Saturday, May 17, we were just groggy with the love poured out by the Avatar on the Westerners, most of whom were meeting Him for the very first time. Many black people came. Each time a black family or person entered, Baba stood up. He remained seated for the others. I thought, surely this had significance for the advancement of the black people. As you know, the civil rights law was passed by the Supreme Court in September of that year.

One man was so overcome by an inner flood of experience, he stood motionless on our porch. What to do? Baba had said we must not let them linger. Baba read our thoughts, He turned, smiled and gestured, 'Let him stay. '

After meeting Baba, many were weeping, dazed, unaware of their surroundings. Gently, we led them back on the path. Over 700, I believe, met Him that day, including a turtle. He tried again and again to get in the door with the people. When Baba came out for a rest (a walk back and forth by the side of the barn), He was told of the turtle and smiled. The turtle still hangs around the barn (1972).

All day on the 17th, huge rain clouds had threatened. Again at the end of the day, Baba beckoned Adele and myself into the car. Just as I got in, I saw twin red pricks on my leg, exactly like a snakebite. Baba was rapidly gesturing; Adi translated, "Are you bitten?" (No, Baba.) But at the Guest House, Baba signaled for Dr. Goher. I was called into the house, and she examined me carefully as Baba stood by. I'll never forget the anguish and concern on His face. You see, the night before, Delia had called out, when the big crowds were being discussed, "But what about the snakes, Baba?" Baba had said, "I will take care of it; may be only one will be bitten." "O, I know it'll be me!" she cried. She was deathly afraid of the snakes at the Center. But somehow, Baba's eyes had slid around to me and I felt a prick of premonition.

But I hadn't felt or seen any snake! The "bite" never hurt. Was it a "fake" snake bite, or was it a "symbolic" snake bite? I'll never know. A funny thing, in all my years at the Center, I've never seen a snake. It was at the end of this "open" day that Baba took the lei of carnations from His neck, and gave us each one as prasad. I still have it.

Another morning at the Guest House Baba had gestured for me to give Him the pills I had tucked in my blouse. He took the pills (for a mysterious daily fever the doctors couldn't understand), held them in His hand, then gave them back to me. I put them back in the paper. Later, after Baba had left, Mehera brought out a red calico heart filled with Baba's hair and asked us to take some. It was dark brown mixed with gray. I tucked my piece of hair in the paper with the pills. Suddenly, I recalled my dream of the night before. I had dreamt of a wax-paper packet filled with white and black hair and a voice saying, "This is the hair of Babajan. " Babajan was Baba's first Master. So the dream came true. Also, the fever disappeared!

Saying Babajan's name reminds me of Baba looking at Adele's eyes, very large grey-blue eyes, and saying, "She has eyes like Babajan." And at that moment a green squirt of envy shot into my head. Baba looked over at me. He knew. He never said another word.

He always knew what you were thinking. Sometimes bad, even disgusting thoughts would come in His presence. He said to me once when this was happening, "What are you thinking?" I quickly said, "Of you, Baba." — not at all the truth! Baba's eyes make you feel more aware of yourself. His love was there too, to wash all away. I'm sure He brought