Platinum

I was sorting some really old stuff and came across some diaries I kept during my teens. I was browsing through (before destroying any evidence of silly adolescence) and stopped at these beautiful Platinum ads that I had written down from magazines. If you remember, these used to be published in newspapers, mags etc. The words are really beautiful. Here they are:

How much would you pay to adopt a child?

How much would you pay to be a child again?

How much would you pay for your parent's home?

To be held during a thunder storm?

How much would you pay for a clear conscience?

How much would you sell that conscience for?

What about that 70's studio picture of dad, mum and you?

Your morning cup of coffee?

Life's most precious moments don't come with bar-codes.

Or fluctuate on a daily basis.

It might be a red balloon for your son priced at Rs. 5.

It might be a wedding cake for your sister priced at Rs. 4000.

It might be a bejeweled platinum ring priced at Rs. 25,000.

But considering it's on your left ring-finger,

how much would you sell it for?

*******

Does a sunset end when the sun sets?

Does pregnancy last only for 9 months?

How long is a kiss?

How long should your birthday be?

Does a 3 day 2 night vacation last only for 3 days and 2 nights?

Does a Kodak moment last only for 1/500th of a second?

Is 'Love Story' only a 2 hour story book?

Is 'Life is Beautiful' only a 1 hour 56 minute movie?

How much time is too much time?

When you're with your kids. When you're with yourself.

Sometimes a 1/2 hour bubble bath can seem like an evening.

A 3 hour happy dream, a whole year.

Sometimes a warm hug can seem like a lifetime.

And the gentle squeeze of platinum on your earlobe, an eternity.

*******

Define goose-flesh.

Define a color. Bottle Green.

Define an ice-cube finding its way down your back.

Define a heavy heart.

Can you put everything within the constraints of 26 letters?

What about 'ma'? What about 'tiramisu'?

There are things in life that escape 'definition'.

Life itself, for instance.

Define bitter. Tangy. Sour.

Define a mistake. Wrong. Right.

Ever wonder how it changes with every experience.

For that matter, how do you define 'experience'?

Is a kiss the mere brush of lips?

Is a smile the mere upturn of the corners of the lips?

Is platinum a mere white metal that does not tarnish?

Is platinum a mere element on the Periodic Table?

Is platinum mere jewelery?

*******

Aren't they lovely ! Sigh.