photo op!

the night before,
we all received a phone call
from tani, our monk..
..we were to be ready by 6am the next day..
for an audience with His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama!
the great awakening at 3 am..
out on the street by 4 am for the bus..
everyone was wide awake..and bubbling..
as bubbling as one can be at 4am..

we arrived early to have tea
and bread
and something called cheese spread..
which had the texture and taste of wallpaper glue,
i think..
it has been a while since i had that delicacy!

we were then whisked away,
after security cheques,
to the upper hall
while dances were performed by young tibetans..
and a long, life puja for the abbott of loseling.

(would you like you like to sponsor a monk?
www.loselingmonastery.com)

again we were called to follow a few
to more stairs and hallways,
more security measures
as we entered a large room..
we were instructed to sit in front
of an empty chair and microphone..
it seemed HHDL would be speaking with us..
we waited..
it is now 10:30am..

a buzz about the room ..
we were then bustled and hustled
to configure into a standing mandala
with a space where HHDL would join us..

there was a small group from mexico,
our small collection from the u.s.a.
and a handful of red-robed monks
holding precious statues..

a great wind blew ..
His Holiness stepped through the door..
posed with the mexicans,
popped over to us..for a quick photo
and rushed out with the group of monks.............

it is now 11:30..
and THAT IS THAT..
a photo with the 14th, Dalia Lama..
om ah hum!

Photo to arrive soon!