Generosity

Hi,

Well, today we finally got rain.  It was what I would call ‘Tiny Rain’ but it was water from the sky and it really cooled the air.  Once again, we experienced the strange event of dry weather until we crossed over the bridge toward our house, and then rain.  Cue Twilight Zone music.

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “Summer Breeze” by Seals & Crofts.  See if you remember this ‘Zany Day’ song from the 60s:  “One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small.  And the ones that mother gives you don’t do anything at all.  Go ask Alice when she’s ten feet tall.”  Clue:  It’s not the Easter Bunny.

The idea of standing in line in an orderly fashion, is not a common occurrence in these parts.  The banks got rid of lines by having ‘queue’ numbers and chairs.  Some businesses are totally unprepared when it comes to large crowds.  This morning we went to Big C again, and this time the AIS store had a huge crowd win a line that snaked around one end of the upstairs area.  Then they decided to reorganize the line and it turned into madness.  People began yelling at the woman who was shouting instructions.  She finally got them settled down and that’s when I went into Big C and caught up with Cat and Lisa.  I couldn’t take anymore (555).

The Edison Store used to be the major department store in Chiang Rai.  It’s downtown, near the Wancome Hotel where we lived during our first month here.  We used to go there to get ‘nice’ things.  Now they’re holding on, trying to survive the competition from Central Plaza.  Today we went there to get baby clothes for Khun Pay’s little boy.  The store smelled moldy, which is not a good sign.  We shopped there because they carry 100% cotton garments for infants.  

In the afternoon we went to the hospital and met our new friend.  The way the hospitals are set up, the father can stay in the room as much as he wants.  Khun Boy spends the night and helps Pay take care of the baby.  They are happy and the little one is very calm and serene.  New moms and their babies stay in the hospital for about 4 or 5 days before going home.  

There comes a time, in this technological age, when one feels like the machines are taking over.  I just had such an experience with my phone.   When my number was dialed, the caller would hear a DTAC commercial instead of the tone that is usually heard.  There is nothing in my phone that would allow me to change this, so we went to the DTAC store this evening.  It was done on their end and the service rep disabled it rather easily.  Imagine calling someone and hearing a musical commercial for the phone company.  What?  There is a service they have that plays  popular Thai music while the caller waits for you to answer, but I’d rather keep it simple.

Every morning Daku goes to the door of our room at 7:15am to listen for Natcha in the kitchen.  She comes in to make Blue’s juice drink and breakfast.  When he hears her, he hurries downstairs for what we call ‘The Breakfast Club’. He usually gets downstairs in time to great Blue and relax near him while he eats.  When Blue is done, Daku comes back upstairs.  

Time for a Wacky Wednesday.

                   Peace,

                             Danny

“Generosity gives assistance,

rather than advice.”

Marquis De Vauvenargues