Yes, I received some strange looks. But I didn’t care. We’re not allowed to wear any campaign paraphernalia — no t-shirts promoting a candidate, no buttons which have been all the fashion rage of late. I get that. But no one said you can’t wear fuzzy slippers in the voting booth — fuzzy slippers with stuffed animals atop them — stuffed animals depicting the great arctic bears whose environment is visibly disappearing — bears recently placed on the Endangered Species list because of global warming. Hmmm… Isn’t there a candidate on the ballot stating that polar bears shouldn’t be considered endangered and that global warming shouldn’t be attributed to “man-made” actions? Funny. My slipper-wearing was just a coincidence. Really it was!

Aside from my subtle political statement, there was something very special about this particular voting day. In line in front of me was a woman with 2-month old twins — teaching by example from the start! Directly behind me was an octogenarian on her mobility scooter, connected to an oxygen tank, eagerly reading up on the one proposition to decide in NY. Later I learned through a Facebook status update that my 18-year old cousin voted in his first ever election. I’m telling you, everyone was out there today, flipping switches and checking boxes. I like that. I like that a lot. It almost made me want to sing “God Bless America.” I said almost! And I almost agree with the person who said that today felt like Christmas. Again, I said almost! I’m just not sure what God or Christ or Buddha or Muhammad or Allah or Xenu has anything to do with the election. But that’s me.

As I sipped my free Starbucks coffee (yeah, yeah, I know. I sold myself out going there. I ain’t perfect.) I realized the vibe on the streets of my Manhattan neighborhood was a positive one. People were happy, polite and considerate, more so than usual. (Contrary to popular opinion, NYers are generally and sometimes overwhelmingly decent folks.) I sensed a feeling of hope in the air. I wonder if the folks in the middle of the country or in Alaska feel the same thing.

As an aside — I stood in line in my lobby for about 10 minutes — it would have been quicker if there weren’t such an imbalance in last name initials in this country. No exaggeration, there were over a dozen people waiting in the L-Z line and ONE person waiting in the A-K line! I guess there must really be a lot of Smiths out there! (Why this hasn’t prompted a change in the voter check-in process, I have no idea.)

I live in a co-op with a board of directors and the whole shebang. I recently received a newsletter from my co-op board. One of the articles in that newsletter noted a change in our board of directors since one person voluntarily stepped down from her position. In that article there was a plea for new blood for the board. Some of our board members have held a role for over 20 years and are well into their 60s. The writer of the article stated the need for representation by our building’s younger tenants which have been growing in number in recent years.

Later in the same newsletter there appeared an article about neighbor disputes and what steps to take in the case there is a conflict among tenants. The article attempted to distinguish among various problems and that most issues are a one-time occurrence which are usually remedied by a one-on-one discussion between the neighbors in question. Examples of an easily rectifiable problem are an alarm clock not being shut off or a record player playing too loudly. Yes, you read that right: a record player being too loud! Unless I’ve got Snoop Dogg or the guys from Dead or Alive living next door, I seriously doubt that any excessive volume coming from anyone’s apartment is due to a RECORD PLAYER!

Yes, I think we need some new blood on the board for sure!

I don’t know how I managed to miss Puppy Bowls I – III, but I had never heard of this event. If you’re like me and don’t know what this is, a little synopsis: the Puppy Bowl is essentially a glorified doggie day care-like playroom, complete with all the fixin’s of a football stadium for dogs. The “game” features a number of puppies playing with a wide variety of chew-toys and bones, and the pups are free to tackle, bite, and do as they wish. The “game” takes place in a model stadium with no audience, minimal commentary and instant replay and “bowl cam” shots (shots upwards through the transparent bottom of a special water bowl built into the stadium floor.) There’s even a “Kitty Half Time Show” featuring a group of kittens taking the field on a large scratching post for 30 minutes and a Tail-Gate show where a group of dogs sits around outside “Animal Planet Stadium” watching TV’s and eating like a common tailgate.

What amazed me was how mesmerizing the “game” was. I apparently caught the re-run of the game when I returned home from my friend’s place while I sat on Sofia the Sofa watching TV before hitting the hay. I cycled numerous times through my favorite channels and was surprised that each time I came across the Animal Planet I lingered for a long time and watched the puppies play, be penalized for “Illegal Motions” (i.e., peeing on the floor), and pause for timeouts (in the event that the water bowl needed refilling or a fight broke out.) I really felt like I was in a trance. Apparently the producers of the Puppy Bowl were inspired by the Yule Log Christmas program, which is equally and oddly addictive! I wonder what subliminal messages were being transferred into the viewers’ brains – hopefully something like “Remember to spay and neuter” or “Be kind to animals – don’t eat them!”

