Leute!
I guess this is the part where the blog begins to fall off!
It has been nice reading this blog. And getting to know a bit more about Stephen from the regulars who update this blog like Ashley and Koolest Kat (Dude, I am sure thats not your real name :))
Ofcourse Shyla is a regular here too, but we can discount her! She has no other work but to talk about her loving husband or then sulk and whine that he is not here! (Lassie I am expecting you to retaliate, bring it on!)
The updates from Stephen’s nieces have been very genuine and always touch an emotional chord.
If I am not mistaken, Shilpa is the one in the US and then moved to Canada? If I am right, then it is because he used to talk about you as well. On a few occasions, so I can say he was fond of you. Ofcourse he used to tell me about the child labor he did with his younger niece. He was fond of you both and never lost a chance to gloat about his perfect family.
Other than Lassie, I am glad to meet you all virtually!
So why am I writing today, you can ask? Its the smallest things that trigger memories. And mine has been triggered because of the Canon warehouse sale. The last time this bargain came around was in 2008. I SMSed Stephen if he wanted me to grab him anything? Would you believe the dude flew down to Germany? I thought being a CA, he would rather spend the money on camera equipment from Dubai than on tickets to Germany. He later told me his tickets were next to free becoz Lassie used to work for Emirates! That man’s style and focus was truly a cut above the rest eh?
For the past 3 years, we have had this ritual where we update our camera backpack together. And as I do so alone today, I thought I must give a tribute to the man who lived and enjoyed life to the fullest. He had the best of materialistic things and the perfect work –life balance! While it was difficult to stop envying him, I mastered the art of learning from him – so Salut mein Freund Stephen, I hope I am fortunate to meet you in the next round – wherever that might be!
To Stephen’s nieces, Ashley and Koolest Kat – have a good week and I hope to see more of Stephen through you. I know the effort it takes and please know it is appreciated.
And Lassie – you are doing good! You are doing exactly what Stephen would have wanted you to. Infact you don’t realize it – but you are pretty much doing much better than what you think!
Monty – You know all those sayings – Patience is a virtue and to err is human, to forgive divine?!
ReplyDeleteSo, I am not giving you the pleasure of this fight! Instead, I will ignore you and forgive you!
But you are right on one count – I have no other work but to talk about Stephen – why do you bother listening?! Go capture a sunset or something …!
Maybe because you miss him as much too? Maybe because you don’t want me to cross the fine line between grieving and depression?! Maybe because we are such good friends?! Maybe because you don’t want to admit all of the above?
I know your intentions and thank you for taking care of us Monty and Leslie!
BTW Koolest Kat is known by another name. I will leave it to him to disclose it to you if he wishes:)
Hi Monty, Howzit goi`n?
ReplyDeleteThis is me Amal (Koolest Kat) writing to connect and say HELLO from the Land of the Pharos. I am based in Cairo currently. Mystical land of spirits and spooks – but polluted, crowded, filled with tourists and amazingly gorgeous Egyptian girls who only speak Arabic … just kidding! It’s an amazing place with lottsa culture and lots to see…..
Ashley, Stephen and quite a few of us used to be part of the same gang (popularly called VSC or CLEF – Creators of Light & Electrical Fantasies – won`t go into too much detail here) in the Queen of the Arabian Sea – a place surrounded by water on all 3 sides; a small town with a sea port, airport and a naval base – now popularly termed as “gods own country”.. …. for the life of me, can`t figure out how it became a country, but hey, what the heck… sounds good!
We`ve known Stephen from younger days…. 1980 to be precise (perhaps Ashley may have known him prior?) and have had many ups and downs and have had some real fun times, spaced-out times, musical times, travelling times, seeking job times …. Gosh the list is endless….. wanted to bring Stephen back to life via memories; more so that his kids and Shyla could experience him virtually in experiences that they would perhaps never have imagined him in or ever in their wildest of dreams envisaged or believed in…. wanted to bring out the different facets of the man – Stephen – the quiet and timid to some, the aggressive & evasive to some, the intelligent mentor to some, the loving uncle to some, the spaced out mind-expansive benefactor to some…. A different personality and connector to every single person he interacted with across the globe…. But, to some of us, he`ll always be the cool, easy, chilled out, smart, intelligent (he was the first dude from S. India to clear all his Chartered Accountancy and his Certified Novel Engineer (CNE) papers at one go I believe), sharp & spaced out dude! We never used to catch up every day nor every month while we were all in Dubai, but whenever we did, we used to connect seamlessly, as though there was never a gap between our meetings…. It was kool!
