(not necessarily in that order)
The rain finally stopped and I was able to go for a walk in the neighborhood.
This time I went uphill from our apartment and took photos on the way down.
I love noticing how the vista changes when viewed from different elevations.
Lunch today. Pizza tonight. Brunch tomorrow. Most likely lunch on Monday, followed by another lunch on Tuesday.
This is some serious eating! Which takes time, because we’re in Europe and meals are more or less three hours long.
The important thing is to pace oneself. And focus on enjoying quality time with people we love.
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.
What an important reminder (thank you, Ramesha).
Over and over again I fall into the trap of believing the Ego on this one. Of course, it never ever works.
When will I finally and forever listen to Spirit and make finding peace my absolute first priority?
Which brought to mind this A Course in Miracles quote card, which I’ve had for years and years and wrote about in a blog post from 2020:
The peace of God is my one goal
The aim of all my living here,
The end I seek,
My purpose and my function and my life.
Amazing to think that we arrived in Lugano a week ago. It feels like we’ve been here a long time already, but we have three weeks yet to go.
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.
Yesterday was about connecting.
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.
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.
Right now we’re temporary residents of Castagnola, a village just north of Lugano. It’s not so high up Monte Bre, making it much more convenient than Aldesago, where we stayed in 2019 and again last year. The view from Aldesago was amazing, but driving up and down the mountain every day got a little old.
This year we’re on the second floor (out of six) of the apartment building, facing the mountain instead of the lake. So no view, but we got a lot more space for the money (which makes a huge difference when you’re staying someplace for a month).
These photos that I took on the way to caffè and brioche this morning will give you an idea of the neighborhood.
Today we enjoyed an excursion to Centro Lugano.
First was lunch at Migros: fresh slices of pizza, followed by caffè macchiato, and mini-fruit tarts.
Then we walked to and through Parco Ciani, enjoying the beautiful spring flowers that are blooming everywhere.
A lovely, relaxing day.
