did not identify Him as the Christ until, perhaps, one very rainy Easter morning in North India. Baba usually gave her permission to go to church on such a holiday. But as the rain poured down, and she gazed at Baba, she suddenly realized, He is the Christ. There was no need to go to Church to find Him.

In 1952, Kitty assumed she would be returning to India with Baba, But He asked her to stay in America and help Elizabeth with the running of the Center. I am sure when He came again in ’56 and ’58 she longed to hear Baba say she would return with Him, but such was not His will. She was too valuable for His work in this country. In a sense, she took Norina's place at Elizabeth's right hand — in fact, Baba used to cable to "Elikit." Not only her gift for managing everyday details (who can forget Kitty barreling around the Center in her golf cart, checking out the cabins?), but her warm personality, her intuitive way of dealing with people and their problems, was a great addition to the charm of the Center. By the '60's great numbers of people were visiting the Center — with the '60's problems! Kitty gave — and she still does at 92 — unsparingly of her time and caring.

For example, you have waited outside on the porch of Elizabeth's house so long . . . Finally the screen door to her office opens, out pops Kitty, her head wreathed in grey braids.* "Are you a book or a problem?" she asks. (It is through Kitty you order books at the Center).** You are scheduled for a half-hour visit. In between your "sobs and throbs" as it were, the telephone rings, someone pops in with a message, the cook asks for directions, Beauty (a very misnamed dog) needs attention . . . no matter, those deep brown caring eyes (so like Baba's at times) have looked within you, seen what you need and you come away with the cheer and reinforcement you need. The "pretty brunette"* Kensington music teacher is now "teaching" new souls how to follow Baba, by a loving word, a thoughtful kindness, but most of all by the example of her lifetime surrender to the Master.

Every year she travels to India, her spiritual home, and also visits the Baba Centers here in the U.S. and Canada, sharing generously her memories of life with the Avatar.

P.S. My most precious memory of Kitty? At the sahavas in California, at Pilgrim Pines: she was on stage, ready to read her talk to us, when Baba "appeared" by her chair, and placed His hand on her head. Just so, we began our sahavas, keeping company with the Lord.

VIII Delia De Leon

In the early thirties, so many of the first Western followers of Meher Baba were connected to the theatre in some way, it was as if Baba was a stage director assembling His "cast." Delia was no exception. A vivacious Spanish beauty (her family comes from Panama), she had been an actress and for many years ran the "Q" theatre in London together with her brother Jack (Baba visited it twice). In fact, she met Baba at the Coliseum theatre in London, at the performance of a play, "The White Horse Inn", in September, 1931. The "white horse" touch is interesting: in India, Baba is considered by the Hindus to be the foretold "White Horse" or Kalki Avatar. To please His disciples at one time He even rode a garlanded white horse seven times around Meherabad ashram.

Delia says "I sat next to Baba, but He took very little notice of me. I was shy and nervous, as if someone had taken a hammer and knocked me on the head. I hardly looked at Him. I heard people talking but felt dazed and far away. At the end I put out my hand and took His and looked mutely at Him. He nodded His head and I was told that I was to come the next day to Kensington (Kitty's home). During that week I went about like one in a dream. I was stunned with the wonder of Baba, nothing else existed for me. I saw Him every day, and from then on I had an implicit trust and faith in Him. I asked no questions, I wanted nothing from Him. I gave my life into His keeping and knew my search was at an end."

In an article in The Meher Baba Journal, she writes: "I felt shy and nervous. He looked at me kindly and made me sit next to Him. I had seen His face before in my dreams — the eyes were startling in their beauty, the face seemed of luminous honey-color,

*her gray hair in a bun” - - see Corrections in Table of Contents.-webmaster, JK

** The Daily Express, London, 1931