[claire]7/31 8:15pm

[Mark Holmes]

Hi everyone,

Well, Tara didn't sleep a lot last night -- she's just a bit active,=20
and chatty, though not much we can understand.  It's quite fascinating=20=

because she can obviously understand us when we speak, and can get=20
sentences out that include 'expeditiously' and 'crepuscular' if she=20
works at it; but the in-between fact and act of communication is=20
difficult, as though the thoughts don't always make it down to the=20
vocal cords and tongue.  But she's obviously got more on her mind, and=20=

at times tries to get it out, and you can tell that she can get=20
frustrated trying to speak the words, and frustrated with us when we=20
can't understand.

But on the whole this frustration is a softer version than we've seen=20
in the past, and there continues to be a lot more gratitude and=20
understanding.  For example when we move her to change a sheet or get a=20=

little air to her left side (upon which she lies almost exclusively),=20
the process can be uncomfortable to her; and when we apologize, she=20
often says 'that's ok', or 'i understand'.  She also simply says thank=20=

you a lot more, even for the simplest of things which is really sweet. =20=

Her eyes have been swollen to a varying degree over the past week or=20
so, and today it's almost completely gone; when I told her how=20
beautiful her eyes looked, she said "thank you" in a very sincere tone.=20=

  Simple pleasures.

We also had a visit from Swami Govinda today, her absolute favorite man=20=

in orange.  He really is a spiritual mentor for Tara, and she listened=20=

intently for about 15 or 20 minutes (this is a big deal!) as he spoke=20
deeply to her about karma and the workings of the divine=97and how she=20=

should take her ayurvedic medicines.  And small miracles, she did it! =20=

Just small amounts, but I think she was putting her best foot forward=20
for Swami G, so to speak.  Anyway we've deputized Durga to help in=20
general with Tara's care, and specifically to administer medicines. =20
She also has a lot of spiritual credibility, and we believe can pick up=20=

a bit where Swami G leaves off when he returns frequently to the=20
Madurai ashram building site.

We're implementing a shift system so that there's always someone awake=20=

through the night to keep an eye on Tara and ring the others in case=20
something is needed.   We'd been sleeping all in the same room, but=20
Tara isn't able to make a lot of loud noise or ring the bell anymore,=20
so with our exhausted sleep we missed at one point when she needed=20
something.  Needless to say, she'll literally have 24/7 attention from=20=

now on.

There's a satsang happening on the porch as I write this; little Rajesh=20=

is leading the bahjans, with 3 lovely ladies doing the response.  It=20
seems to calm Tara down, though she's still moving around a bit.  She's=20=

lying almost on her back now, which is pretty unusual; though she says=20=

she's not in a lot of physical discomfort.  Her long black hair is=20
falling back from her head to splash upon the pillow and bed.  It is=20
soft and lustrous, and remains one of the only unchanged things about=20
her body throughout this entire ordeal.  Her toenail polish also still=20=

almost perfect.  Strange what perseveres, eh?

Much love all,

Mark=