India

Look.

Look as long as you can

at the friend you love.

No matter whether that friend

is moving away from you

or coming back to you.

- Rumi

Kriya Yoga Class

Returning home from abroad is always an adjustment and often a shock to the system (a Visa fiasco that almost kept me in India, a funeral of a loved one upon arrival, jet lag, a strange allergy rash, and stomach sickness that I managed to avoid whilst there, got me in the end)...

India is oblivious to Christmas and yet in Sri Lanka, Santa is everywhere.... and home (Texas) is returning to Christmas over-board. And, of course, it's returning to loved ones. (I got the best hugs from the boys... then, "What did you bring me, Mom?" Nathan's favorite gift was the Rudrucksha Mala beads and "sacred and magical rocks from the Ganga River", and Drew's was a small notebook made from banana leaves which he promptly drew a picture of himself wearing a shirt with a large "A" on it, for Andrew.)

Drew asked me this morning, "Did the world change while you were away?"  I don't know about that, but I certainly have. It's impossible to experience another culture and not have those who crossed your path leave an imprint on you in some way.

Thanks to my teachers, Mataji and Indu and to all the wonderful new friends-- I am incredibly blessed.

It's safe to say that I'm in love with India and feel abundant gratitude for the serendipitous adventures.

Sunrise over the Himilayas