Just another lazy day!!!!

Lohri with V-Gujral's Family

 Yesterday was an Utrayan. Festival of Kites!! Fun day of our youth days!!Back in my small village Karamsad we used to celebrate this festival for days!!But here in G, dham I don't see much enthusiasm for that. Today is a giving (Daan) day. You give money, food, clothes to poor...
    I had straight two late nights!! One at my friend A-Kothary and second at V-Gujral. So whole day I slept & slept. Some times over sleeping are very essential for my tired mind & body. So many times I have wondered that a small sleep time from routine helps us to rejuvenate...so what 'Samadhi' kind of sleep which our Gurus & Saints are advising us to obtain will do to us??What it is?? I know that to achieve that kind of 'Samadhi' or reach at that level one demands a lot daily practice of your faith. I do have faith but right now I don't have daily practice!!Still the Maya (material worlds) attracts me, wraps me or I myself allows that voluntary. I still like it. I still love it. But I know that someday small steps of my faith will take me to such level that my tired mind will be well rested forever.
  Well that was a very heavy topic. I will write about that at another time when I am more focused & less stressed. You can't express best in distress.
   A-Kothary was only close woman friend at times in G, dham and I think will remain only close friend in my life time.... We met in November 1980. We instantly became good friends!! We shared many laughs, sorrows, joys and common interests. The Gardner became friend with her husband A-Kothary (his name also starts with A).I also became very close to him. Our families also became close.....I think that was golden era of my life..... Then we moved to USA.....and slowly we drifted... The time, distance & circumstances change everything...so did we? When The Gardner decided to move back to India, I was little hesitant but his heart was here  so again after living almost two decades in the USA we made our nest here again in our home town G,dham, hoping to reconnect well with our past...but life & destiny always surprises you.... Any way the party was for their 31st anniversary. Going to her place was once like going to my own place but today I went like other guests...ahhh I have so many memories of that house. The party was fun as usual. The Gardner was making himself more comfortable but it was getting late.....so we left.
   The Lohri is a well observed festival in North side of India. It is a very similar to our Holy festival. We lit fire in a pile of woods and pray that our sins, problems and unpleasant situations from our lives burn in the fire. Gujrals are from North and it was their second daughter-in-law Minnie’s first Lohri so I was invited. V-G was not in the town so The Gardner didn't come. It was a youngster’s party. P-Gujral wife of V-G & me were only adults. I felt privileged. P-G is a very simple & calm woman. She is well nourished in the company of her dotting husband & loving family. She is blessed with two handsome boys & gorgeous two daughter-in-laws and how can you forget Saisha? She most of the time savored popcorn & danced. She still prefer to call me 'billa; I think I also prefers that for time being!!!
   We performed some rituals around the fire, danced on the rhythm of 'Dholak'(Drums) and played the Housy (Lotto) game. The best thing I liked was all male partners also took part in the game!!! Once our partners also used to take part but now....ha ha they still prefer to call themselves young but sit at one place...where else??? At Bar only!! I had a lot fun with fresh & shining faces but it was getting late...so I left.
   So now you know the reason of my over sleeping??? But now I can take more joy & stress for time being.
   love always billa driftwood.

A-Kothary & Me