Rockstar II - Steve Waugh.!

It will be a little bigger post. Don't mind. 

To me he's a Booster of Adrenaline.

Needless to say, I am writing after quite a long space. Family first. So, here I am continuing "My Rockstar" series. Earlier, I had thought I would write only about Steve Waugh, but I think I should include my JCWP, Jimmy Carter Work Project, buddies because of whom I could meet Steve.

ok.. I still remember the date. It was 22nd December 2005, when I finished reading his autobiography "Out of my comfort zone" at 1.30am and wished sitting on commode, eyes closed, slow breath,"God please I want to meet him." and then I forgot about it. But who knew I was on the way to meet him and not only that and stay with him for 7 days. whoaa.. I just get goose bumps when I remeber those days.

It was my college because of whom I could make it. From my school days only, I am in habit to indulge in all kinds of odd stuff that normal people hates to do. No, not to grab attention or just for the sake. Its so natural I am rarely in tune with civilians.Crazy, weird, nocturnals, travelers, solitary things,I always get attracted to. Such odd stuff was displayed on notice board.

So, one day it was announced in college that they need volunteers to build homes for unprivileged and poor people. To be more precise they needed lobours who can carry bricks, mix mortar and concrete, climb on the slabs, install the toilet pots, clean the shit, work full time, who are not obesse so eat less. And all this for free. So imagine the response. It was almost null. It clicked, it was my cup of tea. Hit It.! By the end of that week, we only 20 guys, including girls were on the list. Girls, because it was a rumor that Salman Khan will inaugurate the thing. Then I didn't even know it was Jimmy Carter Work Project and Habitat initiative.

The venue was Malavali, Lonavala. Its on Mumbai- Pune expressway. Someday in October 2006. As soon as we entered we were split into groups on different projects. There were around 50 houses supposed to get built. Mine was House no.36. Some papers were handed over to me which contained all the details like nature of work, team members, agenda, break timings. Everything so much thoughtful and planned. First shock came when I saw the first page, the welcome note, was signed by His Highness Jimmy Carter, yes.. 39th President of The US. I was like... it was shock, surprise, enthusiasm, adrenaline rush.!!

He was 86 then but so youthful when he spoke for 40 min. It was a lifetime experience for a mediocre like me. As I went ahead through papers, the first name in the team list was Steve Waugh and I was about to faint. The law of attraction actually exist, isn't it? I thought. It was not the only surprise, there were many Hollywood and non Hollywood international celebrities present at the place, see the last pic and you'll believe.

Then I went to search for House No.36 and while on the road there were so many thoughts going on in my mind. What will I speak with him.? How will he react? What will I do? n many more things. And finally when I found the house, it was little more biiger shock as Steve has already begun the work. He was all alone with the security and he was down on squats, handgloves on and was doing brick work.

Steve, while taking a breath. 
Belive me, you cannot buy this kind of happiness with any kind money. You start beliving in God when this kind of a thing happens. I went ahead greeted him and to my surprise he greeted me with,"you must Shan, Shantanu (while looking at papers), Hi I am Steve." AND that was OMG feeling for me..I was speechless, I couldnt utter a word.


Meha from Singapore and Robert from NYC, our other teammates.   
As the day proceeded, a human was getting unfolded in front of me. Trust me, I was feeling too much awkward while working there as I was the youngest, inexperienced and was very raw. But Steve and everyone in the group brought themselves to my level and by the end of 7 days together I was totally a transformed person.


Me with WILL
Steve has displayed an immense respect towards every team mate regardless of race, gender n all. He was never afraid to do any kind of a job that adds to a progress of a projcet. Discipline is one thing that I learnt in detail from him. From disciplining the mind to discipling the fellow workers. On all the 7 days of a work, he was always the first one to arrive at the place, well equipped sharp at 6.30am. He rarely spoke when we were working, worked with very high focus. He always works on cause and effect theory and is very aware about the thing why he is doing it. 
 Steve on the roll. 

Lunch time(see me in background, writing in Steves' notebook)
 This is the place when he usually spoke to me to us. He discussed so many things about career, life, spirituality, humanity, ambitions, values n what not. I learnt, while all the talks going on, what makes a great player, a great person.! Very simple, its simplicity, in thoughts, in actions. No pretensions, no ostentation. Discipline, Never say die attitude, Respect. The vital of all HOW TO KEEP COOL. I have never seen such a cool person, no matter what the situation is. And no wonder he is such a successful captain in australian cricket history.
All said and done, we discussed his book. He narrated Curtley Ambrose incident that he mentioned in his book.How to play mind games..if you read that book you'll get the essence. 

Since then he is my mentor, buddy and what not.
She was also there for 10 min. Hate her.
with Buddies.
"ya..its true we meet people, often, successful, failures, happy, sad, cripers, optimists, pessimists, diplomats and with so many shades. Its upto you what do you want to take from them, its upto you to be happy or unhappy." I still remember his sentence and try to follow.
 The Baby

Thanks JCWP and Habitat. The very next year it was in NYC n  it was heaven.
Luck and prayers for you Steve. I wish you read this. 

he was also there, TROY, by himself, Brad Pitt.

PS - I am not doing a proofread of this.(I am on "My Rockstars series". Next is Sanjeev Kumar, no not that film hero)
Posted on 10:54 PM by Shantanu and filed under , , , , , , | 7 Comments »