NOTE: This is not my regular travel post. This post is for the ‘Cherished Blogfest’.
Life today is fast and hectic, no matter wherever we are. We want to do multiple things at the same time, earn more money, and achieve more fame and so on. Basically, there is no end to our greed. The more we have, the more we want, and we want more because we want more happiness.
However, if we slow down our life a little bit, we begin to find moments and things that give us true happiness – moments that we cherish, things that we hold dearly. Happiness is hidden somewhere inside us, not outside. Probably, we don’t really think of it at present because we are too busy in this weird fast life of ours, but these things that bring us happiness are lying around somewhere in our closet, our basement, our garage and most important of all – in deep crevices of our heart.
Timex Lextra Watch
The thing that I cherish the most is my Timex Lextra wrist watch. Well, when you look at it there is nothing special about it, but by now you must have known that it still holds a special place in my heart and in my life. I have always been a fan of Timex watches. I currently own and wear Timex E-Tide Compass wrist watch which is 15 times expensive than the Lextra model, but I am still emotionally attached to the simpler Lextra watch. There are many reasons for it holding such special place. Firstly, it is the first wrist watch of my life. The second reason is a bit longer, but I’m still sharing it.
To be honest, I was not really into academics and was just a below average student. Things went horribly wrong for me in 1994, when I failed the exams in the eighth grade. My parents were upset, especially my mother. I decided to change school. Now, I was in the midst of new friends and the same old syllabus that haunted me the past year. However, I studied really hard just to ensure that I get good grades and make my parents feel proud of me. Surprisingly, I topped my class. For a below average student like me this was a moment of a lifetime. For the entire year, I topped my class & every competition that I participated in.
Then one fine evening when I was strolling with my mother, now quite happy and content, I saw this Timex Lextra watch in the shop window. I come from a middle-class family, so my mother had to make certain adjustments to the monthly budget, but she did buy me the watch. I cherish it not just because it was among the first gifts that I had earned, but also because it was among the last gifts that my mother gifted me.
She passed away a year later in 1995. The watch not only reminds me of the bond that I shared with my mother, but also reminds me that there is no limit to what you can do, if only you put your mind to it.
65 comments
What a wonderful reminder of your mother and your scholastic achievements! 🙂 Thanks for co-hosting this interesting blogfest.
Thanks Debbie for reading the post. I thought it would be a great way to share one of my secrets and to introduce my mother somewhere in my posts.
Brilliant, Sharukh. I certainly understand why you cherish this watch. What a special gift.
Thanks Cheryl.
That story is really touching – I understand why you cherish this watch so much. And you are right – we all need to slow down sometimes.
Thanks for reading my post. People need to take a break from their busy schedule and technology at least once a year. I do that. It helps me to ponder on things I miss out.
Thanks for sharing this story Sharukh. I really enjoy your blog and your photos and having you as a friend, but now I think I understand something about you that is new to me. I have several objects from my father, one of which will be featured tomorrow. These links to our past family members are more special when they are links to specific moments that we can still feel.
So what did you understood new about me? Do let me know, I’m excited to find out what you discovered of me.
You’ve mentioned struggling in school and you’ve mentioned that your parents died early, but you never tied the events together in any way. I guess this helps me to better understand the relationship with and feelings you had for your mother.
I was indeed very close to her. When I failed, I saw her weeping in private and that scene moved me. I wanted to make her happy and proud. So I worked hard to get good grades. My ultimate aim was to bring back her smile, not to shatter academic records and be popular.
A much better motivation.
That is so true! We have it in our power to put effort towards anything, but we have to Choose to do so. I no longer call people talented because most people become skilled after years of effort and practice. Since most people use talented in the sense of ‘naturally gifted’ it can demean the effort they undertake to acquire those skills. I am sorry you lost your Mother so young and understand why this watch holds great meaning for you.
Thank you for co-hosting this Blogfest!
Thanks for reading the post.
What a wonderful cherished object to have! I was given my father’s watch when he died. It had stopped and I had to wind the time past his time of death when I reset it. I no longer have the watch. Thanks so much for evoking memories.
