Transcona, Manitoba
Reunited with Billie the
Parrot
It was with great pleasure that I
could see Daruka, my support person for my fourth walk across the country, and
also the second half of the third trek. This meeting with Daruka was very
special, in his home area of Winnipeg/Transcona. His parents, especially his
mother, wanted to meet me. Sometime in the past, I prayed for her when Daruka
told me of her physical challenges. That touched her, even though I never met
her. Although skeptical about her son getting “involved in a cult” years ago,
she warmed up to Krishna to a degree and got curious, so Daruka drove me to
their home along with Billie Jean, his blue-fronted Amazon parrot.
Here’s what I wrote about her in
the book, The Saffron Path:
“When Daruka joined me on my
third Canadian walk, Billie Jean came along too. It was not my intent to
interfere with their strong bond, but since we were going to be travelling
companions, I thought I would offer a gesture of friendship by petting her
head. My attempt failed and I became a regular beneficiary of serious “kisses”
from her sharp beak. My attempt at having her perch on my shoulders was also
met with defeat, as the darling usually gifted me with her posterior blessing.
I forgave the aggressive behaviour because she played a key role in our efforts
to share the message of simple living and high thinking.”
I re-tested Billie Jean in seeing
if she remembered me. Indeed, she did. On the backyard patio of Daruka’s
parents’ home she climbed on my arm and rested on my shoulder for a good hour.
What a trooper she is!
I want to thank the Winnipeg
students for taking me on that Bishop Grandin Greenway for a walk.
May the Source be with you!
4 km
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