Massages from Face book 1

1 May born or Fireball Lily-Multiple tiny fiery red blooms that grow in a spherical array. There is a story behind single bloomed May born. The anecdote : I bought this plant from the college nursery & was nurturing it ,so it could survive & finally it bloomed into beautiful May born as it always blooms once a year during the month of May. Everyone in our family appreciated except the gardener; he was more concern about the clay tub it occupied .When the flower wilted, he was about to throw the plant, put something of his choice of plant , but I caught him, showed him he ignored the bulb which was still hidden under the soil & kept the plant so that it could bloom next year & the years after... . I was  18 years old then. It was published in Junior times in 1983 in  daily newspaper Bangladesh Times written by me i.e.  Miss Lubna Mahmud after my HSC titled- Violets are blue (original title was May born) .

2.Kleptomania  Have you ever noticed the pickpockets in Sadarghat, how skillfully & meticulously they steal money from the passengers; even though they remain poor for their weird business , but how much brain work  & the talent they use  to achieve their goal , that certainly conspicuous. I believe, they're genius  & their higher psychic senses are extremely  powerful; only if they could use that for good cause, they could achieve world wide recognition by now.

Costumes, jewelry, beauty n' talent could overshadow you in your group photo ,so be careful whom you pick as your friend- but I don't agree with that.

Holding someone's rightfully acquired legitimate documents asserts or money by force  for indefinite period of time with which he could make a living is a crime.

Medical education in Bangladesh : Crossed school at 16, college at 18, MBBS degree at 23,  Bangladesh civil service BCS for government service ; for post graduation, options are Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons BCPS ; Fellow of College of Physicians and Surgeons FCPS.

Don't text & drive. if you could disabled your  cell phone  while texting when you drive, you could save yourself & your loved one's life from dangerous life threatening accidents.

3.Political crisis

There should always be a provision for political correction for those who couldn't continue & wanted to step down. If you have to sell your blood for survival then let some one else take your place & you should quit or live a shared life. 

Experiencing government shutdown in USA , effective today from 1 A.M. ; I was a bit scared in the morning when my son was going to school by bus at 6:20 but it came on time . Hope to see the temporary crisis is over soon.

Nature has it's own richness which has no boundary it's only you to have the eye to capture it. Rows of magnificent cherry trees with cherry blossoms- it's so heavenly. Splendor of beautiful cherry blossom Unbelievable! Only few days ago the woods were barren, not a single bloom was in the nature, not a single leaf was green; now, a magicians with his magic stick must’ve thrown splashes of colors everywhere. natures curtain Natures drape- weeping willows. Out- of- the- world A red colored tree- completely speechless by it's beauty. unbelievably beautiful. Only a mile away from where I reside found those fall colors. Enjoying the magical, flamboyant, colorful fall in USA end of sizzling fall ,winter begins in the woods those are witch hazel( pale yellow) behind me At all stage of life , age has it's grace & dignity - now I don't cry for my youth. It's the personality that defines you not the looks.

4.Life is like that !

Sometimes we are quite & watch people die in silence ...  if we try to look for an answer there's no reply. Be happy & make peace with the world wherever you are.

Don't text & drive -If there's  any  device in your cell phone could disable texting when you drive . People tend to text while driving to finish their business but you know it's dangerous, may take your life  with in a second. 

Mojo'  still carves for the life with 'macho man'  which is dark & uncertain........!

Beware of invisible bribe( goosh ), you never know where you're stepping into & may not like what is hidden behind the services which are provided to you for free I find my words have some audience- that's interesting...

Romance at your own cost, not on a official setting- In an official environment. educational centers ,entertainment centers like TV , radio, hospitals , banks , foreign agencies, health centers;  any sort of sexual advancement should be strictly prohibited & punishable under law, specially in a Muslim country like BD.

My twinkly winky typing skill &  now working on computer in USA  became  my best friend.

