Autograph

While we, me and my son, were rummaging the old cupboard, out tumbled my autograph book. The blue color on the cover had faded, but the golden imprint at the center still had some glimmer, like those old memories. Inside, the multi colored pages have faded a bit. However, the words inscribed are still clear and inviting.

My son was more eager to go through it. During our days, autograph was inevitable. Months before, we start searching for the right autograph book. We never had many choices and cost was a huge factor. The book stores near the school would have stacks of autograph books. Eventually, though we wished to have a special autograph, we ended up buying the same kind of book.

I faintly remember that i had two autograph books. One general and the other exclusively for close friends.

What makes an autograph special is not the external look, but rather its content. Looking back, even the content is predictable. The majority were happy by scribbling those stock phrases which were popular at those times. " Forget me not " was the most popular. " East or west, you are the best" is another. Few wrote something of their own. They were not profound insights but were genuine. Those who were still carrying childish grudges displayed their anger by refusing to write anything. However, in the exclusive book the real friends poured out their heart with ever loving words.

When i held my autograph book a gush of memories rushed through my mind. I went through each page in great earnest. I felt a fresh flow of energy filling me. Generally autograph is an opportunity to forgive and forget. As we reach the end of the school days, we suddenly seem to have gained some maturity. We try to become friends even with the biggest foe.

Those days, as we were stepping into a new life, the words in the autograph gave a lot of courage and energy. Still i should admit that the charm was soon worn out and i had misplaced my book for so long. Autograph was not a part of my luggage when i started a new journey of life.

I asked my son whether he has an autograph book and to my surprise he does not have one What i understood is autograph books have almost become obsolete. That was a painful information.

 This made me think that suddenly rediscovering this autograph book after so many years can't be a mere coincidence.

Why can't we revive the autograph book? Not the way we had that, years back. Instead use it in a different way. For eg, after going for a trip together i have heard people talking or writing about that trip. In such cases why can’t I carry a book with me and ask them to write something in that book from that spot itself? Or, after spending a few days at my home some send a” thank you “message or share their good memories.  Why can't i have a book at home and ask, whoever is interested, to scribble their experiences before leaving? It sounds interesting. Let me give it a try.

Meanwhile let us make this interactive. Please share the experiences you had with your autograph book and also some of the interesting lines which you remember from that book.