The years have taken their toll, I ruminated as the brilliant fireworks lit up the chilly skies to usher in a brand new year. Maybe because I have been listening to a lot of Leonard Cohen recently, whose famous lines from the "Tower of Song" have now been etched deep and absorbed without resistance -
"....well my friends are gone and my hair is grey,
I ache in the places where I used to play...".
So it is with some trepidation I welcomed 2011, questioning and examining the years. Mr. Cohen did lift the spirits greatly, as he concluded his epic concerts in sin city (were you surprised that Cohen finishes in Vegas?) with elan. A seventy year old man at his sensual best in engaging millions with humility, magnetic charm and intellectual foreplay does leave some hope of sustenance after all. But then, very few of us spend quality time living and meditating as monks upon a hill top. In the end, it comes down to learning about who you are. Whether you ever wanted to be you - is an entirely different and largely irrelevant matter for this discourse.
The new year brought some insights from that cradle of humankind - Africa. An acknowledged legend who was also learning more about himself and the insecurities of his trade, while an equally talented young turk relatively new to the business was hurling fast moving cherry red projectiles at his off stump. Mostly off stump, as it wasn't quite clear where cricket ended and magic began when Steyn was bowling to Tendulkar last night. The fact that the off stump stood firm after such torrid action was not logical. Two men at the top of their trade where playing a zero sum game, Tendulkar's loss would have been Steyn's gain. During most of this epic battle, Tendulkar was unsure of where he stood, and was reminded that glorious years alone are not enough to see you through - although they might come in handy. And the young bowler was learning more about growing up, for some of your best efforts don't always lead to the most desired results. In the end, both went away wiser, no quarter given - only a grudging respect for outstanding effort.
"...
The ponies run, the girls are young,
The odds are there to beat.
You win a while, and then it´s done -
Your little winning streak.
And summoned now to deal
With your invincible defeat,
You live your life as if it´s real
A thousand kisses deep.
..."
I am going back to school under the banyan tree, the finest malts from the Hebridean Islands of Islay, and to Leonard Cohen. What are your resolutions?
And in case I got you intrigued -
1. On Cricket
www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-india-2010/content/current/story/495388.html
2. The Poem
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3eSZbIHdRU
3. The Song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt_rlHdTYMU
4. Cohen's Tour
www.themillions.com/2010/12/take-this-waltz-leonard-cohen%E2%80%99s-tour-comes-to-an-end.html
5. Roebuck on Tendulkar
www.espncricinfo.com/sachinat20/content/story/434360.html
