up" now", (You have to admit, in his little shoes, probably you'd think so too). However, an incident that occurred about an year back showed me how misconceived this notion was.


          Accompanying my cousins to the temple one day, I saw my little nephew trying to reach for that same bell the same way I did many years ago. Jumping like crazy, running starts, he tried everything. Tired and dejected, he looked for his dad (you'd probably guess why by now). But with his dad not in sight, his youngest "chachu" (me) decided to step in..:). Lifting that little brat high above the ground, I felt a strong sense of deja vu. Once again I thought,"Well NOW, I certainly am "All Grown Up" for sure".


        
  But such is the beauty of life, you can think you are "All Grown Up", but it has its ways of proving you wrong always. Twice, I've thought so, and twice been proven wrong. So until next time, remember, you ARE "All Grown Up". For now at least.....