A
few days ago we celebrated P’s 70th birthday again (after all, he is
70 the whole year long and the celebrations continue – another reason to make
life a celebration, though one needs no reasons). He wanted to gift the staff
some money (another reason to give them money, though one doesn’t need an
excuse). Raju, our cook, made local goat in a recipe I invented several years
ago, with yellow lentils, and it always turns out so delicious that we our left
licking our fingers. Two days before that the shepherds came down the mountainside
with a whole herd of goats and sheep that ate up the deodars I had been taking
such pride in and which I had gone to some lengths to protect for years. I was so pissed
at them that I told the staff I was eating the goat that had eaten my trees, and
took some pleasure in this vengeance.