Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Zero

Hi,

The beat goes on, or rather, the heat goes on.  We have lived through quite a few ‘Hot seasons’ with temperatures that were probably as high, but the humidity this year makes it seem like it’s much hotter.  Hmm.

A lot of you wrote me with the answer to the ‘Easy Monday’ song.  Some said it was ‘Too Easy’, but that was the point.  I’m trying to get past last week’s total shutout.  If you can’t quite put your finger on the tune, here’s more:  “What do I do when my love is away?  (Does it worry you to be alone?)  How do I feel by the end of the day?  (Are you sad because you’re on your own?)  No, I get by __ __ __ __ __ __ __.  Mmm, I get high __ __ __ __ __ __ __.  Mmm, gonna try __ __ __ __ __ __ __.”  Clue:  Track 2 on the very famous album about a not so famous band leader.  Fab four is also in the mix of clues.  You know this.

In most mechanized cultures, when school starts, there is more traffic.  And so it is in Chiang Rai.  All of the schools are not in session yet, but the few that are have brought with them some extra ‘busy’ on the streets.  There is a high school near us and the increase of motorbikes on the road is quite apparent.  I don’t know how many students attend the school, but it’s a big one.  Cat’s school has over 3,000 students, which means that just the faculty and staff create more cars on the streets.  School vans are another factor that is a little different than in other places.  All around town there will be 9 to 12 passenger vans taking kids to and from school.  It would be interesting to know just how many it takes to move all of the students of Chiang Rai.  Hmm.  In light of all this, it’s time to stay alert avoiding the teens on two wheels and the vans that make frequent stops.  Or, stay off the streets when all that is going on (555).

Since we’ve been living in Thailand we have continually been baffled by family relationships.  By that I mean, the real connections between people.  The use of brother, sister and cousin seem to have been given out by early English teachers as words to use if you want to.  A close friend might be identified as a sister, a brother might actually be a nephew.  We never actually know until we ask a few more questions.  I think most people know the correct words in Thai, but when it comes to English, it just falls to the most familiar word at the moment.  Amazing Thailand.

Today’s photo is a portion of the field across the road from our house.  Beyond that is the river, and then those beautiful orange trees in the distance.


Have a Happy Tuesday.

              Peace,
                        Danny

“When one’s expectations are reduced
to zero, one really appreciates everything
one does have.”
~Stephen Hawking

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