Heaven Can Wait

(In India with Jeannine and Belinda, 2007)

My passage to India in two weeks has been postponed...for a very exciting reason. My travelling companion, Belinda, called me last week with the news that she had been picked to be on the new season of "Dancing With the Stars." I was sworn to secrecy, but the news was announced in the media today and she's on her way out to LA as I type this.  We were going to travel to Rishikesh for a week and attend the International Yoga Festival there, but we can go another time.  She's quite a serious practitioner of yoga, so I have no doubt she'll be able to keep up with all the intense dance training she's going to be doing.    

(Belinda in Udaipur, 2007)

Belinda is one-of-a-kind.  Strong, funny and gloriously eccentric, in the twelve years I've known her she has taught me more about being fearless and embracing opportunities than almost anyone I know. Together we have gone on fairy walks in Ireland, done headstands in the Himalayas, politely turned down horse meat in Kazakhstan, explored creepy cathedrals in the Languedoc, stayed up way too late in London, and meditated at dawn by the Ganges. Whatever she puts her mind to, she usually accomplishes and I have no doubt she will take on this next challenge as enthusiastically as she does all others, with her inimitable grace, style and good humor.  

The last time we were in India together with our friend Jeannine, a blockbuster Bollywood dance movie had just opened called "Om Shanti Om."  It was all anyone was talking about.  We tried to see it several times but it was sold out all over the country, so we ended up settling for the soundtrack, which we played nonstop.  "Om shanti om" means, "Peace within, peace without."  So join me in sending her a blessing of om shanti shanti and a wealth of good karma...and be sure to vote for her!