5.Intellectuals

Having intellectual capabilities is a rare gift from God; when theory is applied into practice, we enjoy the out come & when we look back into the past, knowing how we struggled for not knowing few important ways of life but now when it opened the door of enormous wealth & well being then definitely that person should be honored. Intellectuals holding high position do not care about the political difficulties when they think of a solution which is in crisis; some educated people should be engaged sorting out & implementing it, bypassing odds & to see every thing   went well to the end. The final out come will be bringing comfort, piece & happiness to the people.

Pls feel free to check me out all the time .... as we r flying over the religious realm - feel free to discontinue my friendship , there will be no string attached.

Trying to rob someone's personal stuff  when visiting them; that's one way to say - taking  some thing which you don't wish to give away.  Not in all the cases , some people with resources  don't mind; even they are happy to get rid of the old stuff in this way.

I wonder why the tribal people get embassy job real quick, may be because of their appearance they can be disguised . Next to US embassy in Gulshan was British High Commission .The guard was probably BDi tribal but when I asked him where he was from, at first he was hesitant, then he said he was from China. May be he was Chinese or may be he wasn't who knows; but the confusion that creates, can Bd afford to adopt that, something to think about.

6.Some time for yourself

Students who are appearing for big exams, office goers accustomed to close screen work in the computers, housewives tied up with workload at home, elders in the hospitals lying in the bed day after day for their illness, -------pls take some time out for an evening stroll at park, stretch out then find a bench; gaze & smell the breeze in your surroundings, listen to the chirps of the birds, touch the green & think nothing but inhale air; the toxic environment where you were breathing all the time during the day will quickly  your mind fogged up with close work will be going soon & your body will release tension & you will have a better vision; do it before the night begins & you will feel much better.

7.

Don't be threatened by the rumors spreading around us which confuses people; some heinous group of people are constantly engaged achieving political gain & emotionally blackmailing peace loving people like us, it may cause someone's death; these political activist must be identified & punished. Beware of the risky jokes which goes around us, spreading rumors & confusing people it may cost someone's life; thanks for the birthday wishes which always reminds me- we are not becoming younger but  getting old. 

8.Do the math- When birth rate & death rate in a given population is same i.e. zero or negative population growth in some of the European countries; as for BD, it's supposed to be high. In my family tree, my grand dad from father side had 11 children from 2 marriages & 10 children from mother side, all of them survived for considerable length of time in their life span when there was no internet, TV or out- of- country interference; in our parents time everyone having 3/4 children in each family had decent living but in 3rd generation in the family tree i. e. us we have in BDi social setting only 1 child or no children or adopted children, some marriages or no marriages & divorce, what will be the population growth? 

9.Japanese orchid

I recall, one of my favorite flower making item ( in Ekabana course) with fabric was these precious Japanese orchid. Bewitched by its beauty , one day I bought a small Orchid plant from the college nursery back in 1982. It had it's roots grown & small blooms were just about to come. I tied the plant with a thin wire (#26) in our front garden on the trunk of the bottom palm tree .Soon it started to grow, became bushier , spreading its roots hanging as it survives on air ,making a symbiotic relationship with the host plant . Blooms started coming every 2 weeks ; it’s still there in the garden reminding me of my tough college years & was one of favorite blooms in the garden. July 5 , 2014 , after almost 30 yrs the Holy- cross- orchid , still blooming heavily, street people with out notice came in, scraped off the plant & it's roots from the bottom palm tree & dumped it to the trash for unknown reason.

10 Education

 ( the right kind ) has occupied a good amount of space in my mind since childhood. Even when my memory may not be recalled when I needed but It has given me the privilege to define some of the odds which were never spoken by our elders Education taught me many things in course of time: to be modest & smart but it is often misinterpreted when it's a virtue; given me the privilege to correct myself; gave me courage & confidence, even though it never brought money in my life but it certainly kept me busy from the polluted & ugly side of the world, from my enemies & sin. My family back home helped in shaping me making me who I am now.

