Each morning when I take the Tai Chi class this is what I see:
Beauty in front of me
And beauty above me
Yesterday there were also eagles flying overhead most of the class! I will watch and see if they are there every day.
Early Morning Beauty
Category: Photography
A Storm’s A’Coming
As I left the auditorium yesterday evening, I noticed there was a strange orange glow in the air. I looked up at the sky and it was blue. I didn’t know where the glow came from; it felt surreal.
When I turned the next corner, it became very windy. Once I reached the balcony on the fifth floor of of the building where I live, I could see a wide expanse of sky. The various colors and textures before me were striking.
Before long there was lightning and then rain poured from the sky!
Living and Learning in Amritapuri (Dec 8-13, 2015)
Tai Chi
I’m still dragging. I know part of it is from the heat and part is from having a cold, but I’ve realized that the Tai Chi I am doing is probably the main culprit. I believe, and my Tai Chi teacher confirmed, that the process is releasing toxins that need to move through and out of my body. My body is softening and I can move in ways that I couldn’t do two weeks ago. Tai Chi is meditative and it is allowing me to find that part of myself again. The last two times I’ve gone to meditations with Amma, I have slipped into a meditative state. My mind is so active that I haven’t had that experience for many years. I am so excited!
Chennai
Amma sent rescue workers to Chennai when the flooding first happened. Yesterday there were signs around the ashram asking western residents and visitors to go to Chennai to help with the clean-up effort. Forty left for Chennai last night and I heard that more may go today.
Nature
I share my room with this friend (Hold cursor over pictures to see captions; click on photos to enlarge them.)
On the ceiling
India- on the wall
One day I saw this creature cross the path in front of me. I couldn’t believe the speed it was moving. It certainly wasn’t a worm and I didn’t think a centipede could move that fast. Turns out it was a millipede, or at least that is what I was told.
Among the things I’ve been dealing with this year are termites. That’s not surprising since this is the tropics. Actually, I’m a bit surprised that I’ve had wood furniture for this long without them. Last week, Akshay removed the wood in the shelves above my window. That stopped the droppings that were forming below the shelves so I’m hoping it solved the problem.
Earlier this year I researched and posted information about a variety of ‘pests’, e.g. slugs, ants, and aphids. I learned so much through that process and my respect for those creatures really increased. I think I will write one on termites. I’m very eager to learn more about them.
Play Preparation
I’ve been to several of the play rehearsals. I love it as much as I always do. Chaitanya asks me to edit the script once she finishes it so I know what the story is about but to see it move from words on paper to a play that comes alive always feels miraculous. The music, acting, props, costumes, etc. are so good.
Jani and Sumati have been working on the costumes night and day. I’m beginning to help but am not doing nearly as much as they are. As I feel better I hope to help more.
Sumati
Sheep costumes children will wear
Patience or lack thereof
I had very poor internet connection for the last four days. It has been very frustrating and I haven’t been very patient about it. Yesterday I started the process of getting a new internet stick. (To get cell phone SIM cards and internet sticks you have to have copies of passports, visas, passport photos, fill out applications, and wait through many lines. It is a test of patience in and of itself.) I was able to pick up the new stick and activate it a few minutes ago. So far it feels like SUCCESS. If so, you will more probably hear from me more often!
Sreejit
This morning I bought cinnamon rolls and took them to the place where Sreejit cooks. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SREEJIT!
To see the earlier posts in this series go to: https://livinglearningandlettinggo.wordpress.com/india/
Weekly Photo Challenge: Oops!
I knew someday I’d have a use for this picture! I’m not sure what caused the pink. I wondered if I had my finger over part of the lens.
Wordless Wednesday
Weekly Photo Challenge: Eye Spy
Three eyes came to mind when I read this week’s challenge. One is the eye of the Fremont troll. It resides under the Aurora Bridge in Seattle.
Fremont Troll- Seattle
The second is the eye of a needle.
And the third is a photo that my friend Marla took of her dog Bodhi! Who could resist a look like this?
1970: My Summer as a Migrant Farm Laborer #2 (Atlanta International Pop Festival)
After a good night’s sleep, we said goodbye to my parents and then headed for Byron, Georgia. We were excited to attend the upcoming Atlanta International Pop Festival prior to looking for more work.
To get to the event, we had to park about three miles away and walk in. We decided to camp outside the festival grounds on our first night. We had left the hot canvas tent in Florida, so ended up sharing a tarp with some people we met.
We spent the next day at the festival roasting in the sun. The temperature was about 104 degrees. There was no shade and no breeze. There wasn’t enough water and ice was considered a luxury. Five pounds of ice cost $1 and we paid 25 cents for a popsicle. The event staff passed out salt tablets, hats and suntan lotion.
I enjoyed the music despite the physical discomfort. We were about 30 feet from the stage!
I had mixed feelings/thoughts about being there. I was super, super uptight during a lot of it. The heat as well as the lack of water and food was unbearable and I didn’t like being around so many people who were stoned.
Our skin was blistered and swollen from sunburn when we left. However listening to musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Richie Havens, the Chambers Brothers and the Memphis cast for Hair as well as getting to know some of the people who were there made it worth it. My favorite memory of the event was waking up the last morning to Richie Havens singing “Here Comes the Sun!”
My final conclusion was that I was glad we had gone, but didn’t think I would ever want to do it again.
The festival was over at 10 a.m. Monday so we packed up, hitched a ride to our car and were on our way by 11:30. Off to find a job!
[Note: My scrapbook says there were 200,000 people at the festival. Wikipedia said that the estimates varied from 250,000 to 600,000! Their article contains a lot of interesting information.]
(The next post in this series will be published on Friday December 11.)
To read the previous posts go to:
1970: My Summer as a Migrant Farm Laborer (Series Intro)
1970: My Migrant Farm Labor Summer #1 (Seattle to Florida)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Transition
I thought this photo showed the transition from bud to opening to open! I saw it today in India.
Written for Weekly Photo Challenge: Transition
Wordless Wednesday
Wordless Wednesday
Living, Learning and Letting Go 