Thank you for reading my post. I love watches because I value my time, and of course of others too. After winning so many competitions and getting good grades, I wanted to look good and to complete that I needed a watch that adds value to my appearance when I go to school or any inter-school competitions or events. This one just caught my attention and I requested my mother to buy it for me and she did.
Some nice lines in your post and a cool cherished object.
Thank you. Well, I just wrote to my heart’s content and there’s a saying here in India. A heart can listen & connect to a heart anywhere in the world.
Sharukh, what a heart-warming memory “the Timex watch” that you have of your mother. I’ve also enjoyed your travel adventure photos and write-ups, and now know more about you. Admirable qualities, your perseverance to overcome obstacles and to be successful! The intent to bring your mother’s smile back! Thank you for co-hosting the blogfest! In my Cherished Blogfest post I included a Cheers to Our Host blurb! Keep slowing down your “time” to enjoy life and continue your adventures! Christine
Thanks Christine for all the kind words. Success was never really on my mind back then. My mother was working hard looking after the house, taking care of me, focusing on my education, earning income and much more. There was no holiday for her, I was 14, but I could see that. When I failed, I saw her year’s hard work going down the drain. She was sad, but she didn’t scolded me on not performing academically. She wept quietly at times which I noticed and that scene brought a sense of self-realization that I must bring back her smile. I didn’t knew how I could make her happy, so I thought let me work on my studies, get good grades, make her feel proud. When I broke the news that I topped in my class, I was more delighted to see that smile on her face than I was of getting good grades.
[…] The Cherished Blogfest is co-hosted by Damyanti Biswas, Dan Antion, Paul Ruddock, Peter Nena, and Sharukh Bamboat. […]
That watch is indeed a treasure, in so many ways! Things really have longer memories than people, all those emotions and situations absorbed into them so many years later.
Thanks for your kind words. Yes, material things alone do not give you happiness, but they are tightly knitted with certain situations, people, events that you cherish and then you hold on to that object which works like a time-travel ticket. Every time you see that thing, you just go back in time, relive those moments and come back.
[…] The Cherished Blogfest is co-hosted by Damyanti Biswas, Dan Antion, Paul Ruddock, Peter Nena, and Sharukh Bamboat. […]
That’s wonderful, man. I love that watch.
Thanks Peter. I love it too. Simple and elegant. That guard on the glass was something that was introduced for the first time, at least I saw such a design for the very first time.
What a beautiful tribute to your mother, Sharukh. She must have been so proud as she watched you work hard that year.
Yes, she was.
Ah, a touching story, a reminder of your mum and the achievements that you made, a cherished object most certainly. 🙂
Thank you for your kind comments and for participation. Yes, it was one of the memorable years of my life.
Thank you! I’m glad I took part it is a lovely idea, and a wonderful way to link up with other bloggers. 🙂
That’s a smart watch and the memories associated with it are precious. Thank you for sharing this with us. Of course, if you weren’t one of the hosts, we wouldn’t have met(vitually). So thank you for hosting this fest. I am glad it participated! 🙂
It was more of Damyanti’s and other’s concept. I am participating and co-hosting such thing for the first time. I am equally excited to meet and interact with so many new bloggers around the globe and from India.
Sharukh, it’s a beautiful post on the bond between you and your mother. The watch witnessed the emotions between you and your mothers. I love the honesty when you speak about being an average student and flunking 9th, me too flunked and was an average student..used to abhor Science. Glad to meet you during blogfest:)
That is an important watch. I still like to wear one on my wrist though most people just use their cell phones to check the time these days.
That’s a very touching item to cherish. I can understand why it means a lot to you.
Sweet post, and what a lovely memory of your mother. I love Timex watches also, and tend to collect them, oddly enough. I inherited my mother’s Seiko but it is too small a watch face for my taste. I keep it because it was hers and she liked it. I think slowing the pace of life improves health, both physical and psychological. Happy Cherished Blogfest! Cinda
Thank Cinda for the comments. I don’t know what connects me to Timex watches, but I usually go for it. I believe they are built to last in tough conditions.
