Wednesday, October 05, 2011

Something Goes Wrong (history, volume 2)

(This is the second installment in the memoir series.  If you haven't read part 1, you can read it here)

When you found out that I was born a Hare Krishna, maybe you imagined that this would turn into a story of crazy cult practices and fear and brainwashing.  I'll tell you right now that it won't.  It didn't. It wasn't.  It did make my childhood different than yours (probably) but the reason I'm not a Hare Krishna anymore has nothing to do with 'breaking free' of something scary.  It has purely to do with philosophy and theology, and isn't that the most boring thing you've ever heard?  What I'm saying is that if you're here to see the seedy underbelly of a mysterious organization revealed, you're out of luck.

When I say my childhood was different, I mean that we moved to Spain when I was 3.  2? I don't really know for sure.  I do know there was a transatlantic flight with a rambunctious toddler and her adolescent mother.  And that I learned to speak Spanish and acted as my dad's miniature translator.  But it wasn't weird to show up in another country that you'd never visited, a place whose language you didn't speak, back in the 80's as a Hare Krishna because every temple was your home.

Every morning program (that's what the daily temple services were called.  Probably still are.  Clever, right?) started at 4:30 in the morning.  The songs were all in Sanskrit, so it didn't matter if you didn't speak the language.  We all wore the same clothes and ate the same food and did the Indian-head-bob of appreciation when meeting each other.  Well, the adults did that.  Kids were just...kids.

So there we were in Spain.  And then somehow England.  And I had a nanny for a while who used to put a band aid over my belly button because she thought it was unhealthy for me to "tickle" it as my security blanket.  And according to my dad we knew Hayley Mills.

And somewhere in there, things started to go wrong.  Not super wrong, just a little...off.  I start to have more memories of my dad and fewer of my mom.  We became a team, somehow.  And then she wasn't there at all.


post signature

49 comments :

  1. I'm loving these posts! You have such an interesting story to tell!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Such an interesting early start to life, Dweej! And I do like that photo of you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, that last line hurt my heart! Looooove you!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. So interesting! I'm really looking forward to an honest look at the life of a Hare Krishna; not what is portrayed in the media.

    I traveled a lot too, but as a military brat. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I used to tickle my belly button too. I'm pretty sure it's totally normal.

    That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's no wonder you are such an interesting and compassionate person!

    ReplyDelete
  7. If you didn't have pictures I don't know if I would believe your journey!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have so many more, but there are other people in all of them and I don't know if they're comfortable being featured on this WORLD FAMOUS blog! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've wondered about your story for a long time. In highschool, I could tell that you had a story. I'm happy that you are sharing it with the world and I think it's quite brave!

    ReplyDelete
  10. That was from Coren. Stuip phone wouldn't let me post from my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm so glad we're still friends, Coren :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is total book material Dweej. Love the way you are presenting it to us.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am really enjoying reading your story. It sounds like you've been on quite a journey! I look forward to next Wednesday!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Captivating...when do we get to hear THE REST OF THE STORY?!?!?!?!

    Jen
    DishesintheDryer

    ReplyDelete
  15. You just come back every Wednesday to git yer fix, ya hear???

    ReplyDelete
  16. Such an amazing story to be told. I am so thankful that we are related, even if we didn't get to grow up together.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I hear a lifetime of having to defend your parents' decision to be Hare Krishnas in those opening lines :( I for one just want to know more about something I know nothing about! Looking forward to the next installment :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. I, too, love the pictures you are sharing as much as I do the stories. As for others being in them, I think any generic photoshop program would allow you to blur the faces somehow for privacy.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I can't wait for the next installment of your autobiography!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow. I can't wait for the next installment! I look forward to Wednesdays b/c "Modern Family" is on and your next chapter! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh, and forgot to say how much Paul looks like his Mama!! <3

    ReplyDelete
  22. What an adventure! Can't wait to hear more!

    ReplyDelete
  23. So interesting! I second the comment about longer installments. Just like a TV series script, your writing leaves me hanging on and wanting to tune in next week!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks for sharing! Also, I did the whole "Where I'm From" template and it was awesome.It will be just for me but I loved the outcome. Thanks for sharing that as well.

    ReplyDelete
  25. That template is so deceptive. You think it's going to be some easy cop-out and then, 2 hours later, you've got tears streaming down your cheeks! Or was that just me?

    ;)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Dweej, I'm so glad that someone else had an unusual upbringing. Mine was not Hare Krishna, nor was it in a cult or anything like it but it was "different".

    I almost never share my personal stories because I've lived them and I don't believe them sometimes. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  27. Right here and now, I want it to be Wednesday, October 12th, and the next installment!

    I'll just sit here and wait....

    ReplyDelete
  28. @Daenel- I try to only share what might help someone someday. I imagine your story could help someone too!

    @Patty- You are so sweet :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. The sharing of our stories is so important, especially when written with such detail and skill!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Can you still speak Spanish?! I know sometimes you don't use it, you lose it...

    ReplyDelete
  31. You definitely have an interesting childhood. I'm sorry that your mom started to disappear from your life.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Way to leave a cliffhanger at the end...I really love your story though, you are a great story teller.
    P.S. Your second daughter looks a lot like you in that picture.

    ReplyDelete
  33. You've got me hanging on this series. I'm loving getting to know you better. Sounds like you had an adventurous start.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Omg!!! I remember you telling me that you knew Hayley Mills! And I thought you were the coolest girl on earth for knowing a movie star. :o) I too am hooked on your story. The fact that your faith conversion relates to philosophy and theology is fascinating to me, sooo NOT boring. The last line about your mom put a lump in my throat. I do remember seeing you and your dad as a team (and feeling a little jealous ;o)). But no mom had to have hurt. God, I'm glued! And... p.s. You totally have my ok to post photos of me. I think you rock and I'm proud to have shared a childhood with you. Oh... and p.p.s. It's still called the morning program (among other things like: mangals, mangal arati, morning arati etc. :D Keep 'em coming!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Wow. What a life, Dweej. I love that you are sharing this, although I can imagine it isn't all easy. I love seeing this new side to ya

    ReplyDelete
  36. Ooooo! Girl I'm on the edge of my seat! Can't wait to hear more! This really starts to explain why you are such an awesomely funny and brilliantly talented writer who is also a great mom and home-schooler!! Thanks for sharing your story!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Oooo this is going to be an interesting story. I can tell! Going to read part 1 now...

    Jamie
    For Love of Cupcakes

    ReplyDelete
  38. I love your story, and love your voice. Looking forward to more!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Fascinating, Dweej! I feel like I'm reading a novel. Now hurry up and turn the page!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. This is completely fascinating. Such a unique life and perspective. I can't wait for the next installment!

    ReplyDelete
  41. This is completely fascinating. Such a unique life and perspective. I can't wait for the next installment!

    ReplyDelete
  42. You're going to torture us with this a week at a time, aren't you?

    Fascinating. I'm so glad you're willing to share. Seeing what makes us who we are never fails to intrigue me.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Spain? I live in Madrid.


    mustbeliberating.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  44. So, I'm kind of reading this backwards.. but how did you finally "get Catholic"?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess I haven't detailed it so much in a blog post, but if you check out the 'about me' and 'about' us sections at the top that might fill in the details a bit :)

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...