Life Experience

Experience is nothing but the ability to know, how to act upon a certain situation by drawing from the collective knowledge of the actions and consequences of similar past actions.

Today while going for a brisk walk for a couple of miles, I came across an elderly gentlemen, powered by my enthusiasm to remain fit and by a Shakira number, I was literally jumping on the pavement. This sprightly gait of mine startled him and he stopped in his step. I quickly pulled out the white wires out of my ears and I promptly apologised to the gentleman for scaring him. He just gave me a kind smile and told me that nothing scares him anymore. He told me that he was 93 and I complemented him on keeping so fit. After wishing Happy Thanksgiving we parted and I continued with my pace but sans the ear plugs to blow my ear drums ajar.
I started thinking that this gentleman must have experienced so many things in person, had seen both the World wars, the mass production of automobiles, the industrialization, the Great depression, Birth of computers, Beginning of space program and what not.
It seems to me that basics of human life have not changed, men still fight over women, they still love to dominate over others, they want to increase their territory. Just that means of proving ones supremacy have changed.
I guess it would have been good, if we could draw upon the rich experience of elderly folks to reduce the chaos in our lives and bring more happiness in it.But, it seems that it is not happening anytime soon, as it is fashionable to write them off, as past generation. Well, till that date, we will keep on reinventing the wheel out of our sheer arrogance and ignorance and keep on paying the price dearly with the quality of life.

Careening...

Careening... a fancy word used onlye by people who speak English english... I always wanted to use this word but, somehow was never sure of what it exactly meant, so I used simpler substitutes like swerving or the more in-lingo skidding.
But, today I learnt its true meaning, and that too letter by letter... Yes, Sir (or Ma'am) ... You heard me right... I really learnt the meaning of Careening today.
Now why is it so important that I am wasting my time(n yours) about a single word. Well, have some patience and it will be rewarded. It so happened that today around noon time, I decided to visit the temple and instead of taking the mundane traffic light infested route I decided to venture onto the free flowing highway and utilise the Taxpayers money and save sometime. I am not a greenhorn at diriving neither I am a rash driver. But, a light drizzle couple of hours ago and some loose rubble did the trick. On the serpentine intersection that connects 2 Highways, my corolla gave way and suddenly started changing directions on its own. I instantaneously released the breaks and applied my mind to steer it on the road.
Thankfully, I was able to bring it to a complete halt on the shoulder of the highway ramp. The first thought that crossed my mind was that I had managed a flat tire. But, the quick health check-up revealed that nothing was wrong. The change of tires half an year ago ruled out the grip being bad on road. Anyway, I managed to wipe of the cold sweat on my brow and managed to reach the temple safely. I thanked my stars that I did not hit something. But, I surely remembered to check the tire pressure on my way back.
Takeaway - Frugal machines like mine are not meant to be thrown around in corners. They are not beasts who should be explored leisurely, but timid creatures which provide decent transportation. So, the NFS(Need For Speed) streak should remain confined to PS2 and the mundane existence should not be tested against nature or machine.