(not necessarily in that order)
Today’s photo is of Ramesha and his brother, Fulvio, whose birthday was today.
For the first time in seventeen years we’re actually in Switzerland and able to celebrate Fulvio’s birthday in person. We all went out to dinner as a family, eating great food and having a whole lot of fun.
In fact, I haven’t laughed so much in a long time.
I needed to scroll through some random photos of past trips to Switzerland to remind myself why the stress of traveling is so very, very worth it.
There’s the incredible beauty, of course. But way more important are the people we haven’t seen in almost four years.
We can’t wait.
I overcame my phone resistance today and was rewarded with a lovely chat with my dad and sister.
I’m not sure why I have such a hard time picking up the phone and calling people I love, but I’ve been that way pretty much forever.
Oh well. 🤷‍♀️
This morning was spent driving to Sacramento for a consultation with a specialist at the UC Davis Cancer Center, followed by a lovely lunch visit with my Dad and sister.
This was especially perfect as it was Ramesha’s birthday and he hadn’t spent time with them since our Father’s Day/birthday (mine and Cathy’s) celebration back in June!
When we stopped to pick up packages in the mailroom on our way home, we found a box of flowers addressed to Fabio Nani, which we assumed were for his birthday (which would have been a first in his experience).
But we were wrong! The bouquet of tulips came with a note addressed to me, saying: “Sending you healing thoughts and a little sunshine to brighten your day.” And it was from Amy Porterfield and her team. She’s the founder of the Digital Course Academy which Ramesha has been getting so much out of this past year.
He had written to the group to explain why he’s taking a break in order to help me during this time of health challenge, and received a tsunami wave of supportive responses that culminated in this thoughtful gift.
What an amazing group of people; they don’t even know me, but they are supporting their colleague with so much love.
I’m once again humbled by the overwhelming support we’re receiving.
When I started my RPP program back at the end of February it was with the expectation that I would go all out for six months before we flew off to visit family in Europe.
After a solid six months, I anticipated being totally okay with taking a break from at least some of my new lifestyle choices. I mean, no way was I going to Switzerland and Italy and not having any pizza or pasta or fondue or (fill in the blank)!
So, today I realized I’ve passed that six month point and there’s no trip to Europe on the horizon. And I think this may be why I’ve been feeling resistance and restlessness with my program.
A part of me knows this is the moment when Ramesha and I should be at a cafe in downtown Lugano having caffè macchiato and a brioche. Or enjoying an amazing pizza on the piazza in Assisi. Or eating lunch at Silvio’s and dinner with the Lo Menzo’s.
I know the resistance will pass, but in the meantime I can’t help but be a little sad.
I thoroughly enjoyed a wonderful couple of days, shared with my wonderful husband; a portion of my family (Dad, sister, one of my brothers, a niece, and a grand-niece!); new friends (Michael and Olivia, the absolutely delightful owners of Bradley House, the bed-and-breakfast where we spent the night); and old friends (Sundara and Nandadevi, returned from two weeks visiting family back East).
Our time was so full with all the driving and meeting and talking and eating, that I haven’t yet had a chance to read the many birthday greetings that arrived throughout the day. I look forward to doing that on the day after my birthday!
My sister shared this with me yesterday (thanks, Cathy!); I was touched by it and thought you might be, too. My gratitude to Ben Rector for this heartwarming song.
Happy day-after-Thanksgiving!
Lyrics:
Familiar highways
Lined with leaves turned brown
Making my way
Back into my hometown
Funny how this all looks different, but it feels the same
Like how life never stops changing but some things never change
So fill your plate and fill your drink
And fill this house with family
The kind of love that all these years can’t wash away
Cause the older that I get I see that life is short and bittersweet
Thank God that it’s Thanksgiving Day
Watching football
Watching families grow
The old kid’s table all have kids of their own
Starting to see my grandfather in my nephew’s eyes
Mom still can’t talk about him and not almost cry
So fill your plate and fill your drink
And fill this house with family
The kind of love a thousand miles can’t wash away
Cause the older that I get I see that life is short and bittersweet
Thank God that it’s Thanksgiving Day
So fill your plate and fill your drink
Put your dishes in the kitchen sink
And let the leftover year just wash away
Cause we made it through I do believe the longest year in history
Thank God that it’s Thanksgiving Day
My youngest brother suffers from Huntington’s Disease, which has been passed down on my mother’s side of the family for generations. Huntington’s is a rare, inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown (degeneration) of nerve cells in the brain. There are treatments for symptoms, but no cure.
Jonathan tested positive over ten years ago, but the reality of the disease is becoming more and more…well, real. In fact, I was planning to write about how he was recently hospitalized with some complications and the issues he’s facing. But I realize that all I really want to say right now is: please pray.
For Jonathan; his wife, Jessica; and their daughter, Janaya. And for my Dad, my sister, and our other two brothers. Thank you. 🙏
The topic for today’s Inner Renewal Week class was “The Social Path to Self-Realization: World Brotherhood Colonies”, which ended up being the theme for my entire day!
First of all, I happened upon this recent photo of Ananda Assisi community members and was struck by how deeply connected I still feel to these souls even though it’s been over fifteen years since I lived there. Time and distance don’t matter; they’re family!
Then we ate lunch with Deodan, who just arrived from Assisi last night and will be here for two months learning about managing a community. Our lunch table included devotees from Italy (Deodan), Switzerland (Ramesha ), and Sweden (Anna), showing yet another beautiful aspect of Ananda — people from different countries, cultures, backgrounds, and lifestyles coming together to live, work, and serve in a harmonious unity.
To cap it all off, we led a sing-along tonight in the Temple of Light. Village residents, visitors from other communities, and Expanding Light guests joined together in blissing out to Swamiji’s music; personally, I felt totally uplifted! And I found myself reflecting yet again on how important Swamiji considered music to be in building strong communities. He addresses it in this quote (one of my favorites, no surprise!):
“I can best express through music the feeling of holy upliftment that possessed me. Therefore I tell people, “If you want to know me, listen to my music.” It is through this that people have come to understand what Ananda is truly all about. Without its influence, Ananda would not be what it is today. Books and lectures are only the outer form of the teachings. Music is its coursing blood.“
(from A Place Called Ananda, Chapter 13)
It’s almost time to say our good-byes; almost time to fly home to California in order to return to “regular” life.
It’s always hard to leave our Lugano family and dear friends, despite the fact that we’re going back to be with other family and dear friends! In fact, we are extremely fortunate in that wherever we go there are people we love, and who love us in return.
We’re sad, but we know in our hearts that — truly — there’s nothing to be sad about: we’re carrying all the people we love with us in our hearts, wherever we go.