The title, as you can very easily guess, is a play on the famous quote in Shakespeare's Macbeth. That source apart, what does a birthday mean when both your parents are no longer 'alive', except in your memory and in the photos hanging on the wall?
Yes, they are very much there. There is indeed a chamber in your brain wherein echoes their voice, both literally and figuratively. I suppose, in a way, this kind of orphaned feeling is more a call to be more responsible, both to your real self and the self they spent almost a lifetime crafting, sculpting you.
In other words, the day means yet again getting to examine your own self, getting to know the 'real', the genuine you, which should help reduce the dross in you. May be, that is why, in the Indian culture, we have the "niranjan" ritual. May be, even the candles on the birthday cake, too, suggest this lighting up from within that is yet necessary, still awaiting its full flash?
Vinaya and Seema, my cousins, who so lovingly and painstakingly paid perfect attention to the minutest detail to 'make my evening' indeed must have yet again met their 'atya', their aunt, too, in a way? May be, it is this subtle support, that continues to be there however busy life chooses to be, is what they, the parents, leave us with, the special phone calls by brothers, by much loved nephews, the wishes, the messages, the calls by more her nieces, her brother who as well are your cousins, your maternal uncle, your sense of gratitude to them for standing by you, this 'we are family' feel as the f(orget me not) minor(as distant from daily lived professional lives) makes one 'of mother, of parents born' a lovely song of existence!
Pratima @ The birthday is yet another go at self reflexivity!
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