My baggage of books I authored, The Saffron Path and The Walking Monk – Poems.1, was dispatched successfully, destined for Tampa from the Toronto Airport. In the line for security there was a long wait for the bins to arrive for our carry on. Once my goods got through, the buzzer alarmed, addressing my new bionic knees. I waited for quite some time for a male security to search me. Next, I went in queue for the US customs. It was a long lineup. I covered at least three rounds on my japa meditation beads before reaching a customs officer. Like everyone, I was photographed and fingerprinted. A problem! I was escorted to a special security and waited for over an hour when it was boarding time for Tampa. I was told to be seated when I inquired. “There are only two of us processing everyone,” they responded. I sat and waited. I heard my name. The doubt about my entry into the US had to do with an arrest 49 years ago when I was put in prison for the offense of distributing spiritual literature. This was common for all of us brahmacharis (monks) in the 70s. “Mr. Vis, do you go by a second name?”
“Yes, Bhaktimarga Swami.” I imagine the screen reads that I walked into the USA, Boston to San Francisco, from 2015 – 2017.
“Yes.” And I recall that’s when I told the truth about my felony of distributing books.
“You can go now,” said security. I raced to Gate F36, going down long corridors. Once arrived, they were ready to close the gate when they let me on as the last person (no waiting, there). The Air Canada flight, my flight, arrived. My book luggage didn’t make it. I waited for services to detect the lost baggage. Devala picked me up. We stopped in Tampa for lunch, then drove to Deland 3 hours later. I waited until 12 midnight for my books to arrive. It was dark. Owls were hooting. A man delivered at the sandy alligator trail.
Source https://www.thewalkingmonk.net/post/the-waiting-monk
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