I come from wealth and beauty, untouched by work or duty

Yesterday the most important thing that happened was I talked to an old friend on the phone. I spoke to him as I walked through the Vedanta garden. I told him about the new growth on the fig tree and the grapevines. I told him my religious anguish. He had a headache and lay in bed with his eyes closed.

Now I'm listening to a song I consider a masterpiece ("We Both Go Down Together" by the Decemberists) and dreading another day.