What's in a number ! even when you  are holding a star in your SSC / HSC  or stood 1st/2nd - a brilliant result. But when you sit down with a pen & paper & couldn't write a single line,  breaking your pencil hundred times, at this stage of life, then you are  worse than an illiterate person. Those numbers you got are only a gate a way from one phase of life  to another. Prove yourself that you are better; not just the  question set you had  in your hand on the night  before the exam day &  some how you manage to get high connections & miraculously you  are  on the top list or the briefing you got before  your viva -voice  was a absolute heaven, you've scored 20/20 - bravo !  Once  with this good result, your genre has a better look now . 

11 Lessons learned 

Sylheti language which is humorous & funny, when there are  different dialects in the country where people talks & chats but sylheters  soon  ends in  a  quarrel, not a easy way to deal with the situation .............. I don't like they way non sylhetis are trying to barge in  & acts like us but not courageous enough  to reveal their true identity rather fooling around coming to Sylhet may be they are looking for the true border when Indian part & ours  are long gone in the wind & we are facing some alien  power which we dare not to mess with . Sylhetis are  extremely stubborn, egocentric , miser with money matter & their madness can be  enormous & hard to handle; but at the same time they are true to their origin, lives a clustered life;  sometimes the in lower level they steal (petty theft)  & they will die with their  secret ;  they mostly gossips around  themselves lives an idle life  which is a common thing in the country, education is hard to find but if there are some  they are ambitious but  lives an honest life. In Sylheti language  a word 'baaro' meaning-  carried away; that would be a dangerous thing if  they  adopt all the time  & later face harsh reality which brings lots of pain & anguish; be aware, baaro  may bring harm to you or to your loved ones if you are not careful when interacting with an outsider . 

12Identity 

Identify a person from the  truth behind his fake story; he will be that person  where he was rooted, born &  brought up before going for adoption or emigrated to a  different country; he will blend with his  family & his status will match with  other members of the family- same  color,  same dialect, same way  he eats  &  dresses  , suffers same kind of illness- now you know who really he is. 

Do the math- When birth rate & death rate in a given  population is same i.e.  zero or negative population growth in some of the European countries; as  for BD, it's supposed to be high. In my family tree, my grand dad from father side had 11 children from 2 marriages & 10 children from mother side, all of them survived for considerable length of time in their life span when there was no internet, TV or out- of- country interference;  in our parents time everyone having 3/4 children in each family had decent living but in 3rd generation in the family tree i. e. us we have in BDi social setting only 1 child or no children or adopted children, some marriages or no marriages & divorce, what will be the population growth? 

13 Marriage 

Marriage is all ‘bout love, trust, compromise , sharing & adjustment ; based on that, an unequal marriage can be successful. It's only living together under one roof once broken - just like a drinking glass when thrown against the wall & you'll see how it’s shattered into thousand pieces

14 Crime  kids  have at school

If the school, religious center & other institutions  pressurizes  a under 18 kid  to be sexual  each & every day when he goes there, then they are committing an institutional crime;  in that way they torture  a young boy's heart to be separated  from his rightful parent. Later  In his  right mind &  free- will  he can  enjoy his life with his own merit or given to him by his parents. 

15.Living on the edge !                                                                                              

