Remember, they paid for this. . .
I think the Italian place next door is opening tomorrow. This evening, at around six forty-five, the owners of the place, which was recently renovated from a none-too-popular Chinese place, erected a tin awning in front of it.
At about eleven o'clock, they set up an altar in the street and brought a monk over. The monk sang hymns and prayed, keeping time to a very clear, very pleasant sounding bell. I got to sit by my window and listen to it.
At about a quarter after midnight, they set off a bunch of firecrackers and lit a big fire.
They were, we think, trying to exorcise the evil spirits that precipitated the Chinese place's make-over.
In other Buddhist News. The old woman finally made it to heaven today. The monks and nuns sang all afternoon. The family prayed with them. At six-thirty, they all had a big feast. No one asked me to stick around and get tanked.
I've been hearing beautiful music all day.
