Choices

Hi,

We actually had a weekend without rain.  There may have been a few sprinkles, but nothing to shout about.  It was just hot and humid.  

The ‘Old School Friday’ tune was “With A Little Help From My Friends” by The Beatles, and later, Joe Cocker.  It’s time to get busy with our ‘Easy Monday’ song.  Let’s see who remembers this oldie:  “__ __ __ to be loved by anyone.  __ __ __ to have fun with anyone.  But when I see you hanging about with anyone, __ __ __ to see me cry, oh, I wanna die.”  Hint: 

Saturday we had a great time at the ‘Going away party’ for the twins.  We met some new ‘grown ups’ and had very interesting conversations and made new friends.  The kids found things to do on the big lawn, like playing with kickballs, and putting plant-life in their hair.  When a big fan was placed in our area to create a breeze, the kids discovered that if you yell into it, it distorts your voice.  I had to join them and check it out and it’s pretty crazy.

As a result of several conversations over the weekend, I realized that I have learned a few things in the nine years we’ve been here.  I will pass some of these things along to you during the next few weeks.  When we first arrived, a new friend of mine who emigrated from Canada explained to me that it’s not better or worse, it’s just different.  I have held on to that thought.  There are many cultural observations that cause me to think.  Coming from a culture where ’striving’ is part of the way of life, it’s refreshing to realize that many people are happy with ‘enough’.  If they have a roof over their heads, and food to eat it is enough.  If they have family around them, it is enough.  They work hard and get enough to feed themselves and those around them and it is enough.  Hmm.

Sunday we went to The Wanderer for lunch.  I took some time after we’d finished and just strolled around.  While walking toward the river I heard the sound of the geese.  They are like guard-dogs.  As soon as I was on the path away from the normal area they began ‘honking’.  They’re in a make-shift enclosure so they don’t try to get out, but they were pretty clear about their intention.  Some of their honking was at me, but there were also two large birds walking around their enclosure and they were also warning them off.  

Sunday evenings in the Night Bazaar things start a little later than usual.  Partly because of ‘Happy Street’, which draws some of the vendors and some of the local crowd away.  As a result, when we got to Sawadee, the place was empty. After our meal we walked around a little, saying hello to some of our vendor friends.  Then home to watch Formula One while Lisa worked in her studio.

It was a mellow Monday on this side of the world.  We bought some vegetables and fruit at Healthy Market, stopped by ‘The Bread Lady’, and then had another fun visit with Katai at Work@Home.  This morning we got to look at some of her drawings and small paintings she does in a diary type book.  She is a wonderful artist who does it for herself.  Today’s quote is from a page in her little book.

Have a Great Week.

                       Peace,

                                 Danny

“Every morning you have two choices:

continue to sleep with your dreams,

or wake up and chase them.

~Unknown