In search of "Super-Extraordinary"

                There are moments in our life when our voice chokes and we almost cry or even cry in happiness. Below is the result of some confused thinking about these moments..

“On Top of the World” moments

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2012 Men’s Singles Finals... Five and a half hours into the match, already the longest match in Aus Open History, the score was tied at 5-5 in the final set. Both Nadal and Djoker were cramping, not even able to stand between points. It was as much a test of their will as their physical fitness. Australian Summer, crowd pressure and unbelievable tennis. Then came the moment.. Nadal found the net. That moment, when the world disappeared before his eyes, when Djokovic felt ”On Top of the World”.. that moment..I almost cried.. for the quality of tennis, for the will power, for pushing further than your opponent.. Goosebumps..

2011 May, England... The target, set more than 20 years ago, that appeared more difficult than climbing Mount Everest, ridiculed for even attempting to do it, to overtake, convincingly so, Liverpool for most titles..was achieved.  19^th EPL Title.. Alex Ferguson, would have lived his past 25 years again.. From obscurity, a mediocre footballer, to the greatest coach ever..Despite all criticisms, jokes, prejudices... That moment, when his side lifted him on their shoulders, Fergie definitely felt, “On Top Of the World” .. that moment.. A true Manchester United fan would have almost cried.. Goosebumps..

2008, Beijing Olympics.. 100M finals.. 100000 people cheering.. Less than 10 seconds to prove the world that you are the best.. To prove yourself.. A false start, a slow start, a look beside you, any minute mistake would spell doom.. Difference between Immortality and obscurity..And it was over even before you realized it had started. Usain Bolt became the “fastest man of all time”.. that moment.. his chest-thumping moment..when the timing made you think you were dreaming.. that moment..I almost cried.. Goosebumps..

8611 Metres above sea level.. Mount K2.. X has reached the summit..”the savage mountain”.. most dangerous to climb.. for every 4 who climb 1 dies, has been climbed by only 300 people compared to 2700 for Mount Everest.. but.. conquered.. by X.. Yes, he is not known to the world. Yes, he will appear in the papers tomo, in a small piece which would occupy less space than Rakhi Sawant’s next drama. Yes, he will be forgotten into obscurity by man.. But, today, this moment, he is “the One”.. Purveyor of everything in front.. Literally and Figuratively “On Top of the World”.. Goosebumps..

“What more does one want moments?”

2010 February, Chennai.. in the 3^rd attempt.. after 10 exams, 7 interviews and 2 years.. would have been my last attempt come what may.. 99.74 percentile in CAT.. in office on a Sunday.. I still remember that moment.. I spoke aloud what I saw on screen.. 99.74, 99.74, 99.74.. Yes it is true.. I have done it.. I have “arrived” on the big stage.. Wat a moment.. It was bliss.. cried in Happiness.. “what more do I want in life?”

May 27^th 2012, Coimbatore.. A innocently happy looking banner outside the marriage hall.. just near the bus stop.. I was looking at it.. for how long I don’t know..  A happy couple photo.. But I knew the history.. the struggle.. the determination of my friends.. to unite.. to marry.. the will power, the sacrifice, the patience..touchwood.. It took a few passersby looking at me strangely to remind me where I was.. in the middle of the road..that moment.. I almost cried.. in happiness.. “What more do I want in life?”

March 2012, Peling, West Sikkim.. Usually never alone and talkative, I was numb with amazement and happiness as I looked at a snow capped mountain for hours.. from 5 in the morn when it was snow white dazzling in the full moon.. 6AM when the snow white changed to pure gold with the sunlight.. “Glorious” is the word.. till 9 in the morning when it was shining in all its majesty.. just 40 kms away.. Kanchenjunga.. I would exchange anything to get those 4 hours again.. and again.. and again.. Wow.. What a sight.. What a moment.. “What more does one want in life?”

                      The 2 sets of extraordinary moments gave me the same happiness.. I am sure when his daughters were born, Federer would have felt as happy as winning his 16 Grand Slams.. But what is the difference?  I say the second set is the “extraordinary” moments of an ordinary man.. It happens with everyone.. And the other is, what I call, the “super-extraordinary” moments of extraordinary people. While the “extraordinary” moments make me cry in happiness and feel contented, a feeling of satisfaction, of bliss, the “super-extraordinary” moments are in a separate league. At those moments, the great people involved were always ready for more.. in a “Give me more” mode.. Djoker would have got the strength to play for another four hours, X would have felt he can climb another 2000 metres,  Bolt would have thought he can run 5 more kilometres in the same speed and Fergie is ready for another 20 titles..

                This, I think is the difference.. To get back to the Tennis court the next day, get ready for the Clay court season, to get ready for the next Olympics, to hit the Gym again to climb the next mountain.. this is the difference.. to do the same “super-extraordinary” efforts again and again.. go up up and higher.. To up the standards.. this is the difference.. between “extra-ordinary” and “super-extraordinary”