Saturday, January 17th, 2015

Russell, Ontario

The Trail and the Waiting Room


Manu, who arrived from Vancouver, and I, flew to the nation’s capitol, Ottawa.  It was the first time he had ever seen those amazing fortress like buildings at Parliament Hill. 

We visited Govindas for some banana bread, and of course, people.  Saturday morning is kids time, so they were there to receive lessons from the stories of Krishna.

Onward to Russell we went, and now it’s my opportunity to hit the trail that runs through the town.  It’s old rail to trail route.  Given the time of year that it is with the trail being snowbound, fewer than normal tread it.  The only people I met up with was a man and his dog, and then a man on his snowmobile.  I also connected with the Sherwood Forest, peaceful, not a peep from wildlife.  Shhh, everyone’s asleep. 

Where life really was to be found in Russell was a music school/café.  Kasper (K. Dulal), the owner, calls it ‘The Waiting Room’.  There, you have these exotic brews, not coffee, but hazelnut and all kinds of nuts, and essential date and almond hot honey flavoured beverages to address the nippies of the outdoors. 

At The Waiting Room there was a scheduled program for kirtan, food – a mattar paneer dish, and a showing of the drama, 'Gita: Concise'.  Really, it was the rocking kirtan with Kasper’s keyboard and Krishna’s beating it out on the drum set that offered a fine flavour to a wintry night.  The kids from the morning also came, babies included.  For some of them it was probably their first rock ‘n’ roll experience.

As the Gita states, su-sukham kartum avyayam, spirituality can be a joyful expression.  Pat, as in Patricia, who came to be part of this event, jived with the joy that permeated the room.  She was raised in a convent and then joined the Canadian Forces, so she knows all about working and moving together with people.

May the Source be with you!

6 KM