Care

Hi,

The weekend weather was a combination of scattered showers, steady drizzles, and light rain.  So much fun, I just can’t begin to tell you (555).  We haven’t bothered with a forecast in days.  We just look outside and guess.

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “The Glory Of Love” by The Velvetones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-prFT-eLxY  The third letter always knocks me out.  OK, it’s time for something that’s ‘Easy Monday’ material.  

“__ __ __ __ __, the rain is gone.  I can see all obstacles in my way.  Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) sun-shiny day.”  Hint:  Really?  A hint?  It’s easy.

Emotions are still fragile here at The Big Brown House.  We got the call at 2:45am Saturday that Blue had passed.  There are so many reminders and routines that keep Blue’s presence at the front of our minds.  Daku is still adjusting to the fact that there is no ‘Breakfast Club’ anymore.  Around the house it is tough and we’re all feeling it.  Saturday we went for coffee at The Wanderer and the server asked, “Only two?”.  It’s times like that it seems to smack me in the face.  There were so many daily things we did together.  Here in Chiang Rai, the places we frequent take note of who is who.  It’s a Thai thing that we like.  So, there will be little dramas from time to time until everyone ‘gets it’.  

Wednesday morning we’re having a memorial service at the house.  Sutheera, who is a dear friend of Blue’s, has arranged for three monks to come and do a ceremony, then we will serve a lunch and have an open house for the rest of the day for anyone who wants to stop by.  The response to this has been incredible.  As soon as we mention it, we are asked where and what time.  I don’t know how many people will actually come, but people have expressed a desire to pay their respects.  I don’t think he realized what an impression he made on folks in Chiang Rai.  

As we have observed in the past, there are many customs and traditions in this part of the world that differ from where we came from (understatement).  This weekend we learned that many people take their loved ones home so people can come and see them.  Then they go to the temple for various nights of prayers and chanting.  This is followed by cremation and a party.  When we were confronted with the many questions, we just followed what Blue told us to do and they had to honor that.  It’s complicated enough when a foreigner dies outside of their country of origin.  We’re dealing with it as it comes and things are working out.  

Life goes on and we’re living it.  We visited Art Bridge so Lisa could submit a small painting for a group exhibition, went to Makro at the height of Saturday shopping, basically kept the ball rolling.  Today we went out to the country to pick up Lisa's cast acrylic prints that will be in the Chiang Mai show.  What a relief to be among the rice fields and just take in the green.  On the way home we tried out the new highway going south.  So much fun, even with light rain, just straight, rolling road.  

Today’s photo was taken at Work@Home.  It’s another one of Katai’s playful rings.

Have a Great Week.

                 Peace,

                           Danny

“Self-care is not selfish.

You cannot serve from 

an empty vessel.”

~Unknown