At New Jersey, my chores consisted of various household duties aside from my artwork for "Back to Godhead". I cleaned the kitchen, washed Swamiji's clothes - he was still called Swamiji at that time -, made the beds, mopped the floors, and cleaned everything. I enjoyed serving him any way I could and of course, I picked him roses every day. It was with great joy that I did everything. Kirtanananda however, did the cooking, as I was not trained in cooking. I had been a college student, just prior to meeting Srila Prabhupada and had always eaten out and had never cooked at all. So it was a big shock one day when Kirtanananda had gone away to do some errands, Srila Prabhupada came into the kitchen and asked me if I could make him a baked potato. I was stunned. I had no idea how to make a baked potato. I politely explained to him that I had no training and no idea how to cook even a baked potato. He was surprised but he very kindly said: "That's all right, never mind. I shall wait till Kirtanananda returns". I still remember the horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach, knowing that I had failed to keep him comfortable by giving him the food that he requested. At that moment I resolved within my mind to learn cooking. During out three weeks resident at New Jersey, Kirtanananda did all the cooking and then when Srila Prabhupada went to India for six months I hung around kitchens and watched and took notes on every form of cooking. I watched Acyutananda, Mahapurusa, Upendra, and whoever was cooking, so that six months later I was able to serve Srila Prabhupada dhal, rice, chapatis and subji according to his wishes. Then he used to exclaim that

"Oh, the Goddess of Fortune has taught Govinda dasi how to cook", when I would bring him his meals and indeed I believe it was true. My prayers to be able to cook for him were fulfilled. When I remember this it is with some pain, yet it also shows that Krsna can teach us everything when we sincerely desire. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for guiding me in your service and allowing me to make up for that baked potato. Even now, I mentally always offer kachories and laddhu, your favorite dishes, and hope you will come and enjoy them in the temple of my mind. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.

Once in New Jersey, Srila Prabhupada called me into his room and asked me very nicely whether I was washing clothes in hot, soapy water. He said that normally so much soap is not needed, but because he was getting oil massages it was necessary to wash them with soap and hot water to cleanse them properly. He was very gentle and kind and loving, not harsh or reprimanding at all. He also then asked me about my clothing, whether or not I had other clothes. Since as an artist I still wear jeans. Saris had not been introduced as of yet. He commented, "I do not like these Western pants wearing with all parts exposed. Better for ladies to wear long dresses or saris as they do in India". I nodded and decided to find out about saris, since all I owned was jeans, and of course later we began always wearing saris and long dresses rather than pants. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for caring so much about us that you taught us how to dress, how to eat, even how to brush our teeth. You are the perfect father, so that even now when I can remember you in all my daily activities; and another time you commented on my short hair, recently clipped just over my ears and said: "I do not like this bob tail. You should wear your hair long like Jadurani's in a bunch in the back. Jadurani's hair was pulled in back in a ponytail at the nape of her neck. So from that day I let my hair grow and wear it as you requested. Another time you suggested I tied my hair in a knot - for catching Krsna. You explained that the brahmacari ties his sikha in a knot and in India, ladies also tie their bunch of hairs in a knot and always think of catching Krsna in that knot. That is the meaning of the sikha knot and also of the ladies' tradition of gathering their hair in a knot. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, that you are such a perfect father that you taught us how to look, how to dress and how to live. You are our eternal father. Thank you.