We continued driving, and driving, and driving – a good long eight or so hour stretch from Eugene all the way to Santa Rosa, where Divyapriya organised a cozy get-together with neighbors and friends. Now Suprabha, who interestingly is working on a thesis about environmental education had joined us! Many good conversations on the way…
The next day, we continued to the Los Altos Ananda Marga Yoga Center – to join a meditation class and tell about the work in Romania, inviting more people to join our family. One of my best friends from high school days, Kate, joined and also will sponsor Lorena!
Then onwards, again on a very long drive, this time to Los Angeles, the day before Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving, I prepared vegan pumpkin pies and made acorn squash with bread stuffing. Everyone came prepared with all kinds of goodies, and the table was laden! I was lapse in my photographic duties and forgot to take a picture….sorry – but it was indeed spectacular.
A few more sponsors entered our expanding family that night as well, and we did a lovely gratitude circle, using a small pumpkin as our “talking piece” to go around the circle and take time to celebrate the good in our lives together.
The next day, I continued south for my last road trip – going to San Diego and back in a day to make a couple more visits – seeing another good friend from high school and Dr. Bharat.
I had a couple of days to visit a botanical garden in Pasadena, and Griffith Park Observatory – to relax and recharge before more than 20 hours of travel back to Bucharest!