Georgia Case

I have just arrived in Georgia. It is cold this time of year but not as cold as the areas bordering where I grew up in the east. I hear happy music on the speakers in the airport and see lights everywhere. I have never seen such a waste of electricity in my life. It seems like these Americans really like trees. Every tree I see has lights on it, or they are creating trees out of the lights themselves. As I try to get out of the airport I can hardly maneuver around all the bags, boxes and people carrying those items. Why does everyone travel at such a sacred time?

I finally got what is referred to as a rental car. I want to hear something other than that same happy music that has been played on every speaker since I entered the U.S.. As I surf the channels I can hardly believe that out of the hundreds of channels I am receiving, nearly all of them are playing the same music. I cut the radio off and sing a holy song to myself while I make the trip.

As I move along the interstate, I am baffled to see cars with antlers and red noses. Why red noses? Are the cars cold? All antlered animals have black noses. Additionally, there are more trees that are decorated with lights. I bet there are more lights on the trees here than all the lights that illuminate the homes in all of Srinagar. They do look similar to the Chakras, especially the larger trees with the bright star at their top. The star resembles the Sahasrara atop the Sushumna. That is such a beautiful sight.

Once I get to the local mall to get some soap; those intolerable idiots at the airport thought I was a danger with the bottle of soap I carried in my shoulder bag. How is soap a danger? Sure, it tastes bad but it can't really harm you. These people have thrown common sense out the window. At the mall there are thousands of people. I suppose the economy must be better than what the news claims for the American people. I guess that is a good thing. Wow, they keep playing that same happy music everywhere I go. I cannot believe that these people all like hearing the same songs over and over. I thought that Justin Bieber and some country singer were among their favorites. I guess my niece was mistaken. The store shelves are almost empty. I thought the American people were aware of the time of fasting and material sacrifice that accompanies such a sacred time of year. I finally got my soap, finally.

While continuing on my way, I see more and more people gathering what seem to be hams. Ham is made of pork, which is an item to be sacrificed during times of fasting. On such a special occasion, how could someone eat of pork? What is that large balloon man in the front of that store? It seems to be an old white man in red. He is standing beside a cart pulled by deer of some sort, and one has that strange red nose that the cars on the interstate had. Finally, I do see some sign of respect, however. I see the symbol of the Ida, Pingala and the Sushumna topped with