  Back in 1996 when I was doing internship In PG still unmarried after my several times going for the supplementary exams in Sylhet  mostly unsupervised where there were cases coming with complications which was postgraduate level. At the end of my tenure  I was placed in Pediatric  department; the doctor on- call that day told me to see the patients in the cabins. While making my round alone, I went inside a cabin, saw a  feeble boy of 4/5 yrs of age   in the bed  & an attendant probably his uncle standing by the bed. I went through his  case history,  found  out he had a nerve  damaged on the lower limb. I asked him to stand up  & then told him to  sit down . He did it with  difficulty ; second time when I told him to do the same to confirm what I saw, he fell down  &  had a cut on his upper lip & started to bleed but not much . The uncle standing with arrogance by his side empty handed  who was supposed to guard the boy while performing the test  became  the doctor & I,  quite alarmed by the situation became  the attendant with my wooden board, stethoscope & books & my hand bag  on my hand. Immediately I took the boy  to the nearest surgery  same floor  where the doctors were cooperative & performed a minor repair  by  giving 2 stitches on the lips which was torn; with in a few minutes  he was  good to go . I made a report on his history chart . Next day when I went to the ward, no inquiry was made against me  but the boy & the attendant disappear . I finished my internship without difficulty. Was that an issue brought against me without my knowledge  & now I am suffering the same kind of pain  when I pray at the mosque or was that my fault -  am I the victim of circumstances? Also  when I was in the pediatric ward, a  group of people came with a critically ill baby.  That day I wasn't the only one in the ward . another senior doctor &  a group of nurses were also giving rounds . When they saw the baby came too late for getting any  last resort  the baby died. Without further a due, the accompanying people started screaming yelling & cursing the doctors & blaming them for not   taking  care of the pt . But later I came to know that the child was brought dead & the people came  with an evil motive to put the  blame on doctors . I did go out twice for 25 minutes to the local shopping center for area check as I was feeling bored & came back soon. I was soon  married after I finished my internship & my lectureship in Anatomy dpt and went through immigration & came out of the country.

16.Season's first snowfall in 2012. il neige.

 Snowflakes dusting on my head like a powdered cotton balls. In the freezing cold at night, I took the camera out but saw no one but only me. Expecting the following morning would be: one foot high snow covering all over the place but weather was as always -unpredictable ; next day it turned out to be a bright sunny day.

Snow always fascinates me .My first snow experience was when I saw snow falling from my window & the snow plowing vehicles were piling the snow in the street .The continuous humm of the machine working all night went on from the distance .Next day early in the morning from the complex, people came & cleaned the walk way ,with a snow scraper neighbors were shoving off the snow from their cars & kids went to school with heavy coat, hoods & gloves on. I tried to open the windows & balcony door but they were jammed with snow .Sometimes, after the snow fall comes the bright sunny day, kids go out & play but when snow comes with rain & wind --i.e snow emergency ,which makes everyone homebound

18.when life faces the challenges 

Pls feel free to check me out all the time .... as we r flying over the religious realm - we will be facing some awkward situation which will make no sense but we should not be discouraged but to continue our mission for better & healthier life; it may not be as it used to be but it will the preferred life.

19. Political crisis

There should always be a provision for political correction for those who couldn't continue & wanted to step down. If you have to sell your blood for survival then let someone else take your place & you should quit or live a shared life. 

20. Went out in midnight on black Friday sale( 11-21-12) to the mall, saw crowds mostly coming from out of state. A huge sale was going on wide screen 40"-TV ( 50% off) ,made a big walk from one corner to the other in the big store but couldn’t find a single thing to buy. When I asked the yawning security guard "how long the store was open -24 hrs! " was his short answer. Come back after one hr. "Wholesale store but still pricy Experiencing government shutdown in USA , effective today from 1 A.M. ; i was a bit scared in the morning when my son was going to school by bus at 6:20 but it came on time . Hope to see the temporary crisis is over soon.

Today was Samir's birthday also from his school the certificate he got for successful completion of driving course; with his birth certificate & social security we went to DMV , he took the eye test , signed the papers & took the picture - soon he got learner license , big day for him,

After winning a beauty pageant contest, a Russian paragon of beauty (presumably the dumbest), came out to be the world’s most beautiful woman, proposed a Nobel prize winner ' the ugliest looking British scientist' for marriage. She wrote , '’ let's get married; think, the child which we will bring to this world will create a sensation when he will get talent from you & the looks from me …..". Soon she got a awe-stricken reply when her letter got stuck somewhere & an anonymous wrote, ” Miss beauty pageant - what if the child gets the brain from you & looks from the scientist ....... ! ”

 I will be overwhelmed when I am free from the burden of just 16 son going 18 . Now when I have crossed my 50th birthday being strong, independent & struggling alone, face unnecessary battles & hardship, instead of happiness drowned with sadness is no life for me When I have achieved success it will be time for me to stepping into my grave. I will put my success in a basket & lock it. I am the only one who will open it & realize what a waste of time I had chasing it.

