Amma's giggle

[Guest guest]

It was Amma's last night in Chicago, Devi Bhava night. We got to the

evening program late as we were out with friends for dinner, so our

darshan tokens were numbered 2251-2300. This meant we were going to

have our hugs late in the night, but it was fine with me.

 

Several hours passed and it was finally our turn. I'd asked my

husband to mention to Amma about his job situation and the suffering

of his family in India, and he was a bit nervous about actually

speaking to her. He had a nice hug and I was fighting back tears.

 

I had my longest hug yet! Amma released me and my husband piped in,

speaking in Tamil, with something about his mom and dad suffering

and how he needs Amma's blessings to find a good job so that he can

take care of all of his family obligations. Amma started speaking to

him back (all of this was in Tamil of course), and apparently told

him that he just needs to go out and do it, and that he has her

blessings.

 

I started to lose my tear-fighting battle, and began to cry. Amma

turned to me and asked why I was crying -- in Tamil! I guess I got a

bit wide-eyed, and Amma turned to someone next to us and spoke in

Malayalam, which was apparently something like, "I automatically

wanted to speak to her in Tamil, but I can't!" Amma looked at me and

hugged me again, and as she released me, she was smiling, and I

somehow blurted out: "Tamil thereeadu" (sorry -- I'm typing it my

own phonetical way), which means, "I don't know Tamil"!! Amma looked

at me and LAUGHED! She said to the lady next to us, "She knows only

enough Tamil to tell me that she doesn't know Tamil!" Amma slapped

her knees and threw her head back and giggled heartily.

 

I left the stage and giggled like a child. I couldn't control it! I

laughed and laughed and had the hugest grin on my face.

 

It was so beautiful.

 

Jai Ma!!

 

Erica