Baba stepped onto the porch of his house, glancing at the vista of lake and ocean beyond the tall trees. He then looked to his left at the new porch swing put out for him. He sat in it, and Darwin said, "Baba, this reminds me of when you were placed on the swing in Sakori in 1954." Baba walked into the main living room of the house, followed by all present. Kitty was meeting Baba after four years of separation. Now, in Baba's presence, the long years of absence seemed to vanish completely. She left to prepare his lunch at the Guest House, where Mehera and the Eastern women had stayed during the 1952 visit.
Baba and the mandali drove to the Guest House soon afterwards.1 Baba took Eruch to the edge of the bluff to show him the wonderful view, as Eruch had not accompanied them in 1952. After his lunch in the Guest House, Baba went to see Norina Matchabelli, who had not been well and was resting in her little cabin nearby. Baba embraced her tenderly and spoke with her for some time before walking across the long, narrow wooden bridge over the lagoon to the cabins on the other side.
The New York group had arrived. Some were having lunch and some waiting to catch a glimpse of him. Only about half the group was staying on the Center; the others had to be accommodated at various hotels and motels in town (such as the Lafayette Manor), because of lack of space. Elizabeth had painstakingly made accommodation for a maximum of 35 people to stay on the Center with Baba; but, as was always the case with Baba, more and more names were added to the list of those to stay, until there were 48 in all. Baba, however, had instructed that a buffet lunch was to be provided daily for all, even to those staying outside — so some days there were as many as 150 guests. Muriel Houston supervised these arrangements, assisted by Elizabeth's cook, Bessie Graham, and her two daughters.
Baba lovingly greeted those who had not flown down with him and told those not staying on the Center to be sure and return by 3:00 P.M. and come to the Barn.
Shortly before three o'clock, Baba appeared striding across the lagoon bridge, with his light, quick steps. Nilu tried to keep the umbrella over his head to shield him from the sun, and had to practically run to keep up with him.
Footnotes
- 1.During this visit to the Center, the mandali stayed with Baba at his house.