At the self-check in kiosk, the luggage attendant who prints the luggage slip and checks identity noted my wrap from Varanasi and my sandal wood malas. I wore them because, well I don't know why. The wrap is like a security blanket and reminds me of my long, long journey home from India and the security guard who recognized the blanky and beads and was moved by my stories and travel (see the earliest blog entries).
Here in Oakland at the Southwest kiosk, it happened again. The agent said "Those are sandal wood beads on your mala.". I smiled and looked up at him. And he asked "Varanasi?". I just kept on smiling. He said, "So many people doing so much good work in the world.".
I said a few things and picked up my boarding pass and placed my hands together in Namaste and I swear there was a tear in his eye. He moved away quickly returning my prayer gesture greeting and I went off to meet Nel.
We worked our way through to the gate, through security and through the fans watching four TV screens from outside a sports bar. It was hard to say what they we're fans of. Basketball on one screen, flames and cars crashing on the other, a commentator excited on the third and I lost interest to take note of the forth.
Clearly we needed a margarita.
Stay tuned.
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