Remember

Hi,

Last night we had a big storm.  Today was cloudy and very hot.  Late this afternoon a giant, unpredicted storm arrived with fierce winds and a lot of water.  It’s been raining in some form for 90 minutes with rolling thunder telling is that it’s not going to be over for a while.

This week’s ‘Easy Monday’ song was released in 1966 and some of us are still humming it.  The title is a greeting.

“We take a walk, the sun is shining down.  Burns my feet as they touch the ground.  __ __ __, __ __ __, __ __ __.  Then we’d lie beneath a shady tree, I love her and she’s loving me.  She feels good, she knows she’s looking fine.  I’m so proud to know that she is mine.  __ __ __, __ __ __, __ __ __ (repeat on and on and on).  Clue:  It’s those same four ‘lads’ from across the pond, from an album that went ‘round and ‘round.

The big adventure today was a trip to Big C.  We began by going to a frame shop in town that was recommended by our friend Cornelis.  The shop is near the Super Highway, but getting back to the highway was difficult with all the traffic.  We decided to try another route.  On the way I remembered a road that Khun Sing, our Tuk-Tuk friend, used to take.  It was fun riding through a village we don’t usually see, noting two large temples and lots of hidden neighborhoods.

Once upon a time, arriving at Big C at 9:30am would have been a good time to shop in a nearly empty store.  These days it seems like the lot is nearly full and the store is busy.  The signs that Songkran is coming were very obvious.  Floral ‘Hawaiian style’ shirts, squirt guns of every description and a row of Buddha statues by check-out with little bowls of water in front of them.  Shoppers make a donation, dip their fingers in the water and sprinkle it on the Buddha in the traditional manner.  

One of the things that makes living here fascinating is witnessing so many religious and cultural traditions on a daily basis.  There are things that Thai children are taught, almost from birth, about manners, greetings and respect.  Watching the way Neetchanon is being raised gives us an insight as to how this evolves.  There are a few things that make me a little uncomfortable, like younger people bowing to adults as they pass by in close situations.  That’s just me.  

Today’s photo of the back of our house was taken yesterday. I like the way the flowers frame the house.  

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                     Peace,

                               Danny

“Remember always that you 

not only have the right to be an 

individual, you have an obligation

to be one.”

~Eleanor Roosevelt