posted by Link on Feb 25
We went down then came back up, then went down to wait for Amma. Amma didn’t call, we waited at the bottom of Her stairs, When she came down at 10:30, hugged Anni, cried, gave Uncle Jeff a big hug, long hug, said “you’re her uncle?”, went. She was walking across the bridge way.Anni and I ran ahead and positioned ourselves in Acchan’s house, where Amma was sure to stop on Her way. She came and sat down near Acchan, was teasing him, etc. We were standing in a corner of a room there. After about 5 minutes Damayanti Amma was brought in a wheelchair. Amma talked to her, asking her if she remembered anybody’s names, etc. Damayanti Amma’s memory is failing. Every once in a while, Amma glanced in our direction, but I can’t be sure that She was looking at Annika…
When it seemed like She was about to go, Anni and I went out and joined the line, so that Amma would pass by us. However, when She came out, She didn’t see us. I ran to a point later on in the line, She just passed by. Then I followed Her over the bridge (the whole crowd was) and was stuck on the first landing from the bottom on the other side as Amma got into Her car. I jumped over the side into the soft wet sand below, crossed under the bridge, passed Amma’s car and was at a spot where I could meet Her as She passed by, but She didn’t say anything…
And She left.
Aum Amriteshwaryai Namah
-Link
posted by Link on Feb 25
Sunday morning, around 3:45 am, our man Manoj calls from the airport and tells me that almost all the passengers of Uncle’s flight have left the airport, and that Uncle Jeff has still not come out of the airport. Not Again!!! He said he would wait some more. Around 4am, he calls again with the good news that Uncle Jeff has finally arrived, sans the most important bag: the one carrying the juicer and supplements, the hot/cold packs, etc! It was lost in the Dubai airport… Oh well. Uncle had, however, filled out all the papers.I asked Manoj chettan (elder brother) to bring uncle here ASAP, as Amma was expected to leave soon for the North Indian tour. So they hurry onwards, and I drift back into my semi sleep.
Come 5am, we all get up and take our baths, as we had heard that Amma was going to leave at 6. By 6am, we are all down below Amma’s room. At 6:30, Raju chettan kindly tells us to come back around 9:30, and that Amma was not leaving till after 10. We retire back to our room to sleep some more.
About 7:30, Manoj chettan calls and tells me to meet them at the Vallikavu side of the bridge. Uncle Jeff had finally arrived!
After the preliminaries, some marginal unpacking, etc, we all went down to near Amma’s house, introducing Uncle Jeff to all and sundry on the way. We went down to the Darshan Hut. Even though it was only 8:30, and She was only supposed to go by 10, there were still many people waiting for Her.
Aum Amriteshwaryai Namah
-Link
posted by Link on Feb 24
All Friday, or all of the latter part of Friday, Rishikesh and many others have been getting Uncle’s room ready. Rishi and I also poured over uncle’s flight itinerary, and decided that he must be coming this Saturday morning at around 3:45am. Subhadramma’s son, Manoj who works in AIMS was lined up to pick up uncle Jeff from the airport, escort him to AIMS, arrange a meeting with Dr Sanjay, and pack him off towards here after finally getting the hard copy of the records and scans. Whew!So this morning at about 4 I got a call from Manoj, who said that uncle Jeff hadn’t showed up yet. I had him go to the taxi stand, the airport enquiry, and then back to AIMS to search the whole lobby… no luck. So finally, poor Manoj, at around 5am called off the case, after Annika insisted that I go over the itinerary. I saw a huge mistake: although the departure from Dubai was on the 24th, the arrival was not till the 25th! It was a midnight flight… I felt so sorry for Manoj Chettan; he hadn’t slept the previous night either, since a brahmachari had gone up to AIMS for treatment…
Today Sheela Aunty and Lakshmi Chechi threw out the milk and curd I had bought last Wednesday… I was at my wit’s end with regard of what to do with it…
Amma came back from Sri Lanka at 1:pm. None of us saw Her. We were feeling like we should go down, go down, but when we finally got out of the door, we got a message that Amma had already reached Her room. She came in through the south gate, so most people missed Her. Those who saw her said that she seemed quite tired.
This afternoon, Manoj Chettan collected the papers from the doctor to give to uncle Jeff tomorrow, and agreed to do a repeat performance…
Aum Amriteshwaryai Namah
-Link