
Note: transcribed with light editing from my scribbled journal made in “real time” as always more to say but this is what is there is – read between lines, follow rabbit holes to fill in the blanks if curious. (will add more about Auroville at some point and more about dear Mom’s passing including my letters to her and obituary within)
Afterward: includes notes from the interlude
Auroville, Tamil Nadu, India – 9:04 AM, Nov. 29, 2016
After a visit to Townhall and Mathrimandir, near the visitor centre, hot coffee in small brass cup, turn on the pocket robot and (oddly) a barrage of messages on all channels, so many – I am confused (hithero ignored) – then email/every-messaging-channel – I read the first line, baffled but know something is terrible! so try to call brother Anders.

Calls (over dodgy internet) are made and calls are dropped again and again after 3 words – finally, i hear “what” and say “Chennai airport, open the envelope, four hours” fast – go! {The envelope in Vegas contains access to Dashlane app which has all passwords credit cards and passport and a friend who is so good and helpful from home HQ.}
My location wasn’t on itinerary and no matter, no coverage anyhow. I was on my way to a post office to mail a dossier to Nick Bantock and then to the golden temple of meditation and somehow it all happened.

Hustle back to “Joy Community House” breathlessly explain. Return card to townhall. (Kind ladies hug me and give me “rescue remedy” in a glass bottle. I was just getting familiar and how do you explain this to someone? How do we humans know how to react. Grateful for wise ladies).
Bundle gear from cute room
Quick shower ("I will need this," he says from experience)
Call a taxi quicker
Fast to Chennai
Buy a bag of fruit from roadside, gogo man! eat bananas.
Shaking queasy, drink two coconuts en route
3 anna half hours weaving between cows
Coming the busses directly ahead! Fck Honk!
Roadhouses and truck stops and urine stained curbs and fields
Smoke two beedies each stop
Quick quick!
– dave in taxi
At airport, taxi drivers lounge around their classic sleds – i want to stay and ask them to take me far away. I don’t care to leave *at all*.
Continue reading Diary: Leaving India ~ rapidly, in a fog (Nov. 2016)