While I was  working on Ch 33 of “Backpacks and Bra Straps” and was amazed by what I rediscovered about Kumari, the living goddess in Kathmandu, Nepal. 
“A pre-pubescent girl is selected, much in the way the Dalai Lama is, and they worship her as a living goddess until she menstruates or even has major blood loss from an accident. It is at this time, that they believe the goddess vacates her body. A major quality expected from the Kumari is fearlessness. They find this during the selection process by placing the small group of potential goddesses in a dark room with bloody buffalo heads and dancing men in demon masks.
She’s given a decent pension after her reign, but is somewhat scarred by the traditional belief that a man who marries an ex-Kumari will die young.” Wow.

       

     Mom, Dad and I are Skyping with Bree right now and reading through “Backpack and Bra Straps” final draft. I find it so interesting how people relate to different parts of the book and which parts make them laugh. Everyone is so different. None of it is written to be comical, and yet, somehow it’s just too realistic or ridiculous not to be funny. Dad’s latest crack up is about poor Ammon being stuck in a Russian whore house with his mother and sisters. 

                                                                                                 India reflecting and relating like a mirror.

   

    I’m expecting to have the editing of “Backpacks and Bra Straps” completed by the first week of July. Who would be willing and available to take the time to BETA read and review it within a week of that time? Please let me know so I can put you down on the list. Thanks guys.

                                                                  Photo- Kathmandu stupa, Nepal