October 13, 2024

Life’s satisfaction, strictly speaking refers to an individual’s overall feelings about his or her life. Keeping that aside, I am here to narrate a few instances whereby I have felt a sense of satisfaction/continue feeling that satisfaction of ‘simple pleasures’ in my life’s journey.

Catching the point of a joke narrated in a language that I barely understand; Being told, ‘I checked it and you were right’; Opening the dictionary/telephone directory to the exact page on my first try; Witnessing my overall luggage is within the permissible limits at the airport’s ‘check-in counter’; Opening the outer and inner pockets of the newly bought blazers/suits that were sewn shut; Remembering a shot played while batting and the wicket taking ball in cricket; Reminiscing the goals I scored in football and hockey; Overtaking another athlete in a running race - have all brought forth joy, contentment, satisfaction and nostalgia.

I have a few more here for you to have a read. For your own stories of satisfactions in life which may be interesting than mine, you can use the Comment section below, that follows the end of this piece of writing.

Discovering currency notes in clothing:

Putting on some clothing I haven’t worn for a while and finding money in its pockets is something I would remember for long.

In the days of yore, I forgot to have the currency notes taken out many a time, that I had placed in my predominantly trouser pockets. Discovering it much later, often when wearing the same clothes again – getting hold of that money was a matter of great satisfaction, regardless of the amount.

Here is a tale of double satisfaction.

During one of my trips to India, I had handed over an envelope of substantial cash to a mother, a stranger, being a witness that she could not afford the amount the Dentist had quoted to set her daughter’s teeth right, while I was being treated at the same Clinic. I was carrying the cash envelope to one of my spouse’s relative. I caught up with the duo, when we departed the Clinic almost simultaneously, had instantly placed the envelope in her hand to assist with her daughter’s dental treatment. After more than a decade, the girl visited the Dental Clinic, had returned the money to pass it on to me as she was ignorant of my identity. To add to the mystery, the Dentist too was puzzled. Meanwhile, whenever in town, I had started to see another Dentist for my dental issues. However, during one of my trips, I had taken my mum to get a dental checkup done with my former Dentist and this is when the Dentist informed me saying: ‘I have an envelope for you.’ Flashing a lukewarm smile, he said it took a bit of time to figure out who it was? I was shell-shocked to see the money as I had written it off then and there itself and did not expect it back in the wildest of my dreams.

It was my last day in town and I had to catch a flight late afternoon. I had changed after a bath putting all the soiled clothes in a huge plastic cover, tucking it into the front wide-zipped pocket of my big suitcase. Fast forward, in about a year’s time, I was flying to see mum again. I was getting my pieces of luggage ready, when I noticed a small bulge at the front of the big suitcase. Those were my soiled clothes that should have gone straight into the washing machine, but were missed being taken out. As if that was not enough, I was in for a total shock when I discovered the cash envelope in my jeans while I was emptying its pockets – the very feeling of that envelope, realising its contents, was out of the world. It was the need of the hour and was sooooo satisfying to say the least.

So much for my forgetfulness!

The traffic lights and the parking space:

Having a red light turn green as you approach it and having a car vacate a parking space just ahead of you, have set my eye balls rolling and my eyes glowing.

I have had a delayed start from home or it could be I was running on time but an accident/road repair on my way put me behind. I need to hurry to reach my destination on time. During those instances, as I approach the traffic signal lights, when it turns green, the satisfaction of passing it is enormous.

Each of us who own a vehicle would know finding a parking space is not easy. Perhaps, it has been my good fortune or the angels smile on me at the right moment from the heavens – whenever I have approached a parking lot wondering if there were any empty spaces, my gaze has fallen on that one spot or I would see a vehicle vacating the parking space right in front of me or see an automobile with those reverse lights on. It cannot get more satisfying than this!

At times when I have been driving in excess of the speed limit, apprehensive that I might have passed a mobile speed camera; driving at night and the speed camera having flashed and just hoping it was not my car it flashed at – keeping an eye on the mail (post) in the days following and noticing there weren’t any infringement notices, has also been satisfying. Similarly, I hear the siren of a traffic police patrol car behind me with flashing lights, my heart skips a beat only to be relieved to see it going in another direction!

The (unfinished) examination dream:

As a student, examinations to most of us are a nightmare. So much so, we are all relieved they are finished irrespective of whether we had a good run or they were a bit rough. The very fact it was all over and done with, was a liberation in itself.

Basking in those carefree days of the holidays, the next thing was waiting for the results that were a few weeks away. But, in the immediate days that followed, I would get a dream that I had overlooked a couple of exams which were still pending. In a panic mode, with tension brimming, not having enough time for preparation, appearing for the exams and barely managing it was very disheartening. If at all I knew it beforehand?

Once I woke up, to my utmost relief would realise it was a long-bad-dream after all. Hurray! In reality, the exams were behind me and being a studious hardworking individual, obviously I had done well. The satisfaction of making out that it was merely a dream cannot be put in words. These dreams most of the time have been after my final exams, during my student days.

Sleep has been my greatest hobby and it comes No. 1 in my ‘any list.’ I can take a nap anywhere, anytime, anyhow. Being woken up at nights, reaching my cell phone to have a glance to ascertain the time, finding that there are still few more hours of sleep left before I get up – is something I relish. Likewise, waking up at the usual time in the morning and after a couple of seconds dawning on me that it’s a public holiday/weekend, thus there’s no need to get up and going back to an extended sleep.

Remembering John B Monteiro:

Uncle John left this earth to his heavenly abode on July 16, 2024 just a day shy of his 86th birthday. Knowing and interacting with him has left me with many fond memories.

At the outset, he was my dad’s friend. He was indebted to my dad for helping him out with his property issues when he moved to Mangaluru from Mumbai to spend his retired life. So much so, he paid tribute to my dad by penning an Article titled ‘Town Planner of Mangalore’ in the columns of ‘Daijiworld Weekly,’ soon after dad’s passing.

When Uncle John was a bit younger, he and his wife Aunty Lynette would pay a visit to our house in Kadri when I had come down, to meet me and greet my mum. After his better-half passed away in August 2017, whenever in town, I took the initiative of paying him a visit to his residence in Bondel, where we used to talk over lunch sitting across the dining table on the first floor and later continue the discussion reclining in the patio. He, having a deep base of law and I, with a legal background - our interactions were endless, our knowledge shared was enormous and our talks with regards to our writings were enriching. He used to commend my style of writing, saying it was unique and a pleasure to read.

When I visited, instead of taking any personal gifts to Uncle John, made it a point to donate a few box toys which I carried from Australia to his ‘toy library’ that was close to his heart. During my follow-up visits, say in a year or so, he never missed in narrating the story of that toy I had donated. To visualise the smile on those kids who couldn’t afford to buy such expensive toys, hoping to live a normal childhood and I indirectly contributing to it, gave me a lot of satisfaction.

May Uncle John’s soul Rest in Peace and may his tribe increase!

Renowned author and laughter guru
Who loved life and lived it to the full
A multi-talented enthusiastic personality
Hardly, he spent a day that was dull.

Having run a good race till the end
It is for us now, his legacy to defend.