I must admit that while I was watching Puppy Bowl IV I thought of the money spent on the production of this show and it ticked me off a bit. Then again, the puppies are all shelter dogs and the show contains information on how viewers can adopt rescued puppies and help their local shelter, so that’s a good thing. And who doesn’t love puppies and kittens having fun? Besides, my friend sent me an email today which ended with, “Laugh uncontrollably……and never regret anything that made you smile.” The Puppy Bowl definitely made me smile!

I wonder if during next year’s Puppy Bowl, Lassie will perform during the half-time show and “accidentally” show a teat! Probably not, seeing as Lassie is actually a male!

Apparently, there is a temple in Northeast India at which dozens of stray dogs visit for evening prayer every day and have been doing so for 40 years. They bark *NSync (I still heart Lance!) with the beats of the drums and the blowing of the conch shell. During the service, the dogs presumably become calm and stand in Pranam mudra by raising their front legs to offer prayer.

You skeptics out there are probably assuming that the canines gather at the Temple everyday to receive prasad, a gift from God, this time in the form of a sort of holy Milk Bone. You more devout blogreaders may believe that the mutts, er, mixed breeds, appear as a symbol of Kal Bhairav. Lord Kal Bhairav is an important deity for Hindus and Buddhists. He is a manifestation of Shiva (or Siva), Lord of destruction (and renewal, I believe), and who oversees the march of time. Kal Bhairav’s divine vehicle is a dog and it is believed that feeding and taking care of dogs is a means of showing devotion to the god. Kal Bhairav is also the guardian of travellers. Suffice it so say, my interest is piqued!

Well, whatever the reason for these dogs’ appearance, Kali Temple is now on my list of places to go during my RTW trip. Doggies + a diety looking out for me and my backpack + the sights, sounds and smells of India = my kind of place!

A buddy of mine pointed me to this on-line quiz site designed, in a fun way, to tell me something about myself, I suppose. Some of the quizzes were right on, I think! Try ‘em yourself. Go to: Blue Pyramid.

I’ve posted my favorite results below…

You’re UC - Berkeley!
A true hippy, you really wish you could spend the rest of your life in the 1960’s. It’s not that you haven’t been able to settle down and be quite successful, but you yearn for the days of agitation and revolution. You’re fond of the old comic Bloom County, as well as the more recent Outland. The rest of your life looks like a struggle between your prestige and your radical nature. You really like those cheap Sathers candies.
Take the University Quiz

With the country quiz I was torn between Pyramids and Cathedrals being more interesting, hence the two different responses below, both of which are very applicable to me!

You’re Mexico!
While some people think you’re poor and maybe a little corrupt, you know where it’s at, enjoying good food and nice beaches. You like to take things a little slower than those around you, and you really wish the air were cleaner, but sometimes compromises must be made. For some reason, Chevrolet keeps trying to sell you Novas as well, even though they don’t really go.

You’re Spain!
You like rain on the plain, as well as interesting architecture and a diverse number of races and religions. You like to explore a lot, but sailing, especially in large groups, never really seems to work out for you. Beware of pirates and dictators bearing bombs. And for heavens’ sake, stop running around bulls! It’s just not safe!
Take the Country Quiz

For those who don’t know who Amma is, I suggest checking out her website . Yes, spiritual gurus in this day and age have websites, too! To summarize, she is many things to many people. She plays all the roles I’ve listed, and to many she is primarily known as the woman who travels the world, giving each member of her audience individual blessings in the form of an actual motherly embrace, an expression of compassion and empathy. She visits several North American cities each summer for a few days in each to connect with EVERY person who awaits her blessing. She has been known to sit for 20 hours at a time in order to connect with each person in line. Over the course of 35 years, she has supposedly hugged 26 million people! Although she hails from India and apparently follows the traditions of her homeland, she subscribes to no formal religion, but rather says that her religion is Love.

I had known of Amma for years, thanks at first to my funky northern California ties. I have met many who have been hugged by Amma and know a couple who are followers of hers who have worked in her California base of operations as well as her Ashram in India. I have wanted to be in Amma’s presence since I learned of her but I never seemed to be at the right place at the right time. But this year, our schedules coincided with her visit to NYC. This would be the year to meet her. I sent an email to a couple of friends in the area I thought might be interested in attending the event as well, and the plans of our Amma day began to form.

The first thing I must say about the affair is that it is very well organized. Seeing as thousands of people will show up to receive a hug from Amma in a given day, crowd control is a must and the volunteers do a great job in streamlining the process. My friends and I showed up at the Manhattan Center in midtown between 9 and 10AM. Upon entering the hall, we received tokens which worked as a sort of time-stamped ticket to meet with Amma, without designating an actual time. Come to think of it, it worked more like a bakery or the DMV (which, coincidentally, advertises in the Amma Program Guide: Not all journeys take us down the road to enlightenment… Sometimes we just have to renew our driver’s license.) where you take a number, or in the case of Amma’s gathering, a number and a letter. Groups are labeled, A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, and so on; first come, first served. I arrived at 9:45 and was given a token assigning me to group L2 – an auspicious sign, seeing as one my long time monikers is L², don’t cha think? My friends, having arrived earlier than me, were to receive Darshan, Amma’s blessing/hug, sooner than I would but we all had a few hours to wait until it would be our turn.

