Gambler!

Life, as many can attest to, is like an onion. You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep! How true that is. There is a saying in my mother-tongue that is often told to teenagers whose hormones often run wild and overwhelm them, which goes, "Kuleni, mgaone!" (Loosely translated to "You will get to see the unfolding mysteries that life has, once you grow up!") And it is at this point, that you are advised to learn from the mistakes you have made to emerge a stronger and wiser person. It is good to enjoy yourself, coz no one can take that away from you. But! Be careful, because, when you jump for joy, beware that no one moves the ground from beneath your feet!

True to their word, once you grow up and eventually face the world head-on as an independent young adult, you get to see and experience the may faces that life has to offer. I think Kenny Rodgers' Gambler song says it best!

"On a warm summer's evening on a train bound for nowhere, I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep. So we took turns at staring out the window at the darkness, 'til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.

He said, "Son I've made my life out of reading people's faces, And knowing what their cards were, by the way they held their eyes. So if you don't mind my saying, I can see you're out of aces. For a taste of your whiskey, I'll give you some advice."

So I handed him my bottle and he drank my last swallow. Then he bummed a cigarette and asked for a light. And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression. Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away and know when to run. You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table. There'll be time enough for counting when the dealing's done!

Every gambler knows that the secret to surviving, is knowing what to throw away and what to keep. 'Cause every hand's a winner and every hand's a loser, And the best that you can hope for, is to die in your sleep!"

When he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window, crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep. And somewhere in the darkness, the gambler he broke even. But in his final words, I found an ace that I could keep.

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away and know when to run. You never count your money when sittin' at tyhe table. There'll be time enough for counting, when the dealing's done!

Growing up

Growing up as a child has its expectations, excitements and gloom. The mind needs to be nurtured and it is at this stage that the mind can absorb lots of things. That is why, when a parent(s) realises that there is a child who exhibits special talent, it is nurtured from then and have it grow as the child grows for consistency and endurance of having the child fully unleash the potential within.

The innocence in children is so honest it hurts! I know many parents can attest to this that, at times it takes a lie to tell the truth, yeah? But no matter what, so long as the child knows the truth, there is no way in hell/heaven you are going to convince the little brat otherwise! No amount of daring glances or threats will deter the child. And anyone who is within the discussion/lie or just walked in on it, will just have to take a glance at everyone but only the child's emotions will be your sell-out. But the crookedly smart children, who happen to inherit the genes from their parents, will never tell a soul, till kingdom come! The amazing thing though is that, the sense of unhappiness is so much easier to convey than that of happiness.

When unhappy, the pain and hurt that the child expresses is of hurt and betrayal. I remember some time back, when my second-born daughter, who was six-years-old then, had her facial expression suddenly change after welcoming us (the dad and I) in the house on evening. She went straight on to the matters at hand and addressed the dad.

"Daddy, unajua leo shule..., ule Simon kwa class... alikua ananiangalia alafu anani-smiliaaa..." ("Daddy, you know today at school..., that Simon in my class... kept looking at me and smiiiiling back at me...") with disgust written all over her face! I took a glance at the dad to see his reaction to that. Frankly... he was blank! But you could see a frown in sync with his daughter's. As in trying to feel her, to empathise with her. As for me... I laughed my heart out and whispered, 'I think we have a boy who is smitten'!

But happiness. Happiness annihilates us as human beings. It gives us a sense of satisfaction and peace that is indescribable! It comes with a sense of calmness. By just taking a glance at a happy person, especially a child, the emotions written all over the face tells it all. Need I say more...

Innocence

Doesn't your heart just mellow when your little one has a first glance at you as you go making every funny face and outa-this-world baby sounds, so as to appease and have the baby smile? Especially to a mother who is breast-feeding the baby. The knowingly look, the angelic smile, the heavenly laugh... wow! And when they wake up from their nap or sleep,...ooooh...

Yeah, there. Right there, the baby scrutinises you and immediately develops that sense of belonging and assurance that I am in the arms/in company of someone who loves me. You know, even at their infancy, they can read and sense joy, anger and discontent just from a glance! Notice how a baby refuses to be carried by some particular people? Huh?

As they grow up from terrible-four to terrible-two, they always know what kind of dress-code is house-wear and going-out-of-tha-house-wear! You know, there they are, minding their own business and suddenly you make an appearance. The minute they have a glance at you, the activity there-after is critical.

If you are in your kawaida house-clothes, mainly casual wear, the child is usually relaxed and knows there's no where in hell you gonna go out looking like that! You have already made it a routine of all your actions and activities, such that should there be any slight change, it is noticeable the minute they throw a glance at you.

All hell breaks loose the minute they know the person they feel very secure and loved when around them, is about to leave the home to attend to other matters outside. They usually cry their lungs out and that leaves the parent with a very heavy heart and really bad taste in the mouth! The cries keep ringing in your head and keeps haunting you till your conscience decides what fate succumbs you there-after.

Many a parents usually have to device gimmicks as to send the baby away for a while. Just enough time for you to get ready and duck out of the house! The smarter ones sense the catch and will insist on remaining behind with you or offer that you better accompany them... 'if you what me to go...' negotiation talk. Boy! Talk about the power of a glance!

The first glance

First glance..... yeah, that very first glance that you take when looking at something, someone or some place.... I mean practically anything, what really does go on your mind?

It's like that first thought that ran through your mind after absorbing and coming to a conclusion on how you interpret what you have JUST SEEN!

It's amazing, yeah? It's the first impressions you give that matter... that is what is always drummed in our minds repeatedly. In whatever successful venture that you want to undertake, you are always told to first and foremost look at yourself. What do you see? What do you want? Is what your seeing, what you want to reflect about you? How do those close to you see you? What is their impression and view(s) about you? This is where the 'Show me an honest man and I'll show you a liar...'

First glance... the mysteries of it.

From the human inception when in still the mother's womb, the worries and anxiety of the 'Bun in the oven' being visible and people congratulating you upon noticing any slight changes in you. Be it in behaviour (mannerisms and mood-swings), eating habits, physical appearance and many other changes that people with an eye for detail get at a first glance at you, to throughout the pregnancy period and finally conception. The birth of the newly born baby evokes alot of emotions upon the first glance of it.

Oooh.... my very own flesh and blood. Wow! The miracles of God and nature. Or is biology? Hmm... Yeah, you get my point. The new parents are anxious to get the FIRST glimse of their own biological and heavenly mystery. Upon the first glance, there and then, the random thoughts start...

... Oooh... she/he has your eyes, no, your lips, your nose,...look at the hands, oh my, have you seen the feet?... the list is endless, so as the compliments about the new-born baby. The relatives and friends who come to congratulate you, they too have their endless complimentaries and well wishes upon the first glance they have at the new-born baby.