I am, you are

Once upon a time  is a stock phrase that has been in use since "Long, long time ago - in many a far away lands", and seems to be a widely accepted convention for opening oral narratives in story telling.

Few examples of the phrase when used across various cultures globally :

Bengali : ek je chhilo raja (Once there lived a king) ... and the story ends with a cause and effect

Danish : Engang for lunge siden (Once a long time ago)  ... and they lived happily until the end of their days

Dutch : Er was eens (Once there was)  ... and they lived a long and happy life

French :  Il était une fois (There was once) ... and they lived happily and had many children.

Italian :  C'era una volta (There was a time) ... and they lived happy and content

Japanese :  昔昔  (昔々,  むかしむかし   (Long ago, long ago)  ... so blissful

Latin :   Olim (Once)

Malayalam:   Pandu oridathu … (Long ago, at a place)

Romanian :  A fost odată, ca niciodată (There was once, as never before)

Spanish :  Érase una vez  (There was once) ... and they lived happy and ate partridges.

Well, that certainly was another time - when the very phrase 'Once upon' would lit up eyes, particularly when narrated by Grandma's elaborate versions of endless storytelling!

Seems to me that today, this gap in storytelling and publishing is filled with a version better known as blogging and micro blogging.   Now its each man, on his own terms.   Each a publisher / author / distributor / marketer (scope based on scoop) and, did I miss something?

And with absolutely no time to present the regular opening narrative, as conventions held.

No making up non-existent kingdoms with the tall, dark and handsome prince set off on a valiant journey for the ever so beautiful princess.

So then, what really is the trend today - as if to zeitgeist today, by the folks of tomorrow.

I was amused by a thought of Narada  visiting us and thrilled with the technology paving way for  ubiquitous communications possibilities.

He gets a friend request from Facebook, joins 'em and is astonished at the speed of broadcasting.

He thought to himself,

"Now then, I have everything at the touch of a button. Hmm, time saved from having to appear individually to deliver message. But then, why are the folks in a particular rush."

He then witnessed the entire gamut of social/professional network of networks. 

When later introduced to 'Twitter', he felt it ideal to tweet 'Narayana Narayana' (the limit of 140 characters was just the icing needed).

And getting the hang of 'Foursquare'  in each of his check ins and check outs ... By the time, yet another new-generation guy would introduce him to 'Trip It'  - he decided to forget it,  and take off to his heavenly abode. 

So here 'I am' - not in any particular rush - not withstanding the change in conventions of storytelling - cutting straight to the chase.

And 'You are' - hopefully like me, another storyteller or an avid story enthusiast - dwelling the same space, breathing the same air.