(not necessarily in that order)
I leave for my weeklong ayurvedic retreat tomorrow and will miss Ramesha’s actual birthday next week.
So, tonight we had a simple celebration at home — just the two of us. No candles (the photo is just for fun), but a deliciously healthy pasta dinner followed by a super chocolatey cupcake for dessert.
It’s bittersweet, because this is the first time in nineteen years that I won’t be celebrating with him on his special day. But it’s for a good cause!
The snow stopped long enough for us to drive into town to pick up a prescription and buy groceries. There were long lines in both places, with everyone stocking up before the next storm hits.
Our last stop was the bank, where this happy snow person was waiting to greet us as we parked the car. What a delightful way to finish up our errands!
The storm that we waited (and waited!) for all of yesterday finally arrived overnight. And now that it’s here, it doesn’t want to stop.
It’s been snowing steadily throughout the day and is predicted to continue until morning. Earlier I had to reschedule a couple of medical appointments, but fortunately we don’t have anywhere we have to be tomorrow. As for Sunday, who knows?!?
For us it’s mostly just a matter of inconvenience, although I do get a little nervous when it goes and goes and goes without stopping.
I’m pretty sure that’s due to a dream I had when I was nine years old and got to experience snow for the first time.
My best friend’s family traveled to Tahoe to ski and the two daughters each got to invite a friend to go along. It started snowing while we were there. Not hard, I don’t think, but enough to make an impression on a little girl from the San Francisco Bay Area.
I also wonder if it perhaps triggered a past life memory, because I dreamt of waking up and opening a front door that was completely blocked by snow. I can still recall being freaked out by the idea of being trapped inside a snowbound cabin, even though that was more than half a century ago.
Of course, a quick Google search showed me that it’s not all that uncommon. But geez, talk about claustrophobia! 🥶
Today I encountered a profound life lesson in the form of a poem.
“I wonder if you know,
the work your body has done today.
And every day.
How much disease it has fought off.
How many times it could have failed but battled on,
how many ways it could have broken but did not.
I wonder if you know,
the work your body has done today.
And every day.
And each day it has done this amazing job,
without your help,
without your approval,
your acceptance,
your kindness.
Each day it has soldiered on,
regardless of the constant stream of negativity,
pulsing its way from your brain to your cells.
Not good enough.
Not attractive enough.
Not the right shape.
Perhaps it’s time to see your body for what is truly is,
An amazing and mind-blowingly competent machine.
To get your soul to where it needs to be in this life.
To let you live.
I wonder if you know,
how much better you would be as a team.
I wonder.”
From the book, “I Wish I Knew” by Donna Ashworth
Winter is evidently not done with us yet — which is good news for drought-stricken California!
The expected big winter storm is just settling in, but boy oh boy is it cold already. Lots of snow is on the way.
As usual, now that I’m past the big push of last week’s events, all the tasks that had been waiting for attention have started swirling around in my head.
So many issues to address; so many directions to go in — I hardly know where to begin!
Ramesha and I were both pretty groggy and more than a little spacey this morning.
In a word, we were feeling the after effects of nine days in a row of retreats and classes and Sunday services and organizing singers and spending time with friends and being deeply inspired. Phew!
All glorious, but also exhausting.
But life goes on. By afternoon we were dealing with vaccines (got my last dose of the COVID primary series — yay!), resolving phone issues, shopping for groceries, and this evening I finished a grant proposal for an exciting upcoming project.
And from here on out, it’s full speed ahead (and that includes preparing for my fast approaching healing retreat)!
It’s been a while since I’ve been quite this tired…depleted, really.
In fact, by the end of Sunday service I felt like I was running on fumes!
But the nine days in a row of absolutely amazing inspiration makes it all worth it.
The panel for this morning’s Kriyaban Retreat class was out-of-this-world inspiring!
At lunch we connected with devotees from near and far (the Village, Long Beach, and New York City).
The afternoon was spent in satsang with dear friends, Narayan and Dharmadevi.
So, no surprise that — for me at least — tonight has been about kicking back and catching my breath in order to be ready bright and early for Sunday service prep.
I’m feeling so grateful for tonight’s Kriya ceremony.
The Temple of Light was close to full; the inspiration level was through the roof; and the loving devotion in the room was palpable.
What a blessing.