Vision

Hi,

Our Wednesday was another one of those brutally hot days.  The air got a little better, meaning it moved to ‘Unhealthy’ from “Very Unhealthy."  We’re all getting a buzz just imagining that it will rain tomorrow.  There is an even greater chance for Sunday showers.  

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” by The Supremes, and covered by Vanilla Fudge among others.  This week’s ‘Middle Song’ may bring back memories:  “They say the neon lights are bright __ __ (__ __).

They say there’s always magic in the air.  (__ __).  But when you’re walkin’ down the street, and you ain’t had enough to eat, the glitter rubs right off, and you’re nowhere.  (__ __).”  Hint:  Song is about a famous street in a famous city.  It’s sung by a group with many hit tunes to their credit.  The cover was by a guitarist-turned-singer.

Things have really changed around here.  Our airport now has only 1 flight per day going to Bangkok and nowhere else.  The buses no longer run between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, and you have to have a very good reason to be on the highway in a private vehicle.  This morning we went to Top’s Market at the mall. They take your temperature then give you a cloth face mask if you don’t have one.  They also have a shallow box that you step into to disinfect the bottom of your shoes.  Hmm.  After we picked up a few things, we noticed the escalator was moving up towards the main floor of the mall.  Being adventurous, we got on, just to see what was happening.  It was mostly closed stores and counters.  A few restaurants were open, only for people picking up take-out orders.  The cell phone providers were open as well as Power Buy, a smaller version of Best Buy in the States.  

Today’s photo was taken at Centra Plaza Mall.  Say ‘Hello’ to my little friend, made from Spanish Moss.

Last night we talked with Cat.  She’s isolated in her new apartment.  There is a ‘7-11’ in front of her apartment building, and take-out nearby.  She spends a lot of time with Netflix and texting with her friends from school.  Her year of practice teaching has been postponed until it’s safe for Thailand to reopen schools, which means she doesn’t know.  The biggest problem with all of this is the delay of her graduation until the ‘practice’ year is done.  She told us that her sister is staying in her little house in the village, and that she likes to go into the forest and collect things to eat.  Everything from bamboo to greens to fish is available.  It’s very handy to know how to gather from the forest when your job is gone.

It feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                            Peace,

                                      Danny

“Where there is no vision,

there is no hope.”

~George Washington Carver