I would like to thank Kunti for correcting my last posting in which I stated that Gopali had spent her entire devotional life in Dallas TX. Memory fails me obviously.
Gopali also spent time at the Radhadesh farm in Belgium, during which she did what she does best, dress the deities, make jeweleries and bring visitors a step closer to Krishna.
This morning Gilles showed me another side of Gopali's life, a side we too often try to shut tight when becoming a devotees: our past.
Gilles showed me Gopali's French passport when she had first arrived in Australia in 1975, and many photos of her when she was a fashion designer and professional photographer. She was such an elegant and talented lady. And she readily used those talents in Krishna's service for many long years. We found hundreds of negatives of photos Gopali took with her three carmeras: deity photos, festivals, landscapes, people etc.
My most vivid memories of Gopali date back to when I was serving Srila Gurudeva in Dallas. Gurudeva had entrusted Gopali with his daily laundry each time he visited or stayed in Dallas. He knew that with Gopali he would get a first class service. I can still see myself walking through the park to Gopali's house early in the evening, knock on her door and she would greet me with Gurudeva's laundry on a coat hanger. If I had a bit of time, I would come in and we would talk, catch up and support each other, either in English or in French, depending on the mood.
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