I better stop now! Have a fantabulous day Monty – where ever in the world you are! We shall no doubt connect again. Shyla has been quite a pillar of strength and the kids have been holding quite well – I am impressed 100% Shyla. Keep your chin high… you deserve it!
Enjoy the day folks! Steve – You`re still kool mate!
Cheers!
Amal
Guten Tag!
ReplyDeleteAmal you are the Koolest Kat!
I have been to Cairo for a brief business visit, ofcourse Stephen was heading the delegation and we stayed at the Intercon Star City. Very impressive hotel and a very convenient location.
We barely managed to steal a visit to the pyramids given our timelines.
I do plan to visit again, but all our plans are parked for the moment since Leslie and I are expecting our first baby. Ofcourse that we have asked Shyla to come for the Christening and ofcourse that she has refused is another story! (Lassie I wont stop trying till the Christening is over)
We are in Germany, but work causes a lot of travel!
I am sure you have read from my blog before, I met Stephen under very stressful business conditions but from there our families formed a wonderful friendship. But, I guess I am still learning more about him through this blog – the chap was very modest. Never knew he was a CNE. Did you know he was a Siebel Certified Engineer and among the first few to get this certification from the entire Middle East?
Our IT Department once unknowingly tried to delay a project and Stephen came to the rescue to renegotiate timelines. Because he was a bit hard on the IT boys, he took us out for a round of beer that evening and he disclosed his IT skills at the bar.
I so agree with you man – he was a brilliant dude. And like our lil Lassie says, he has gone ahead to reserve the best place for them in the next sphere as he always does with their enviable properties! Have you been to their beach property dude – we stole a visit there one night and had to drive back by dawn! Now don’t get any ideas dude – again we were on very tight timelines! (enroute Malaysia via Cochin! Paid a few nickels from my pocket, but that was the closest chance I would get for a travel to Cochin during those days)
Auf alle Fälle, I am glad to have been a good friend of Stephen and I am glad I have met you all virtually! Gute Nacht!
Lassie - I like that! Is the innuendo more towards a highland frau or the lovable canine?Lassie in India is a buttermilk drink (am sure that's not what you had in mind).
ReplyDeleteKKK (Kaptain Koolest Kat- father of two canines, may his tribe increase!)has described very well about the life of a few of us during our teens. I knew Stephen from 1982, the year I moved to this one horse town Cochin. In my mind it was a dead city, with absolutely no thrills for the emerging teenager. How wrong I was and how living in that city for 6 yrs changed my perspective totally - From growing up in North India, the values I had ingrained seemed to border on plasticity and hype. Cochin was a city of people and intelligence. Where most never gave a damn about attire or flauntulence, instead appreciation was based on intelligence, articulation, music, talent, sarcasm, impromto escapades and above all staying out of trouble with the strong arm of the law (That didn't always happpen though).
Episode - Shajin, Stephen and myself had just ridden our motorcycles to the infamous Foreshore Rd just during sunset to capture natures beauty in our mind's eye. This is a strip of road next to the water and venue for many a spectacular sunset. As we park our motorcycles, comes roaring a Police Jeep with this brute called Circle Inspector Thomas Mathew - aka Bruce Lee. He was nicknamed so as he had built up a reputation kicking people in the face while interrogating them. All three of us got busted - Shajin and Stephen - for no papers and me for no papers and missing headlight. All of us taken to the police station. To ensure we didn't disappear on the way to the cophouse, three constables were assigned to ride pillion.
The route to the cop-station was in front of St Theresa's (women's) COllege. We now had a cop jeep in front with 3 of us riding behind with a stiff, starched Pig sitting pillion. As we come to the college, we see all the girls standing there. Immediately as if on cue, Shajin, Stephen and myself drop 2 gears and then in true racing style rev up the machines and power into the S-bend in front of the college, scraping exhaust pipes with the Pigs behind squealing in fright.
Needless to say we were all given a rough time when we reached the station.
The penalty for Shajin and me was Rs. 150 each, and a promise to be law-abiding citizens. Stephen had a tougher time with Bruce Lee, he was carrying a book by Barry Sheene (Moto GP legend of old). Bruce Lee kicked that book out of Stephen's hand and told him - "You, little boy - come back with your parent". See Stephen didn't have a license and because of that he had to take his uncle (as his Dad was away in Bombay)to the cop station to pay the fine.
Monty- great to read your posts about the guy we all relate to as our brother. I live in Toronto, land of excellent food and the human zoo (every species of the world is here).
Cheers
Ashley