Monday, October 21, 2013

Space


Hi,

When October arrived, the rain stopped.  We thought the 'season' was over, but we couldn't have been more wrong.  This weekend Chiang Rai got a lot of rain.  Some was light and some was those big drops that smack you on the head.  Fortunately, we've learned how to duck.

Only one person knew the 'Old School Friday' tune.  Michael T. wrote and told me it was "Come Go With Me" by The Del Vikings.  Now you know.  Time for an 'Easy Monday' song, one that won't tax your brain.  This song is by a six-man vocal group that brought a choral sense to pop music in the '60s.  "__ is the word I use to describe, all the feelings that I have hiding here for you inside.  You don't know how many times I've wished that I had told you.  You don't know how many times I've wished that I could hold you.  You don't know how many times I've wished that I could mold you into someone who could __ me as much as I __ you."  Hint:  Oh, come on now, you know this.  

Saturday was cloudy and threatened to rain for most of the day.  We ran errands in the morning.  After lunch I took Cat to the Talat, to a spot that serves as the central depot for Song Taews (pick-up truck taxis).  She went to spent the weekend at her sister's.  We had rain in the afternoon and, like so many other Saturdays, it seemed to stop when it was time for Walking Street.

This year we missed the Vegetarian Festival.  We knew it was going on, but didn't go anywhere that was seriously celebrating.  There was an alternative menu at S&P Restaurant in Central Plaza and I have no idea what they were serving.  The next big event will be Loy Kratong in November.  Now that's a holiday.

Sunday evening, on our way to Art Bridge for dinner, we stopped at 9 Art Gallery to see the current exhibition.  It's a group show with 5 artists.  One of them we are very familiar with and it was nice to see more of his work.  We were the only people in the gallery, which meant we could take our time and talk about the work.  

At Art Bridge we saw a group of artists we know and had the usual warm exchange.  There was a good crowd there for dinner and it's nice to see that the restaurant has established itself as a dinner destination.  As we were leaving, it was apparent that it had been sprinkling while we ate.  Just as we stepped out of the shelter of the building, the 'big drop' rain just seem to come out of nowhere.  It rained hard until we reached Ban Mai, the village next to ours.  When we got to our house it looked like it had barely rained.  Once inside, the rain became heavy and we realized it had followed us home.  (555)

Today's adventures included another trip to the mall, and coffee at the only Starbucks in Chiang Rai.  I suppose that fact will help us remain a small town as opposed to a city.  On our way home we noticed that traffic was backing up on 'our' bridge.  As we got closer we realized there was a procession of monks crossing the bridge and people were slowing to take photos.  We did the same.  After the bridge I stopped to check out the truck they were following.  It was carrying a large golden statue of a monk, probably for installation in a temple north of town.  The bags they carry hold their alms bowls.  


Have a Great Week.

                   Peace,
                              Danny

"Between stimulus and response, there is a space.
In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response.
In our response lies our growth and freedom."
~Victor Frankl

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