“The Dream of the Turquoise Bee”-
Dianne Aigaki awed us with the depth of her commitment to the people of Tibet, both the Tibetan refugees in Diane’s current home of 15 years, India, and in Tibet itself. In her desire to live in a culture with respect for a benevolent leader and where the aspiration to end human suffering is a primary goal, Dianne moved to Dar es Salaam. She began working as a volunteer for fundraising and project development to assist the Tibetan exiles in India, 3-4000 of whom trek each year over hazardous terrain over the mountains from Tibet to India to escape Chinese rule. Her current project grew from that involvement. Formerly an abstract painter, Dianne became interested in botanical illustration of the Tibetan plants growing in the 11,000-18,000’ altitude. From examples of her work, she has obviously become extraordinarily proficient in her new vocation including the painting of flowers in the gardens of the current Dalai Lama. After she saw the devastating effects of recent drought on the subsistence-level East Tibetan farmers, Dianne got the idea for tours into the area. She now leads expeditions into lovely Kham, Tibet, where her guests experience the countryside and its people, botanical illustration, painting, photography, botany and other outdoor activities, plus… shopping! These tours help support the Tibetan villagers, yet Dianne’s charitable endeavors extend much further. She has also provided support to individual Tibetans in India whose histories of incarceration, torture and suffering were difficult for some of us to hear. Proceeds from the sale of greeting cards made from her exquisite botanical illustrations go toward an assistance fund which Dianne helped to create for the frail and elderly country folk (These cards sold like hotcakes after the presentation.). Dianne has also taught botanical illustration at the Ganzi Girls’ Orphanage, and helped the girls sell their art. Offsetting the sad stories of what some have had to endure were her lyrical photos of the people and countryside of Eastern Tibet presented in a slide show format. The eyes in the weather-beaten, worn faces revealed stoicism plus good humor – faces which spoke eloquently about the reasons for Dianne’s love of these people. As to the origins of “The Dream of the Turquoise Bee,” the title of her talk and her tours: The sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, ordained 1697, referred to himself as “The Turquoise Bee.” He was the only Dalai Lama to never take “orders” and was a lover of wine, women and song. He was revered by his people, and the simple country poems he composed in his short life were so beloved that they continue to be sung by Tibetans to this day:
website- www.DianneAigaki.comWhite crane
Lend me the power of your wings
I will not fly far
From Lit hang, I shall return
March presentation by Jeannie Ralston, author of “The Unlikely Lavender Queen”. Jeannie went from being a designer-clad big-city girl to a reluctant lavender gardener with dirt under her nails in Blanco, Texas. Never heard of Blanco? It was just a teensy speck on the map until Jeannie came along. Now it is known as the Lavender capital of Texas, all due to the work of Jeannie (OK, her husband Robb Kendricks, well known National Geographic photographer, helped a little). Now that she is in San Miguel, Jeannie has assisted the women at Rancho La Colorado in Dolores Hidalgo with their own lavender growing and marketing.
Maria Fernanda Romera, the Lavender Project manager, showed us some of the marvelously fragrant and lovely products they make. The Lavender Project farm will eventually have enough of the best quality lavender, Provence and Grosso, to sell to those of us who were eager to possess some by the end of Jeannie’s talk. Jeannie said something we thought was great: “Life takes its own course. Embrace it!”
