Precious Memories

Hey friends,

My mom just handed over to me several home videos that were made 17 years ago. I was a mere 11 years old. My sister was only 4 and my brother was 14. I watched these videos again and again, and some of them are extremely funny. My favorites include:

* SA falling off her chair during Musical Chairs!
* MA winning Musical Chair everywhere
* A small movie we made called The Pakistani Ninja, in which I am playing Lefty!
* My cousin SM and I co-hosting a comedy show!
* My cousin and I performing a play called "Diamonds coming out of your mouth!"
* Two sisters NT and NT fighting over a knife to cut a cake!
* A long session where my sister and I are interviewing each other!

There are loads and loads of more precious moments, and at the end of it all I actually wept because all of us have come such a long way, and in today's world, we all have lost a part of the innocence that we had back in the 80s in Jeddah.

To those of who knew of a group called Johnny Hates Jazz, here is one of their best songs, which is close to my heart. Everytime I listen to this song, I am magically transported back to Jeddah to the age when I was 11.

Another day is ended

And I still can’t sleep

Remembering my yesterdays

I begin to weep

If I could have it over

Live my life again

I wouldn’t change a single day

I wish that I could turn back the clock

Bring the wheels of time to stop

Back to the days when life was so much better

Lying here in silence

Picture in my hand

Of a boy I still resemble

But I no longer understand

And as the tears run freely

How I realise they were the best years of my life

You might say it’s just

A case of giving up, No

But without these memories where is the love

Where is the love

If I could have it over

Live my life again

I wouldn’t change a single day

Why can’t I turn back the clock

Bring the wheels of time to a stop

Back to the days

Oh no no

I remember when

Life was so good

I’d go back If I could

Oh oh I wouldn’t change a single day

Don’t let the memories slip away

I wouldn’t change a single day

Don’t let the memories slip away

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Precious memories indeed.

Mansur