Last night, right after I posted, the storm took out all the electricity!  It was pitch black and about five us stayed and visited in the I cafe.  When I went outside, there were huge puddles everywhere!  My feet were totally covered with mud by the time I returned to the Guest House. 

In today's paper, a cover story says "Monsoon arrives fortnight early with thunderous start.  The Monsoon has arrived two weeks early, with torrential rain lashing the city on Monday afternoon."  I may be in for some crazy weather ahead!

An Irish priest led today's mass.  He was great to listen to "..give tanks.  Tank the Lord and Mother Teresa."    He actually met Mother Teresa 12 years ago and she invited him to India.  At the time, he told her he didn't have the money to make the trip.  However in time, God saw to it and he made it.  Following mass, the Sisters sang a beautiful song to him, something like ..."you are the priest to be congratulated."  When the Sisters sing, it is something special.  They have the loveliest voices.   It was also Habiere's (Hah-bee-air) last day so we sang "Thank you, Miss you, Love you" to him.  He is headed back to Spain.

On the way to the bus, the chicken man passed me.  I have seen him every day and he is always moving so I can not get a good picture of him.  Of course you want to buy your chickens while they are still alive, as you would have no idea knowing how long they might have been dead.  So the chicken man, who rides a bicycle, has a kind of grate on both sides of him and in front of him.  The chickens hang upside down with their feet through the grates and he takes them to the market.  I am going to try and get you a better picture soon.

And Pops, I walk by a Dairy every morning and think of you.  So today I took a pic with the milk man.  Milk is packaged in small plastic bags.   I also got the bread man, who rides a bike with a cart attached and he delivers fresh bread.   Will post tomorrow.

I started the day with dishes, then on to laying laundry.  You now know what I look like up there so today I forgot my scarf.  Moon, my Korean friend, game me a new hat to wear.  It looks like the kind Little Be Peep wore - a very wide brim, kind of full on your head, fabric hanging over your neck, and a big bow under your chin.  I was styling!  Then it was folding laundry and dishes again. While doing the dishes, I noticed a cross stitch wall hanging in a room behind where we do dishes.  It read "Thank you for helping me die."  I later learned that is where they move the patients when they die. 

Did you know that today is Saint Rita's Day?  I didn't either!  Cristina and the children sang Happy Saint's Day to me this morning.  There are about 10 of the most adorable children who show up at Kalighat three mornings a week.  They live in the neighborhood and their parents allow them to come be with the Sisters for a few hours.  They are such a hoot.  They love to sing, dance, write on a chalk board, and what not.  They receive a glass of milk and a type of cracker/cookie.  They will drink the milk right up although never eat the crackers.  Sister said they take them home to share with their families.  Cristina and I lead them in song every day they are present and it is such a lift!  I hope to get a picture of them before I leave. 

Susie and I had lunch today - steamed veggie shu mai - a sort of  dumpling  that is really good.  Following a much needed shower, I hooked up with Frances, Emilio and Petra.  Petra is from Austria and loved my stories about Elizabeth's wedding in Graz and the Booshen Shanks.  Petra's cousin will be making her final vows after 10 years with the Missionaries of Charity and wanted to be present for her.  She is here for one week and is a lot of fun.

Also this Wednesday at 16.00pm, 30 novices will be making their first vows with the Missionaries of Charity.  Sister O'Linda said it is such a small class.  And I said they would be thrilled in the states to have a class of that size.  When she took her first vows, there were 57 in her class.  We are all invited to join in and I will. 

Oh, Lori Jean, guess what?  I met Anand (Ah-nand) and Nathan from the Chicago area.  They are here with a group and Nathan's family is from Peoria, IL!  How bout that?  His last name is Goebel.  He didn't know about the Mabee's so I am filling him in! 

Frances took us to the New Market this afternoon which is sort of a farmer's market with everything you could ever imagine - tupperware, shawls, meat, spices, flowers, razor blades - you name it.  Petra bought spices - saffron, curry and the nutmeg nut.  Everywhere you go, people are holding their hands out for something.  "Auntie, no food.  Auntie, milk for the baby.  Auntie, I am a small, small boy."  It is exhausting!  And then they hold your arm or try to hold your hand.  We tell them to go to Shishu Bhavan to eat and they say no.  Carol, do not come and visit.  You would give every cent you ever had away.  You can not come here!

Frances took us to a coffee shop called Barista - it was heavenly - air conditioned and quiet.  And guess what I had?  A chocolate chip muffin - yummy!!  And a sort of watermelon ice slush drink - double yummy!  We sat and visited and it was so enjoyable.  Reminded me of my last Starbuck's visit with Gina, Mary Lou and MV - we will have to do that again soon!

Comments

[John Vitek]

The photos are great! Surely SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Swimsuit Edition will be clamoring for the photo of Rita on the rooftop!

[Yui Chan]

Mon amie! The new pix are pretty cool! Love the milk-man and the bread-man. But you didn’t get a good shot of the elusive chicken-man on the bike. It looks like he rode off pretty quickly (you probably scared him away).

Hey, I have a great idea…..heh-heh! Why don’t you make a deal with the chick-man and slip him a couple of rupees, so that he will allow you to ride his bike around with all the chickens dangling on! Now that would be one hilarious photo I’ll definitely pay to see! Come on, go ahead, do it – what’s the matter, are you chicken (no pun intended)?! Ha!

[Joanne Li]

You are a perfect example that life is such a blessing as long as you’re daring to seek what dream reveals...find what matters...and embrace what fuses the soul!

BTW, love that smile on you!