Have you?

Have you ever stood out in the open, squinting against the sunshine, but at the same time, enjoying its warmth caressing you?
Have you ever huddled beneath the covers, in the dark nights, listening to a storm howling outside?
Have you ever looked into the eyes of a dog, your dog, and seen nothing but 100%, pure, raw unadulterated love?
Ever sat before a fire, on a cold evening, just chatting or listening quiet, to a conversation flowing around you?
Read a book in a corner, undisturbed, till it has grown too dark to see anymore, and you realize the afternoon has sped by?
Listened to a great song, an old favorite, and in spite of the smile hovering on your lips, you suddenly feel the sting of unshed tears, behind your lids?
Have you ever, for that matter sat outside, at dusk and watched the world around you settle down for the night?
Ever woken up early, very early in the morning, after a long spell of rains and found yourself staring at a freshly washed and laundered sky, aglow with the first rays of sunlight?
Have you smelt heaven in the fragrance carried on the wind, after the first showers? A mixture of wet grass, soaked earth and newly awakened hopes and desires?
Thought of a friend with whom you had a fight, aeons ago, and not been able to remember what the fight was all about, to begin with?
Have you ever seen into the eyes of the really old and seen the peace within?
Have you ever sat alone and listened to silence?
Ever taken a long tired breath after a job well done?
Eaten oranges, succulent, sitting with your back to the sun, a shawl around your shoulders, on chilly winter afternoons?
Your heart ever beat just that little bit faster when October rolls around and you hear, borne on the breeze, the faint sounds of the 'Dholkis', creating magic?
Have you ever. for that matter, almost dozed off, during a particularly nasty class, on a summer afternoon, listening to a cicada in the distance?
Waited for Christmas to come around, again, just so you could have your fill of multi-flavored cakes?
Have you ever read a line in a book, that you feel like going back and reading a few times more?
Ever taken out paper cartons, full of old birthday cards and missed, afresh, all the friends who were so close, once?
Gone through old pictures in albums yellow with age but the colors of the times, captured in those photos, still full of vibrant life?
Have you ever wondered why you somehow never seem to have the carefree, happy laugh you used to,?
Have you ever found yourself wishing, that given a second chance you would do certain things differently?
Got up in a hurry, late, and wished you hadn’t ignored the alarm yet again?
Have you found yourself wondering why we tend to cling on to the past? Why we never do let go?
Have you ever answered yourself, that maybe this is because we all know, for sure, the past is all we really have?..
Have you ever laid yourself to sleep, wanting with all your heart, just to go back home, and cried because you have found that you cannot?