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he gently used conversion van stood hospital neighborhood, much like the mast During our brief stop at Meteor Crater sparkling in the driveway, while we dogs in Meherabad! I mused over the magnitude ofthe Avatanic loaded the luggage, the camping gear and all The next morning we thanked Michael impact on the earth’s spiritual body, and the other necessary and unnecessary things for his sweet hospitality and took off to the massive destruction of sanskaras that that were going to make our traveling envi spend some time at the accident site, filling ensued. We arrived at Flagstaff in the early ronment more home-like. We had purchased our cups with His Divine Presence before evening, and decided it would be the place the van the week before in anto spend the night, ticipation ofthis trip, as well as before heading south other future family trips. It was on 1-17 toward Phoe equipped with a TV, a DVD nix. Initially I had player, a VCR, a cooler, and planned for us to stay many other gadgets, includ in Phoenix a couple ing a back seat that converted ofnights, and perhaps into a relatively comfortable contact a few friends sleeper. Our plan was to camp from our stay there and use the sleeper as much as a few years earlier. possible to help cut down on This would bring us the cost of lodging. My ten to the Sahavas on the ist. year old daughter Amanda and We drove around I left Chicago on the morning and found a mediocre of June 26nh1, traveling on the looking KOA campsame route that I had traveled ground, and waited to only a month earlier toward be negistered,while the Prague. This time the destina staff member helping , —w’, tion was the LA Sahavas, and .F us fiddled endlessly Bow Wows: the Raj ofRapgets down with his homiesJosh Lee andDanny Maguire I cherished the good fortune with his computer, that was taking me back through Oklahoma heading out west. At the site, Amanda asked claiming it had stopped doing anything, so soon. for a souvenir from Baba, and received a shell let alone let us register. Looking around I The first night we camped at the scenic of a tiny dead turtle, which she cherished glanced at the brochures on display and saw Blue Springs Ranch in Missouri, and upon throughout the journey. Later on when one for Oak Creek Canyon. I remembered rising we visited the horses surrounded by I asked her what she remembered about fondly my last visit there a few years ago the early morning haze. We made friends the place, she said: “Just a powerful flow of and asked the clerk ifwe were close to the with Whisper, a whimsical white horse Love.” We crossed Oklahoma, then passed canyon, and ifthere were any camp grounds with one eye blue and one eye brown, who through Texas, stopping to inhale and pick in that area. He said yes to the first question, neighed happily and gnawed gently on the some wildflowers along the way. We spent and I don’t know to the other. At this point, railing every time we gave it a carrot to the night near Albuquerque, New Mexico, I was very happy to hear that Oak Creek nibble—a very happy start to our Baba and I silentlylonged to contact Baba’s Agent. Canyon was not far off, and told him we filed journey. Alas, he did not appear! would be checking out other sites and if we The next day we arrived in Prague around In New Mexico, we took a small detour didn’t find anything, we might be back. I 5 p.m. and Michael Ivey, the caretaker at and visited the Zuni Pueblo, finding it a knewwe wouldn’t be back. We left grinning; the Burleson House, asked if we planned small, modernized communit) I was dis knowing that Baba had stalled the KOA to stay the night. Originally we were just mayed at not seeing little Indian boys and computer because He had a better place and going to drop off the photo album I had girls running around with feathers in their a far better route in mind for us. We started prepared, visit a short while and leave, but I hair. Whatwas I thinking? When I expressed driving down Route 89A toward Sedona. I felt I could use the overnight rest in Baba’s my disappointment to a shopkeeper about was hoping we would find a campsite before arms wrapped around the Heartland, and ac not seeing the old way oflndian tribal life, nightfall. The road was gorgeous, and very cepted happily. After a quick but very sweet he smiled, took out his cell phone and said: winding. I had to use all my concentrated visit to the Prague Municipal Hospital, we “We now communicate with these things!” focus on driving, occasionally slowing on made dinner and chatted, while Amanda The dark-haired, turquoise-bedecked lady completely stopping to take in the views played with her new friend, Cow-Kitty who at the Tourist Bureau informed us that we and to capture them into my camera. I was has befriended the house since its dedication would not be able to visit the local Catholic also quite relieved to bypass Highway 17 to to Meher Baba. Smart Kitty! I also noticed Church due to a religious ceremony going Phoenix altogether. We had heard that there and commented to Michael about the many on. I smiled at the thought ofNative Amenwere fines along the road and that there was stray cats that were lounging around the cans taking Holy Communion. a good chance the road would be closed on
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