Baba inquired about Janice Camm, and she replied that she was an old friend of Cynthia's.
Baba turned to Cynthia and asked, "How is your Mum?"
Cynthia said, "She is fine, Baba, and sends you her love."
Adi, Franey, Dara and Shireen were sitting in the hall, as were the men mandali. Shireen was on the floor near Baba's feet drawing pictures, and from time to time, Baba would reach down to caress her.
Baba then discussed matters with Phyllis Ott for a while. An accomplished painter, Phyllis was teaching Art at a community college in Woodstock. The previous May, she and her husband, Lyn, had written to Baba of their intention to come to India, but Baba had cabled back not to come until the following year. Phyllis, however, felt "called from within" to come, and sent a telegram before getting on a plane for India, saying she was coming during the Christmas school vacation. Like Cynthia Adams, she had no idea she would actually be allowed to meet Baba; she simply wished to be physically as near to him as possible and perhaps meet some of those who knew him.
Phyllis Ott's initial reaction to meeting the Lord of her heart was as follows:
I recognized the Master from the moment I saw the shape of his left ear, which was silhouetted and visible to me through the opened door of mandali hall. Without hesitation, I slipped off my sandals and went to Baba's arms. I kissed him many times on the hands and face. He was passive. I did not feel that he returned any of my kisses, but he was not rejecting. I went and sat near him, close to the door. My thought was: "If Meher Baba spoke, it would be the thunderous roar of a powerful lord."
Eruch said, "Phyllis, Baba says that did you know that he is giving darshan in December 1965, and that this is December 1964? However, he is happy to see you. Baba would like to know, now that you are in India, what are your plans?"
Phyllis replied, "I was planning on staying here for two days, and then to return to Bombay on Wednesday and fly back to New York on Thursday."