Of bygone days

Buying new books for the new school year,sitting together with Dad & Mom on a Sunday to cover the new books with crisp brown paper, sticking neat labels and using our best handwriting to write our names with a flourish
Writing with chalks on slate or occasionally on the Black Board when the teacher allowed us to do so
The proud work of art with crayons, colour pencils & sketch pens
Reading, collecting & exchanging story books and comics
The satisfaction of a doing homework and submitting to the teacher- on time
Scoring good marks in spelling tests and surprise tests – and the “very good” on our notebooks in red, not to forget the occasional “andaa” or the zero
Using the log book, and doing quick mental maths (can we do a simple addition without calculators now?)
Lunch break & water/ toilet break – and inspite of that – the oft repeated Miss, may I go to toilet?
Free period when the teacher is absent- and how we enjoyed that
Sitting in groups under the tree to share tiffin boxes
Playing Kho, Kabaddi, Book Cricket, Hide n Seek, Catch-Catch, 5- stones/ marbles or making castles in the sand
Frenzied preparation for the school annual day- songs, dance, drama and fancy dress sports
Elocution competitions and practicing hard for debate and recitation
The games period and the fun we had starting from ring- a ring of roses in primary class and going up to badminton and throw ball in the higher classes
Craft classes and SUPW
Rushing for window seats in the school bus
Punishments (kneel down/ stand up on the bench/ get out of the class) and impositions (I shall not talk in class/ I have not done my homework)
Playing with friends in the playground near home
Making notes and studying for exams
Writing exams and then waiting for the report card until the 1st fifteen days of the holidays
The assured long holidays and going to “Native Place”
Writing and receiving letters – eager wait for the postman
When TV had just 1 or 2 channels and we used to play carom/ ludo/ monopoly at home and not fight for the remote

Days bygone will never be back. Let’s tell this to our kids and ask them to slow down and enjoy life. Let’s switch off the TV and play with the kids instead. For like how I am writing this, one day they will reminisce about how their parents used to read to them or tell stories or play with them. Let’s live life to the fullest and enjoy every moment as it comes by.