[…] bloggers. I was happy to agree to co-hosting the project, along with Dan Antion, Peter Nena, and Sharukh Bamboat. The remit was to write a 500 word post about some cherished object or possession we each had. It […]
A lovely memory of your mother. I can understand why you cherish the watch. Thanks for sharing the memory with us, and for hosting Cherished Blogfest. Have a great weekend!
You too enjoy your weekend. Thank you for participating.
What a great gift! And well earned! 🙂 It’s clearly something you’ll have forever, and with such strong and important memories attached. A great tribute both to your mother and to yourself. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for participating. I am glad that you liked the post.
[…] creative, wonderful souls that you are. So thank you also to Dan Antion of No Facilities,Sharukh at India Destinations, Peter at Demigorgon’s Fiction and Paul from Echoes of the Pen. Congratulations on a job well […]
There once was a time when a watch was a symbol of life hurrying by. But now it tells us to slow down and take a more leisurely stride.
So true. We all are leading so hectic life that we don’t really realize that there is so much being left behind which is valuable to us.
This a lovely post. <3
Such an amazing story. I would cherish that watch just the same… Also, thank you for taking a look at my blog.
You’re welcome.
What a beautiful way to think about your mother. We all have so many memories and no doubt you have used yours very nicely. Thanks
Very inspiring message, Sharukh! That’s a neat watch! I have my first watch, too and fondly remember how my Mom had to save to buy it for me. Hugs!
What an uplifting post. I especially identify with it, because I was in a similar boat- lost a year in 1991 and had to repeat it with my juniors. Cluster headaches, stress, you name it, I had it. What saw me through was the incredible grit of my mom! So glad you have this as a memory of her as well as your achievement.
That’s such a bittersweet memory. I wish I had something like that! And absolutely I agree that whatever you put your mind to, you can succeed at!
Lovely story, Sharukh, and a powerful one, too. I’m glad your mom was able to buy you that watch; not just as a memento of herself but as a celebration of your academic achievements. In a way I suppose it might symbolize, too, that you redeemed yourself after disappointing your parents. You were able to give her, especially, the peace of knowing she’d raised a son who would achieve anything he wanted. That’s a beautiful gift to give a parent, too 🙂
Thanks for the visit over at Quiet Laughter , and for hosting this hop; it’s a marvelous idea, and I hope it becomes a regular thing 🙂
P.S. — I love your country, was there for a few months back in 2008, so I’ll be back to browse your travel posts often.
Thank you for commenting and for participating. I am glad that you liked the post. May I ask which part of India you visited back in 2008? Just curious.
The introduction was very thought provoking and really made me think about how I should spend my life. It was powerful and completely true, which was both scary and eye-opening. Then you started talking about your object along with how you got it. It was a great memory and it is obvious why the Timex Lextra wrist watch.
I am glad that you liked the way I started post. I had a self-realization about time when I go for a few days trip where I completely cut-off from the world. I only have my wife and my camera along. No smartphones, TVs, movies or anything like that. Time then is completely different.
This ‘more’ game is a vicious circle that traps even the wisest mind. Moms are the best.( they go that extra inch to get things) The time teller holds within it a ‘time’ from the past!
Certainly, moms are the best. Thank you for commenting and for participating.
Sharukh – thanks for sharing !
John
Many thanks for sharing something so close to you; this wasn’t just telling us about an object you cherish but something special about what makes you the person you are. A very personal ans illuminating post Sharukh…
Your friend, Paul…
Thanks Paul. No one really knew about this incident and what this watch means to me, so I thought let me share this on a larger scale.
Most parents want their children to make the most of themselves, but not all are successful. Your mother must have had that magical quality for you to have changed so completely for her.
I believe that magical thing is my love for her.
That is a sweet story attached to a cherished object. Thank you so for sharing it!
Thank you for commenting and for participating 🙂