Saturday, August 30, 2014

The canaries - a tale of inquisitive Ajey

Last night we watched “Zero Dark Thirty"
Ashish and I watched it in theaters but many a times watching at home helps and this was one of the movie. Ajey loves history so he sat with us too. My rule follower son Anand refused because it was rated R.
So we started movie and it took longer than its course. So many side references and we had to talk about it. Ajey was 4 when 9/11 happened but he amazed me with his knowledge. I know he is similar to me in many ways. ( though I am so glad he got his dad's Math and Science brain) we both love to read things which are useless and have nothing to do with us, Wikipedia links have the power to take us anywhere. We both wonder around when we come back we realize how much time we “wasted” .
Last night was one of those reminders that it is never useless, we gain knowledge.
So we were watching the movie and talking. He knew many details and events, but the most amazing detail for me was " the canaries" those were the special planes that took the seals to kill Osama Bin Laden.
And I just said why name them canaries- Ajey replied - the canneries are the bird used in coal mine to assess danger. If they stop chirping you get out. And we moved on to the movie. But this one thing got stuck with me. Those tiny little references, minor details they all have those Wikipedia, redit, twitter and face book stamps on them, he not only reads, he remembers and uses them when needed.
I know it might sound like I am bragging about my son. Please believe me we had been through enough of fights when we both didn't agree on anything. We both thought the other one thinks I know nothing or I know everything and you don’t understand me :)
But this time I do think my 17 yrs old does know many things and I have no idea about them.