The day started with a short meditation session and then the Darshan line began to form starting with the A1 group. While my friends and I awaited our turns, there was plenty to occupy us. The event is a strange dichotomy of spiritualism and a sort of commercialism. For better or worse, the hall itself was setup like a spiritual carnival. Hanging from the stage and banisters were beautiful mandalas and strips of ornate fabrics. Musicians took the stage and played instruments and sang chants that filled the space with spiritual reverberations. Amma sat in white by the stage, a symbol of purity, greeting each person in line with a hearty embrace. In the same space were dozens of tables with various wares for sale: clothing, jewelry, shawls, photos of Amma, posters, artwork, Amma dolls, magnets, keychains, medicinal basil, natural body products, vitamins, cookbooks, books written by Amma, calendars, t-shirts, altar accessories and CDs. Some items for sale were blessed or even worn by Amma herself. Services were also available for hire such as chair massage, vedic astrology readings and acupuncture. Tables were set up to provide information on Amma’s humanitarian programs, her university, her Ashram and her TV-channel! The strangest thing at these tables, imo, was a picture of you and Amma, however, you would never actually pose with Amma. Rather you would have your picture taken alone in front of a blue wall and an image of Amma would be superimposed beside yours. All proceeds for any purchase went towards Amma’s charities and no one ever shouted, “Step right up and win a sari!” It was, however, a strange mix indeed.

One by one my friends received their Amma hugs and each had her own story to tell of the experience. About 4 hours after arriving it was time for me to line up for my encounter with Mother. I would remove my shoes, put aside my purse and remove anything such as glasses or earrings that might hurt Amma during our embrace. At first the waiting line was a row of chairs for us to sit in, enabling us to slowly approach Amma. They were situated in the center of the hall and in the midst of the whirlwind around us. This moving closer chair by chair continued for about 15 minutes. To me, this was a preparation period for our Amma moment. We sat beneath a very high ceiling with lights beaming down on us; the music playing through the hall’s sound system engulfed me and I, it; volunteers in white gently guided us down the path of chairs toward Amma. In fact, a woman who guided me tenderly placed her hand on my shoulder for a few seconds. Her touch sent a soothing sensation down my arm and through my body. It was an unexpected moment and a very pleasant, soothing one. She even looked like an older version of a close friend of mine from my present and my youth, (and of my future, too, God willing.) I was in a trance-like state. About 10 feet from Amma, the row of chairs ceased and we knelt on the floor, slowly walking on our knees until we came face to face with The Divine Mother. At this point there were many more guides in white. We were told to stay very close to the person in front of us. Amma was almost completely encircled by a string of aides as she sat on a platform a couple of feet above our kneeling position. I’m not sure if these assistants played a part in the blessing or if they were there for physical security. There was a bright light on Amma as she was always being photographed or filmed. My reverie broke with all this distraction and crowding. Within moments I found myself in Amma’s loving arms. She embraced me with a sort of gentle force and I attempted to return the same energy back to her. She said some words into my ear which at first I could not distinguish, but after a couple of seconds I realized she was repeating the words, “my daughter, my daughter,” over and over again. I loosened my grip on Amma and allowed her to be the stronger link of this momentary connection. Upon her release of me she slipped a Prasad, a gift from God, in my hand. It took the form of a Hershey’s Kiss, infused with Amma’s spiritual energy. Although milk chocolate is no longer part of my diet, I felt it appropriate to allow myself to wholly accept this token.

I left the stage area, retrieved my shoes and purse and reconvened with my friends who wanted to know what my experience was like. I told them I wanted to process my thoughts for a while before verbalizing them. I was hoping that something profound would dawn on me after some time contemplating the moment with Amma; that a sacred revelation would strike me like a bolt of lightning if I gave it some time. Truth be told, I didn’t feel a whole heck of a lot during my hug with Amma — it was a “nice” moment, as hugs generally are, but nothing much more was hitting at my core. Perhaps it was because of the many external distractions at the time of the embrace? Maybe it was over anticipation of the moment or too much hype about Amma in general? I don’t know. My trance-like experience in the minutes prior to the hug left more of an impact on me than those 8 seconds in Amma’s arms. Truth be told again, I was feeling a bit guilty about my feelings, or lack thereof. What kind of ingrate was I not to be basking in euphoria after this amazingly generous stranger took time out of her day and life to come to my hometown and grace me with a loving embrace? I would have to mull this over for a while.