The thief

One twilight night a thief was born in a small village where his roots i.e. ancestors were also thieves, but when they left the world, their eyes were on the baby where mother was sick, fighting for her life, starving, couldn't provide food for the baby. She abandoned her baby one time & died of childbirth issue. The baby was taken by some evil eyes, transsexuals were active, their only concern was he will bring money!  As he was orphaned early in life, growing up wasn’t easy …. he grew up just like all other unfortunate kids; sometimes eaten- sometime half eaten - sometimes starved, when caught severely scolded - beaten up -got lots of kicks & slaps also molested but survived in that hash environment. He was found unshaved uncut hair, never shampooed- never thought of taking care of his looks, never manicured or pedicured; he smelled awful, Life goes on …. he kept on stealing for survival until he became a young man. He was thin & dark, tall & skinny, tight lipped; knew only how to run like a fox & escape with tons of tons of energy. Soon he found himself in the thief's kingdom.  One night he tried to climb up the wall to escape after when he was hooked in the nail ... certainly the jacket he wore was made from devil's skin, he couldn't find any other ways to get down ... no matter how hard he tried but he hung like a monkey for almost a day …. that was an awful sight & a mocking situation. . He cried but there were no tears... he promised he will give up stealing, he shed some tears & even gave a small pouch of rice to a beggar after the event….  the bagger cursed him or blessed him who knows!   He walked out in the open air ...... looking at the sky .... daydreaming .... one day he will find a princess & marry her.... then he will make a castle in the air, there he will live forever .... Growing up was easy just follow others, lying, stealing from the store or someone's garden was easy task, pick pocketing was once was his means of living.  Little education he had was enough for his caliber, but he was found genius - cool headed - talented but always empty handed & also when he saw his theft was in the newspapers stating’ the thief who was never caught!’ Some authorized people knew him well, but they were quite all the time.  It became unbearable of that stinking environment & younger kids were chasing him all day long for the little food he earned after all- day -hard -work & when he ate almost nothing for days, slept in the drain for fear of police. And once he was beaten up by the local touts who were equally great in their theft business. Next day he woke up started his day soon ended up stealing a bunch of bananas successfully from the neighborhood that was enough for his meal & what a day!  Every day he was facing humiliations, but he never thought changing his profession as a thief.  He became known as the best thief in his friend's circle. Lying was his best way to escape an unfavorable environment and when he was caught but he remains poor & a loner, but his ambition was never too high.  Looking for how to deal when caught up into the embarrassing situation where he himself was the only lord. He remembered one success when he went for stealing, for his preparation he oiled his entire body with coal powder & wore underpants only (a small piece of cloth when tied upon the waistline), he looked like a ghost; after the theft when he tried to escape ....   people couldn't catch him because he was slipping all the time ....  the talent he had based on that he wanted to try his luck out of his place & sadly....  one day he left the town silently to the big city for fortune but not much luck! He took the train, sitting on the rooftop, sometimes hanging like a monkey holding the train compartment door ...... the journey ended soon ... finally when he arrived, he found …. a super-duper gang of four - robbers, all city dwellers. They told him they were observing him since he came & they liked his getup; maybe they can hire him & use his talent for their next mission on bank robbery, which was once failed for their stupid way & police came, caught them all & sent them to jail.  Using his talent, they will go for another robbery! They whispered…. they will teach him how to rob & so on ….  help him mastering the skill. They will groom him to be a better thief, dress him up so he will be part of the team, they even told their story …..just like a batman once for their excursion they went to a museum after visiting hours, found one precious item….  and successfully stole million bucks' sculpture, later the theft item was stolen by the police!   Soon the unfortunate thief found himself hard to come up with their fast life.  It was easier to go back in his hometown, stealing sneaking into a house for food which was enough to make his day- that was cheap living, where his means of survival was small & life was fine. He cried & returned back. Years after his theft life from dawn to dusk he was the only one facing the world & above him was his lord. He grew old not much of good memories, lots of humiliation, lots of nightmare but his shameless persistence was there because it was easier life....  why not!  It was his way of thinking....  People above him asked him - they saw him growing up & his difficulties & his entire life as a thief & now he is an old man waiting to die.  "What will you be in your next life after when you die - they asked?  We could make you a king with a queen or wealthiest person if you like.  " He thought for a while…. became quiet, looked up in the sky & cried for his shameless life ...... there was no sadness or no anger …. He answered.…. if he gets another life to live over again, he will choose a life of a thief that's all!

