My gratitude to all who so kindly wrote me after my last post.
I soon left Rome
for Venice
and a cozy room
breakfast is served
then walks in the rain
over bridges
from church
to church
to church
It’s carnival
people don their finest
the gondoliers are busy
the palazzi smile
It’s a happy time in Venice
Then off
to Paris and more rain
My father fell ill
he was well cared for
well fed
and welcomed me warmly
Alexander cooked
as he entertained the girls
however he quickly got weaker
Victoria read to him
and Olivia stroked him
when pain was great he received medicine
then rested
and I went out to photograph
Malith and Dimu payed their respects
Sandra provided warmth
however the end approached
by morning he had left
the doctor made his pronouncement
Jose helped dress him
and then the undertakers came
to take his body away
How quickly life goes by!
Fall in New Jersey
and at The Tibet Center - Kunkhyab Thardo Ling
Then on to India
where people enjoy the sun’s warmth
I visit Nizamuddin
have lunch
and meet Mayank Soofi, The Delhi Walla
On to the South where Norbu Tsering awaits
along with Lobsang Tenzin
Suresh makes tea
old friends come by
the new abbot says hello
Administrators are hard at work
Gen Ngawang Tashi is constructing a new building
it began as a room for the temple keeper
electricity has been provided
workers are busy
toiling the old way
Drakpa Gyaltsen cleans up
the young monks help
enthusiastically!
they are Rato’s future
they study hard
learn to read
write
and memorize
We celebrate the anniversary of Jé Tsongkhapa
Founder of the Geluk Order
Monks exit chanting his mantra
and circumambulate the temple
Life proceeds at Rato Dratsang
I visit my father
He lives near Garibaldi
protected by soldiers
a general
It’s a sedentary part of town
easy to navigate
we read
and eat!
Sandra writes her book
Alexander visits
we walk
a carbonara at Checco's
followed by a rest
and then good bye
to return to New Jersey for Halloween