Rosie, holding Bam-Bam toy in her mouth, assists in construction, carpenter, standing triangle, holding measuring tape, standing on plywood, wood, roses in dark planters, flowers, bamboo fence, A Garden for the Buddha, Seattle, Washington, USA

Rosie, holding Bam-Bam toy in her mouth, assists in construction, carpenter, standing triangle, holding measuring tape, standing on plywood, wood, roses in dark planters, flowers, bamboo fence, A Garden for the Buddha, Seattle, Washington, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Evening commute across the floating bridge, Highway 520, oncoming car, windshield, lights, rain, wind, mirror, Seattle, Washington, USA

Evening commute across the floating bridge, Highway 520, oncoming car, windshield, lights, rain, wind, mirror, Seattle, Washington, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

ebb tide, sign, waves, similar to TIbetan symbol for "Everyone in existence now here this!", siding, Anchorage, Alaska, USA

ebb tide, sign, waves, similar to TIbetan symbol for "Everyone in existence now here this!", siding, Anchorage, Alaska, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Silent Night

Silent Night, a photo by Prairiekittin on Flickr.

Nome sweet nome, Homer gives Marge Forget-me-nots, Cabin in Alaska, The Simsons cartoon, airline in-flight video, over the Pacific Ocean, Planet Earth

Nome sweet nome, Homer gives Marge Forget-me-nots, Cabin in Alaska, The Simsons cartoon, airline in-flight video, over the Pacific Ocean, Planet Earth, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Geometry, concrete, Rosie, Castle Rock, Washington, USA

Geometry, concrete, Rosie, Castle Rock, Washington, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Boudha Wishfulfilling Stupa looking over colorful rows of Tibetan Prayer Flags in the east, Kathmandu, Nepal

Boudha Wishfulfilling Stupa looking over colorful rows of Tibetan Prayer Flags in the east, Kathmandu, Nepal, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

From above Silicon Valley, south bay, California, USA

From above Silicon Valley, south bay, California, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Boudha Stupa from the east, restaurant rooftop, napkins, umbrella, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal

Boudha Stupa from the east, restaurant rooftop, napkins, umbrella, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Rescued from death on the street, a shocked baby rat eating Tibetan Bread, burn dump behind Tharlam Monastery, Bodha area, Kathmandu, Nepal

Rescued from death on the street, a shocked baby rat eating Tibetan Bread, burn dump behind Tharlam Monastery, Bodha area, Kathmandu, Nepal, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Rescued from the street in front of the Bodha Shrine at Lamdre in 2007 Dumbfounded Tibetan bread watching the rat having a bite....

What rat when eating looks anything other than happy? He was so relieved.

I spotted him when Tashi Paljor and I were carrying the Sakya Lamdre t-shirts back from the taxi who refused to drive us into the Monastery because he had another fare.

I helped Tashi carry the bags - I was covered with sweat and dirt so I took a shower - hoping that rat would survive, and ran back to the street to find him - I urged him out of the traffic into the foot traffic - he tried valiantly to enter the gate - but there were too many feet and he could not see well enough - it was all moving too fast, too loud, and no safety.

He was just a baby, and could only hop. He had hopped into a concrete corner right next to the entrance to the shrine - under the gate to the right where the coolies sit. He was terrified of the foot traffic and vehicles. They didn't even notice him.

He was badly dehydrated.

So I asked to borrow you know a small black garbage bag - and sure enough through hand signs and intuition one guy right above the rat pulled out a small - to medium sized black thin garbage bag. I move him aside, and when they saw the rat - well you know what would happen. They are as non-violent as I am, an old meat eater.

Between the coolies and me we urged the rat right into the bag, in sort of motherly commanding tone, I said - get into the black bag, it is safe there. He hopped in. Then I carried him, like a turd, away from me, around the stupa 3/4's and to the garbage dump behind the Monastery where he could feast on blessed bread and slightly rotten orange juice which I dripped onto him from above like some freakie good tasting mana-rain.

I was afraid that it wasn't going to be enough when I carried him to the garbage dump - he didn't respond for a long time.

www.ratbehavior.org/RatYears.htm

Apparently rats see color much differently that do we if you explore that site. They smell things real good though, which is what happened when I soaked this bread piece in orange juice and placed it right in front of his nose, dripping orange juice on him.

By now I thought he may have died, but at least he had a better life. If he is still alive, he is a wise old rat.

Update: World notifier - the day he died he thought of me, and remembered his life - it was raining in Boudha - I saw his wet street through his fond eyes. Since it was raining in the vision I checked it online and indeed it was raining just like he showed me it was. That rat had it so good he lived a very long time for a rat.

