I am the sort of person who takes life very seriously sometimes to my own detriment. I have, accordingly, accepted my age and the associated aches, pains and botherations for granted. Soon after my mother passed away I had this overwhelming feeling that my utility on earth was over and that I should also prepare myself for the passage to eternity.
However, God had other plans and I was stuck at a Super Speciality Hospital undergoing surgeries after surgeries for dear life while all the time scratching my brains as to why at all was I surviving all this menace.
Once you take yourself for granted you cannot look beyond. Perhaps God wants you to do that exactly. I mean look beyond. How does he tell you? He sends signals, messengers and moments of revelations that just happen to get you an alternate perspective.
Well, God did not exactly tell me to go watch Netflix but my epiphanic moments came through these two 2025 movies :
Nonnas
Based on Italian-American restaurateur, Joe Scaravella’s life, this movie is about how the protagonist puts everything at stake to open a restaurant on Staten Island, New York , serving home made meals by real nonnas or grandmothers as chefs who bring their family culinary heirlooms/native cuisines to the table to provide a soulful experience to the customers. The Italian restaurant, Enoteca Maria, named after Joe’s beloved mother, has grandmothers from all over the world as chefs on rotation.
The Thursday Murder Club
Elizabeth Best, a retired spy (?), Ron Ritchie, a former trade unionist, Ibrahim Arif, a retired psychiatrist and Joyce Meadowcroft, an ex-nurse are pensioners living in a luxurious retirement village called Cooper’s Chase, near the imaginary seaside village of Fairhaven in Kent. They also form the Thursday Murder Club solving cold cases over tea and biscuits. Investigating the death of Angela Hughes whose boyfriend and sole witness to her supposed suicide, Peter Mercer, goes missing, the Club suspects foul play. While still on the case, they land up being mixed up with the actual murder of a property developer, named Tony Currence, who is the co-owner/investor of Cooper’s Chase. Murder after murder follows till the oldies get to catch the real culprits with the help of the very sharp female Constable, Donna De Freitas.
“Age is just a number” we mumble often to soothe a croaking compatriot. However, the actual import of the saying dawned on me while watching the nonnas cook up delicious meals and the pensioners getting into the vortex of very messy business. If they can why can’t I?
Now, now that doesn’t mean I am venturing into a blood curdling murder cracking spree or donning the MasterChef’s cap. I am a temperamental cook who can miraculously manage to dish out barely edible items. Yeah! I do have a snoopy nose and am good at putting two and two together but I’ll keep that to myself.
What I intend to say is life has got immense possibilities. Being past your prime does not mean you cannot experiment with yourself. But hey! Don’t forget to be judicious. Know your limits. Know your core competencies as well. And put to good use your faculties in amalgamation of both.
Rest is what is destined to be.
I am sure, dear Geeta, that there is a reason for everything in our lives, and the best is to be just grateful for every day that we have. The horrible news of the shooting in the USA made me think how lucky we are not to have guns.
Joanna
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It’s a terrible thing to have happened
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Yes, Geeta, and the worst thing is, it will happen again.
Joanna
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Why do you think so?
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Because, Geeta, the law to carry guns will never change, as it is in their constitution, and it is fiercely defended by all.
Joanna
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Yes, that is what I was thinking. The weapon was legally procured. It’s like allowing to sell tobacco and then saying it causes cancer.
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Absolutely, Geeta, you have phrased your thoughts perfectly!
Joanna
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I was wondering why there are so many incidents of mass shooting in the US. What is the root cause?
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Guns in mentally impaired people hands, Geeta, as anyone can buy them.
Joanna
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Hmm…sad. What makes them think that way God only knows. Killing innocent lives is no solution.
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We don’t know how the human brain works in full, and dealing with mental illness is difficult.
Joanna
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A beautiful post with positive thoughts, and an apt warning…Once you take yourself for granted you cannot look beyond.
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Thank you Kaushalji for the lovely comment.
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My pleasure, Geeta ji🙏
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Nice post!
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Thank you so much Indrajit.
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I have heard about “The Thursday Murder Club” series. It’s in my to do list. My screen time is more than I would like it to be. Hence I try to find time to read more than watching.
I am glad you are keeping yourself busy in the best possible way.
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It’s not a series. It’s a movie. Yes, I keep myself busy.
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Oh I mean the book series.
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Yes, there is a series of books.
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As I always say, I take inspiration both from your creative and personal life! Keep sharing, Ma’am
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I am humbled. I don’t know whether I deserve to be your inspiration. You are an inspiration by yourself 😊
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Interesting read Geeta, although I have to admit ive never seen the two movies mentioned but will look in to them.
It happens to all of us, we get on in our day to day routine, get up, tend to parents, kids or pets if we have any. We got to work, where hopefully we get job satisfaction and have a laugh n a joke with our colleagues, telling them of our highs and lows whilst listening to theirs and somewhere inbetween, appreciating how much better off we are in our lives. Being grateful for who we have and what.
As you rightly said, we take things for granted, esp people.
Then it comes, ” The Wake Up Call “. And for a short while the foundations beneath our feet are shaken, everything moves out if place, nothing, no one seems to matter, its almost as though you have shifted to an alternative reality where you are in the middle and all around you time has stood still.
I felt such an experience only once in my life . . . .so far . . . . .that was when my brother passed away, a while ago now, ten years to be precise. I felt as though the whole world had ended, I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t think, I just didnt know what to do or how life would be. Then I looked across at my mother sitting quietly, taking it all in whilst looking at my young children. It was then I knew I would be just fine, getting my strength from this wonderful woman.
We do take things for granted esp people and our health. The wake up call makes us think, reflect on our lives and think, right, what do we do now, and how. We slowly start to appreciate everything, making the most of every given moment, and being thankful to God, for those who stay by our side thru our highs n lows.
I can only imagine the stories we all have yet when it comes to telling them, we mix up our words, expressions and the feelings come out mumbo jumbo. The important thing is we gather every inch of inner strength we have and move forward, time stands still for no one.
You will be just fine Geeta, if anything, you have the best wishes and moral support of all who read your lovely posts.
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I am sorry to hear about your brother. I can feel the emptiness. Health should never be taken for granted. I realise that now. Especially at my age.
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I’ve watched both of these movies and found them both enjoyable. Love to you, Geeta.
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