Middle of the supermarket in Cheruvathur. Evi is scooping up cleaning products to ensure that our room remains disinfected to the standard of open heart surgery theatres. [She knows these standards, having had open heart surgery). I grab one of the bottles so I can pay for it, thinking I can at least contribute in that way since she won’t let me clean. Evi grabs the bottle back and we proceed to fight over it. The store clerk watches for a bit, walks away, returns with a second bottle of the same liquid and hands it to me. I fall on the floor laughing…
It is so good to see Evi again. Who else would try to draw a picture of a coil heater to show to everyone in the store in the hopes that they’ll figure out what it is that she seeks so desperately (no hot water here so she’s going to boil her own). Who else looks for a mop on vacation? Only my Evi, and I love her for it.
Last nite was special. In addition to the continuing full moon celebration, there were three people observing birthdays, so they brought in some local musicians and we held the evening meditation and satsang outside at the pond. It was a beautiful clear night, and just after the music started, the huge moon appeared from behind a small hill in the distance and rose to cast light over the ashram grounds. Magic, and it’s only Day One.
In addition to it being the cleanest room in the building, my room here at Sivananda Peetham is perfect. We sleep with the balcony door open at night. I use the mosquito net as a precaution but I don’t think there are any critters around. Im particularly wary of monkeys; those little thieves will make off with everything you own given a chance.