We stayed at the Manhattan Center for a couple more hours before bidding one another good-bye for the time being. Heading out onto the streets of New York was a concern for everyone after having spent the day in this spiritual oasis in the heart of the city. Would the chaos on the streets and subways interrupt the blissful mood we were in? I went about my day and ran some errands before heading home.

I was peacefully content, as I have been of late, and still somewhat in a trance for the rest of the day. Once home, I replayed the day in my head. I thought of the reunion with the friends I already knew and the making of new ones. I recalled the stories we shared with one another, of our experiences since the last time we saw one another and of plans we had for the future. I thought about the peaceful and meditative space filled with people unknown to me, yet who were kind and generous and who created this temporary community for me. I remembered the feeling of security and comfort I had in that space regardless of the fact that traffic jams and sirens and oppressive humidity were present just outside the brick walls which surrounded us. I studied the photo of Amma embracing a young calf that my friend purchased for me to thank me for bringing us together today. I held the business card of a new friend and kindred soul who I may perhaps meet in Spain during my world travels. I read the email from another friend which beautifully expressed the joy she felt in sharing the day with us. I focused on my own peace and the desire I felt to go forward and share the love, if you will, which prompted me to research some new volunteer opportunities. I considered all these things and realized that was Amma’s real gift to me today. This cherubic and kind spirit from half-way around the world, whose stamina rivals that of any tri-athlete, was the catalyst of all that exuberance of the day. If I felt it, no doubt hundreds of others did, too. Her actual embrace may not have left much of an impact on me, but her desire and intention to be present there today did. She was the stone to generate the ripples in the water. And that is a wonderful gift indeed.

I may not feel a pull to see Amma again, but I will remember her and the day fondly. And I will hopefully continue to embrace (pun intended) what she represents: kindness, acceptance, generosity, compassion, peace and love. For someone like me, a modern-day, city-dwelling, oft-times practical, logical, spiritual being living a physical existence, it’s nice to know that there’s a an example of pure goodness in the form of flesh and blood in this world — all the better that that flesh and blood doles out hugs and (chocolate) kisses too!

1976 – a biggie! Our nation’s bicentennial! My family and I went to some local fireworks show on Long Island, NY, as usual, and then went to the movies to see Murder by Death.

1984 – my parents and I had just started our month-long European sojourn. On this day we were in London which was jam-packed due to Wimbledon. Our hotel room was smaller than our unfolded map of the city. We took a dinner cruise on The Thames. A group of ugly Americans sang American patriotic songs at the tops of their lungs. My parents and I cringed in embarrassment.

1986 – my sister, brother-in-law to be, and I attended a concert at Rich Stadium in Buffalo, NY. Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and The Grateful Dead took the stage and jammed for hours and hours while we snaked out in the audience. It would be the first and last time I’d be in Jerry Garcia’s presence.

1989 – although I attended college in Boston, I was rarely there during the summers. But this year I was one of the thousands of spectators on Boston’s Esplanade experiencing the Boston Pops concert underneath a sky of lit rockets.

1993 – I traveled to Rochester, NY to see my family and meet my first-born nephew for the first time. We attended a local fireworks display and we were amazed how our 3-week old bundle slept through the ear-splitting noise.

2001 – I scored a hot ticket to the highly coveted bleacher seats for the famous Macy’s Fireworks extravaganza along New York City’s East River. The day itself was even hotter. We received goodie bags filled with tchokies including a light-up lucite star necklace which I still have but which needs a new battery. Later we crashed a party at a nearby yacht club.

2005 – I completed my descent of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. I received my gold certificate for having reached the summit the day before. I took a shower for the first time in a week. I partied with my fellow climbers and porters with good food and local beer. I befriended a cute South African guy with whom I’m still in touch.

2006 – I attended a festive yet unrelated-to-Independence-Day party in Northern California. The party was held in the backyard of my friends’ family in honor of friendship with their fellow pals from Puerto Rico. It was a rollicking good time with plenty of good food and music and dancing. I made cupcakes with white frosting topped with strawberries and blueberries.

2007 – I’m here in NYC for the first time in years. The weather is rather overcast and thunderstorms threaten to put a damper on any firework displays tonight. I don’t think this year’s celebration will make it into future moments to reminisce. But I’m content and FREE — and I’ve got lemon ice in the freezer!

May the gods and goddesses bless America and the whole world. No exceptions!

A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions. - Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Well put, wouldn’t you say? I liked this quote — it hit home for me. I pondered it a great deal. For better or worse, this statement is quite true. Everything we do or witness shapes us forever, whether we’re aware of it or not. They create our life while we’re busy making other plans.

As for me, I hope for parallel plane experiences. Heck, a tesseract experience would be even better! M5-brane experiences would be sublime! Bring ‘em on! The more dimensions the better!

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password: