I had an occasion to attend a religious ceremony recently. It was more or less obligatory for me to attend, being the senior most elder from the father’s side, in a position to attend.
There were a number of things that happened there that needs to be recorded for posterity.
On the way to the venue, about 125 Kms away, I stopped for some coffee at a halfway food court. The place was unusually crowded due to three bus loads of school girls on a picnic who had stopped there for breakfast. Some of these girls were so solicitous seeing me walking with my crutches, that they decided to adopt me and mollycoddle me. I basked in all the attention and the consideration shown by this young girls.
When I entered the venue where the ceremony was being held, all the other invitees were already present. Almost all of them about or above my age. Here, the perception was different. I could feel completely different vibes. The vibes said, with a sighs, “But for the grace of God, there go I”.
I went and sat down next to another senior citizen, my cousin, not in the best of form, and engaged in some conversation with her, much to her delight and joy.
Then came the time for the elders to get up, go near the altar to bless the child and his parents, and I saw some remarkably unfit senior citizens, not being able to walk unaided, but who were not using crutches or canes or walkers.
I went “But for the grace of God go I.”
We are funny.
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