Fire

Hi,
We had a lazy day at the Big Brown House. We were all kinda sluggish since we didn't get to bed until about 1:30 a.m. Number 12 was the official date for Loy Krathong, but this afternoon Boot informed us that the 12th was Lek Loy Krathong (Lek means small) and that tonight was Yi Loy Krathong (Yi means big). Oh.
I was shocked and amazed that so many of you knew the song on the first day. Many of you remembered the bright-eyed, long haired guitarist who gave us this song. Maybe this next line will rattle the memories of the rest of you.
"But don't hesitate 'cuz your love won't wait. Ooooh, __ __ __ __ __, every day. Want to be with you night and day..."
Today was the day for BamBam to get her medicated bath. This time Lisa and Boot gave her a shower and then used a big tub to soak her in her 'treatment'. She cooperated with the whole thing and afterward, got to run around the yard for a bit without her big cone collar. She was in heaven. We're hoping that after her Saturday visit to the doctor that it can come off for good.
There are lots of little things that make life here rather special. This morning Boot asked us what we'd like to eat today. Lisa mentioned a dish she makes with little fried fish pieces. This afternoon I heard the doorbell and opened the gate. A young man wearing tall rubber boots and carrying a bag entered the property. It turns out he was the fish guy delivering the makings for our dinner. That's what I call service. Oh, and dinner was yummy.
I had to go into town this evening and decided to take the usual route, which goes right by the festival grounds. It was early and it didn't seem like the crowd was going to be as big as yesterday. Well, it was just gearing up and I got to see what happens as the throngs arrive. At 6:45 there were already hundreds of motorbikes neatly parked on the side of the road. Policemen were directing traffic to parking lots and bikes were swooping in and out of lanes. I managed to get past it all and get to my destination. By 8 o'clock the town was really going strong. There was traffic everywhere so I came home by what we call 'the back way'. Up the highway and through another village.
The whole idea of this holiday is to give thanks to the river by sending little baskets made from banana leaves and covered with flowers and incense down the river. The word Loy means to float. Krathong is the name for the little basket. The balloons symbolize letting your problems float away into the sky. Not sure where the fireworks enter into all this, but they're still going off. Theoretically, tonight should be the end of it. We'll see.
Have a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

"You get the best effort from others
not by lighting a fire beneath them,
but by building a fire within."
~Bob Nelson

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

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