Gratitude

Hi,

Beautiful weather in Chiang Rai these days.  The overnight cold is gone pretty early and then it’s moderately warm.  From what we’re reading, we will encounter ‘weather shock’ when we arrive in Los Angeles.  Brrr.  There is a mountain top in Chiang Mai that had frost on the ground.  

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “I Can’t Get Next To You” by The Temptations.  Time for ‘Easy Monday’ and a song from 1979.  “Well, it’s not far down to paradise, at least it’s not for me.  And if the wind is right you can sail away, and find tranquility.  Oh, the canvas can do miracles, just you wait and see, believe me.”   Hint:  To do what the titles implies, one needs a special vehicle.

I have not heard the official count yet from the ‘Bike For Dad’ but based on today’s photo, it must have been over a thousand here in Chiang Rai Province.  What you see in the photo is just the first wave.  The photo was taken from that annoying helicopter.

Sunday morning we got really brave and went to Central Plaza.  We got really lucky with the parking, and had a productive time with our ‘list’ of things we needed.  All through the mall people were wearing their orange and black Chiang Rai United (local football/soccer team) shirts.  Sunday evening was the last match of the season and there was an air of excitement all over town.  We still haven’t been to a match yet, maybe next season.  While we were in Robinson, the anchor department store, we saw our friends Towan and Katai from Work@Home.  We seem to run into them a lot when we’re out on Sundays.  We had lunch at the mall, something that used to be impossible for me, and as we were leaving we noticed a black Porsche Boxster in the VIP parking.  First we were thinking, ‘Whose is that?’, but then we remembered that it was Towan’s.  Not many of those in Chiang Rai (555).

Every year there seems to be an increase in decorating around town.  Christmas trees, Santa suits, and even a gift-wrapping table at Big C.  I call it Western assimilation, or something close.  The really big celebration happens on New Year’s Eve.  We’ve never seen it because we’re always in the States, but we’ve seen photos.  Clock Tower street is blocked off and a stage is erected.  Bands play, a massive audience parties, and it’s like a mini-Times Square.  Hmm, someday we’ll have to come home early and experience the magic.

I have often commented on how we can become used to certain foods and not realize their uniqueness.  Spicy comes to mind.  A close Thai friend of ours had to stop eating spicy food.  Now her friends tell her ‘Oh, it’s not spicy’ so she tastes it and it’s spicy.  She used to laugh when I would decline some food she thought wasn’t spicy.  I feel mildly vindicated and not so ‘delicate’ (555).

Have a Great Week.

                  Peace,

                            Danny

“Gratitude is one of the sweet shortcuts

to finding peace of mind and happiness inside.

No matter what’s going on outside of us,

there’s always something we could be grateful for.

~Barry Neil Kaufman