Today when the cardiac rehabilitation escort came to drop me back home after the therapy, there were other two ladies already seated in the car to be dropped to their destination. Making myself comfortable in the back seat with them, I wished them a Happy Mother's Day as it was Friday, the 11 May, and Sunday the 13 May was to be mother’s day. Everyone was wishing each other with the same greetings and adding the same note  “have a nice weekend too.”

“Wish you a very happy mother’s day to you.” said the youngest of the two, adjacent to me in the back seat giving me a beautiful flower from the bouquet she was holding. I felt good and with a golden smile of sunshine turned to her-”Thanks so very much, and I reciprocate my best wishes to you young ladeies and to all the mother’s of the world.

“Thanks so much.” Their voiced mingled and jingled.

 “May in know your name?” I addressed the lady who offered me the flower.

“Gloria, she said and my friend Evalin..”

“Gloria, thanks for making my day fragrant with wishes. It is my birthday today.”

“Oh so nice, wish you a very very happy birthday to you Dear….!”

“Devi…”

“Happy birthday Devi, may god bless you.”-said Gloria

“Thanks so much, I was just thinking that God cannot be everywhere, so he has a mother for every child. Today I feel God wanted me to cherish this joy so he send  two angels, to present me the fragrant flower. Thanks once again.” I looked at both of them and smiled.

“By the way how do you celebrate this Mother's Day and spend your time?” I was curious to know.

“Oh it is on 13th, which is a Sunday. My daughter will call me tomorrow and ask me - “Mom what are you doing tomorrow?”

“Me, nothing much but nourish my flower garden as summer is aproaching-I will pretend that I know no reason of her call” and she carried  a naughty smile on her lips.

I appreciated her grace of taking things in a practical child like way as she continued - “she will tell me to be ready at 12:30, and shall definateley add “ we both will go out for lunch Mom.” She said with a naughty smile as she looked at me with raised eyes beneath the pretty cap she was wearing.
Turning to Me Gloria continued-

“She will present me with flowers and some gifts, hug me, kiss me and that's it.”

“Do you also give her flowers….”

“Oh no, her children will do that for her…!”

“I'm her mother, she is her children's Mother.’

A thought crossed my mind. How simple calculated relation do the Americans have, no complication, no calculation. They live, they enjoy life as they grow. They think they have One Life to Live, the retired life specially after 60 and do enjoy and share the spirits with many friends, going on cruises, outings, shopping with senior citizen groups of their age, and old related people of family and friend and the ones they worked with for years together. They spend lavishly on themselves by going to parlours, shopping,  dining, drinking and recreating themselves.

Unlike that, the Indians have a different mentality. They save for children by being thrifty to themselves. Now I remember the words of an escort who was 55 years old. One day driving me towards the Holy Name Hospital, she had said-’ this is the time, we take good care of ourselves eat good, enjoy smile and dance.”

And again me being 75, thought ‘how true is that practical mode of life.’ They get retirement, medical assistance every month. They spend the finances in that month and get a new check next month that keeps them surviving without any tension, without any liability.

That's a good piece of practical advice to be taken on this Mother's Day. This was a new resolution for me, by me. Hope to keep it up to live the opportunity given to me - Only one life to live.  Amen.