Boudha Stupa, aerial view of the wish fulfilling chorten, Bodhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal

Boudha Stupa, aerial view of the wish fulfilling chorten, Bodhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Say BOO to the FLU, sign on the side of a bus, little girl in costume, San Francisco, California, USA

Say BOO to the FLU, sign on the side of a bus, little girl in costume, San Francisco, California, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Mosiac ceiling and lamps, blue and ornate, Macy's, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Mosiac ceiling and lamps, blue and ornate, Macy's, Chicago, Illinois, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

2 story Birdhouse, sailboats, sunny day, bushes, Pacific Ocean, Olympic Mountains, Seattle, Washington, USA

2 story Birdhouse, sailboats, sunny day, bushes, Pacific Ocean, Olympic Mountains, Seattle, Washington, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Statue of Buddha in meditation position, garden, Seattle, Washington, USA

Statue of Buddha in meditation position, garden, Seattle, Washington, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Boudha stupa and smaller chorten from the east side, under the old brick commercial buildings, Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags, rainy day, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal

Boudha stupa and smaller chorten from the east side, under the old brick commercial buildings, Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags, rainy day, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Our Lady of Peace, halo of stars, cross, steel, central courtyard, Our Lady of Peace Church and Shrine, Santa Clara, California, USA

Our Lady of Peace, halo of stars, cross, steel, central courtyard, Our Lady of Peace Church and Shrine, Santa Clara, California, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

The eyes of Boudha Stupa, steps, prayer flags, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal

The eyes of Boudha Stupa, steps, prayer flags, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Tibetan Buddhist Shrine, ready for the lama, Tibetan Buddhism, South Bay Vajrayana, Silicon Valley, California, USA

Tibetan Buddhist Shrine, ready for the lama, Tibetan Buddhism, South Bay Vajrayana, Silicon Valley, California, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

The last of the Sur, Charlotte offering the last bit of white food, silver compote, fire in a barbeque, backyard, grass, fence, Seattle, Washington, USA

The last of the Sur, Charlotte offering the last bit of white food, silver compote, fire in a barbeque, backyard, grass, fence, Seattle, Washington, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Sassoon Seattle

Sassoon Seattle, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Tibetan Buddhist shrine, Buddha statue with mendicant staff photos of the Karmapa, lions, offering cup, trinkets, stars, mini-Tibetan Wind Horse Prayer Flags, lotus flower wood statue, South Bay Vajrayana, Cupertino, Cupertino, Santa Clara County, CA, USA

Tibetan Buddhist shrine, Buddha statue with mendicant staff photos of the Karmapa, lions, offering cup, trinkets, stars, mini-Tibetan Wind Horse Prayer Flags, lotus flower wood statue, South Bay Vajrayana, Cupertino, Cupertino, Santa Clara County, CA, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Cactus, stones, sand, Volunteer Park Conservatory, Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington, USA

Cactus, stones, sand, Volunteer Park Conservatory, Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Saint Jude, flower offerings, Silicon Valley, courtyard, Our Lady of Peace Church and Shrine, Santa Clara, California, USA

Saint Jude, flower offerings, Silicon Valley, courtyard, Our Lady of Peace Church and Shrine, Santa Clara, California, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Kinetic Art for the wind, Panasonic Venture Group, art and architecture as one, glass office entrance, 10900 N Tantau Ave, Cupertino, California, USA

Kinetic Art for the wind, Panasonic Venture Group, art and architecture as one, glass office entrance, 10900 N Tantau Ave, Cupertino, California, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Tibetan Thangka of Padmasambhava, holding a bowl of nectar, vajra staff, halo, vulture feather in lotus hat, traditional garments, boots, gold & turquoise earrings, saint founder of Tibetan Buddhism, South Bay Vajrayana, Silicon Valley, California, USA

Tibetan Thangka of Padmasambhava, holding a bowl of nectar, vajra staff, halo, vulture feather in lotus hat, traditional garments, boots, gold & turquoise earrings, saint founder of Tibetan Buddhism, South Bay Vajrayana, Silicon Valley, California, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Cold rushing green water, power of a curly wave, Swanton Black Finger Rocks, waves rolling in like knives, North of Santa Cruz, off the coast of California, USA

Cold rushing green water, power of a curly wave, Swanton Black Finger Rocks, waves rolling in like knives, North of Santa Cruz, off the coast of California, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Lord Buddha's head, stylicized Mediterranean curly hair and topknot (ushnisha), knocked off the body of a statue, stone, gandharvan, Greek influenced design, Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Lord Buddha's head, stylicized Mediterranean curly hair and topknot (ushnisha), knocked off the body of a statue, stone, gandharvan, Greek influenced design, Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, Illinois, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands

Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Highway 1, San Gregorio River, Named after Pope Gregory I (Saint Gregory the Great), San Gregorio beach, California, USA

Highway 1, San Gregorio River, Named after Pope Gregory I (Saint Gregory the Great), San Gregorio beach, California, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

HH Dagchen Sakya draws a line through the Hevajra sand mandala after initiation, holding a gold dorje & ringing a vajra handled bell, three masters of ceremony assist, one monk observes, Sakya Lamdre, Tharlam Monastery Shrineroom, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal

HH Dagchen Sakya draws a line through the Hevajra sand mandala after initiation, holding a gold dorje & ringing a vajra handled bell, three masters of ceremony assist, one monk observes, Sakya Lamdre, Tharlam Monastery Shrineroom, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Abandoned concrete tower, cloudy day, trees, mountain, Lacy, Washington, USA

Abandoned concrete tower, cloudy day, trees, mountain, Lacy, Washington, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Female face, love girl, Waterfall Fountains at Millenium Park, crowd in the waterfall, art and architecture, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Female face, love girl, Waterfall Fountains at Millenium Park, crowd in the waterfall, art and architecture, Chicago, Illinois, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

We were there, silhouettes, waterway, Olympic Mountains, the blue sound, bare trees, Golden Gardens Park, Seattle, Washington, USA

We were there, silhouettes, waterway, Olympic Mountains, the blue sound, bare trees, Golden Gardens Park, Seattle, Washington, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.