Today’s lunch was in Camarino (about half an hour from Lugano), at the apartment of Ramesha’s niece, Nicole, and her boyfriend, Antonio.
It was another delicious lunch, in another beautiful location, followed by yet more walking through lovely surroundings. The only real difference is that the sun came out and stayed out, so it was quite warm.
We were there for almost four hours altogether and, while we thoroughly enjoyed our time with Nicole and Antonio, I have to admit that by the time we get home it’s hard to focus on accomplishing anything else.
Turns out that yesterday’s walk up the hill above our apartment was just a warmup for an excursion with Ramesha’s family today.
We went to the quite amazingly beautiful Parco San Grato, located high above Lugano, to walk the grounds and have a picnic.
There are plenty of photos to share, but I’m too pooped to deal with them tonight.
We only walked/hiked for about two hours altogether, but there was plenty of up and down, plus dealing with uneven, rocky ground. All in all, it was the most physical activity I’ve had in a while and I am definitely feeling it this evening.
Not a great or a posed photo. But the three siblings were laughing and enjoying each other’s company so much that I simply had to try and capture the moment.
It’s times like these that make the time and energy expended on the journey feel totally worth it.
The gentleman in the apartment complex across from our living room is a tailor. I find this intriguing, maybe because I used to sew my own clothes when I was a teenager.
I was initially curious because of the equipment and supplies on his balcony; it looked like a complete outdoor studio, with a sewing machine and rolls of what looked like fabric.
And then I looked out and saw him sewing different pieces of cutout fabric together and all became clear. I don’t know why but everything about this is fascinating to me. I just wish I could know his full story.
We had lunch with all the members of Ramesha’s family who currently live in Switzerland (father, brother, sister and brother-in-law, niece and boyfriend) at a pizzeria in Lugano Centro.
Silvio with Nicole, his granddaughter
We very much enjoyed our first “official” pizza of this year’s trip…and boy was it good!
Then in the evening we had dinner with the Lo Menzo family — Dudo, Karin, Samuele, and Lia. They’re some of my favorite people on the planet; unfortunately, we laugh so much when we’re together that I almost always forget to take any pictures. 😂
Swami Kriyananda left his body on April 21, 2013 — eleven years ago today.
I didn’t respond well when we learned that he had died. We were living in the Ananda LA ashram and it was late on Saturday night when the email arrived from Lakshman. Ramesha read it aloud and I immediately replied: “NO!” — then repeated it emphatically again and again.
I just couldn’t believe it was true.
I still miss him very much, but at the same time I have moments of knowing that he’s with me just as much — or even more — than before.
The challenge is to be more aware of his presence from moment to moment, especially when I’m feeling confused or struggling to understand my next steps. Because when I consciously tune in, he’s right there…guiding me.
In fact, as we celebrate his life on the anniversary of his passing, I’m reminded that one of my intentions while we’re in Lugano is to find (or more accurately, take) the time to get still and ask Swamiji to help me find clarity about the top priorities for Ananda’s music ministry.
I’m definitely feeling an increasing sense of urgency to understand and then accomplish that which is truly mine to do in support of this gift to the world with which we’ve been entrusted — Ananda Music.
