This macrame doorway curtain was an ambitious project as it is the biggest I've ever attempted till now. It took me two weeks to complete it and I loved the way it turned out. However the rod, which is adjustable, and which was supposed to be fixed on to the wall, did not stay for long and after two weeks of display it came down.
Disappointed but still determined to hoist it up again, I took some additional measures of using a double sided tape which would help the ends stick to the wall. And so it went up again. It held promise for a few more weeks till one night it came down again.
This time, I decided to consult my friend who has a "curtain" business. I wanted to know if I had made a mistake in getting the adjustable, no-nails rod. He suggested that I buy inexpensive wall fasteners online and take care to clean the wall before I fix them. That was exactly what I did. I bought the wall fasteners and fixed them with great care, cleaning the wall first with alcohol and waiting for 24 hours for the adhesive to work effectively before placing the macrame curtain again. This time, it lasted a greater number of weeks until once again I saw it on the floor when I woke up one morning.
I thought it was really curtains down, and felt very very disappointed. I thought of the moment I proudly took pictures of it and posted it on my social media and got so many appreciative comments about it. Little do people know the frustrations associated with it. Apart from not having a display anymore, I worried that I now had this massive amount of rope on my hands.
Then I examined the damage. The plastic outer fastener that held the rod had got detached from the plastic on the wall, but it wasn't broken so it could be fixed back with a strong adhesive. In fact the packet that the fasteners came in had an extra tube of glue. This I used to help stick back the outer plastic piece. Now it is up again much to my delight and satisfaction.
I couldn't help singing the Hindi song :
Yeh jo chilman hai, dushman hai hamari.
(This curtain, is such an enemy of mine)
It also reminded me of the story of the Scottish King Robert Bruce who after being defeated in war with the English, went into hiding in some caves. There he drew inspiration from a spider spinning its web. He watched the number of times the spider tried and failed, till it finally succeeded in spinning its web. There is a lesson in it for all of us as well as Robert Bruce, who went back to war with renewed energy and spirit and was victorious.
And of course Goenkaji's sonorous voice asking us to "Start again" at the meditation retreats was a great reminder to leave the past unsuccessful attempts and press forward with renewed vigour. I hope I am successful this time and the curtain doesn't come crashing again.
But then even if it does, I will start again. Down maybe but never out.
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