Our Cantt house

Back in 1968, when my dad was Lt colonel in the AMC (East Pakistan) he bought a piece of land (seven & half kathas) from a Pakistani guy who was in a hurry, selling the plot & fleeing back to his country. After the purchase he hired an architect, also an engineer to plan & construct the house, which was approved by the government. Splendor of beautiful golf course is our location.  He soiled in the plot as it was once placed in a low-lying ditch. For a brief period during the war in '71 the work was temporarily stopped & my uncle (from father side) looked after the half-done constructed brick house until we came back from Pakistan in '74. The double storied- single unit the white house was beautifully designed, architecture & engineered the spiral staircase, the curved exterior open terrace, Bentlie spray paint outside, Thai aluminum sliding door - all made the house cherish able which has many years of memories. In 1988, the loan my dad took from the government was finally paid off. Time to time he also furnished the house since we started living in the house. This old house is full of memorabilia which my dad bought over the years while making tours abroad.

When my dad was promoted to the rank Maj Gen there was some renovation was done to the house: an open terrace in 1st floor which was canopied by orange colored huge Vaughan villa; later converted the space into two-bedroom, one bath- an extension for our convenience & also the out- house in the ground level, out of the main building. In 2000, a big room was constructed on the top the garage for my brother. My dad spent all of his lifetime savings from 39 years of military service for making this house; the paperwork for making it, how it was planned, engineered, constructed & the cost was meticulously done & preserved. New BD government was telling us to demolish the house & build a multi-storied building like our neighbors, but we never agreed.

In this house, which is carrying the memories of brother's marriages, my son's birth & my uncle's engagement, funerals, parties, milads & countless happy/ sad memories - a normal Bengali family way of lifestyle surrounded by friends & relatives. Uttara flat – during his service in the army my dad also got possession of another piece of land in Uttara (5 kathas) . 5 storied building was built in 2006, 10 flats on both side by giving the plot to the developer.

Travel bag

Oxford Anti-theft Water Resistant Outdoor Travel Sling Bag/ Chest Bag/ Cross body Bag for Men. 

This traveler's cross-body chest bag is handy when you are going with your bags & baggage by air/ bus or train. Make a list of your medications stating your medical condition, their dosage & how many times you are taking, type it in a piece of paper & keep it in the 1st compartment. If you fell unconscious- that's the only way people will help you & take you to nearest hospital. Buy online, because the bag has adjustable strap, you could wear it on your back or front which ever you like & it will fit you anyway .There are 3 compartments in this bag; it's lightweight, comes in blue, black or beige; your hands will remain free when you walk to your local grocery/ pharmacy or library .The first big compartment where you could keep your documents, your passport, some cash, credit cards, air tickets, important letters but remember don't carry your old MONEY BAG & get use to your new bag. Second compartment is for cell phone, car / home keys , some medicine, tooth picks if you need, q-tips, eyeglasses with it's box , small flannel glass cleaner, pen, some aspirins.
Third compartment is for coins like quarters for subways or if you ride a bus regularly. I hope you will find this bag interesting. Price will very- look for sale. In addition to that you could keep small scissors, small collapsible knife, small comb , lip balm, but don't make your bag too heavy. 

P.S. This travel bag blog is not an advertisement, I wrote this on FB as private massages  to my brothers & I wanted to gift them on their special  occasion;  I am the same person who  opened 2 different Facebook account also youtube account   but some people were courageous  enough to steal  my articles & private massages, they even closed google plus when I started uploading creative photos;  to stop any  further confusion & to stop stealing   I  opened this web site on  photography . 

By Lubna M Chowdhury