Kindness

Hi,

Contrary to all the news, life in Chiang Rai is still going on as usual. Over the weekend we dined with friends, went to an art show opening, a dinner party, and watched the Grand Prix. Whew.

Congrats to those who remembered "The Twelfth of Never" as sung by Johnny Mathis. Let's see if you remember this 'Easy Monday' tune: "You get up every morning from you 'larm clock's warning, take the 8:15 to the city... Look at me I'm self-employed, I love to work at nothing all day. And I'll be __ __ __ __ (every day)..." Hint: It's by a group with two last names, who also went by three initials. Many folks are having a hard time doing what this title is about.

While it's true that the city of Bangkok is in a terrible state these days with the protests, and violence that you're seeing on the news, but up here in the north people are going about their lives the way they always have. We continue to enjoy a safe, mellow life-style.

Saturday evening we went to diner with Sutheera, her brother, and his girlfriend. It was our first time meeting her brother, who works in city government. We talked of many things, from education to politics.

After dinner we went straight to 9 Gallery for the opening of an incredible exhibition for a 19 year-old ceramics artist. This young man has been trained in a special process that makes parts of the clay look like metal. We met Count Jerry, and several other expats that we didn't know. The works were priced to sell, and we bought a piece. All of them are statues about a foot tall, of Hill Tribe women. The young artist has quite a bright future ahead of him.

Sunday we went to a dinner party at the home of our friends Martin and Kay. Martin is an artist, and was in the Le Meridien show with Lisa. One of the guests is the manager of the facility where the Thailand Art Festival is held. We had a really cool 'stroll in the garden' before dinner, admiring, and learning about many local plants. There's one little bush that is used to slow down the effects of snake bites. The house is on a hillside in a very rural area, and the bush is a precaution. We don't have that problem since we're in the 'flat land' and we have a wall around our property.

Today we met with a contractor who measured the house for rain gutters, and an awning over the back patio. He'll return in two weeks for the installation. It's one of those things that will make life during the rainy season much dryer.

Have a Great Week.

Peace,
Danny

"Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind."
~Eric Hoffer

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