Happy Tuesday everyone! It’s actually just about midnight here, so this isn’t coffee so much as a nightcap. I just wanted to pop in, especially for those wondering, to say we’re still alive and kicking, just busy. I hitched the bus to Chiang Rai on Saturday, and it’s been a bit of nonstop action ever since. We’ve been hosting another organization of young university students in a leadership program, introducing them to what SOLD does, talking about the issue of child trafficking and sexual slavery, and giving them time to spend with the kids in our program.
It’s been truly rewarding hosting this lively group. They’ve been jumping in head first into everything and asking tons of fabulous questions. They’ve had loads of great energy, so we’ve ended each day feeling enthused, fulfilled and…exhausted. Though the exhaustion probably has more to do with the fact that it’s hotter than heck here even though it just rained.
Unfortunately there was a tiny snafu with a little water pipe that then left the resource center without water for a day or so, as one problem led to another. Which meant I had to go sans shower for rather longer than preferable, use the outhouse bathrooms instead of the indoor ones, and brush my teeth with drinking water in a cup, camping style. When I finally did get a chance to shower, it was with water we were able to get in a bucket. I haven’t had a bucket shower since I first came to Thailand when I was eight! Still not my preference, though I did have to marvel at how much water is saved. It’s nice now, when a cool shower feels best, but I wouldn’t like it at all if the weather was colder.
Thankfully, however, water was restored this evening and I can now shower normally and reduce the likelihood of offending the neighbors.
I was making dinner a couple of nights ago, when I spotted this little guy on the window pane.
I thought it would make such a lovely photo, with his wings pressed so neatly upon the glass. I went and snapped a couple of shots and then put the camera away. I walked back to the window, smiling at the little guy, until, to my shock, a gecko popped out and ate him right before my disbelieving eyes.
Poor little guy. It’s a weird thought, that I caught a picture of him just in the last few seconds of his life.
Hm. I totally didn’t mean to end on such a melancholy note! So, instead, I’ll tell you the real reason I’m writing so late is because I was busy finishing listening to the audiobook version of Harry Potter Book 5 (for what must be at least the fourth time – not counting all the times I’ve read the book or seen the movie) because I’m in a reminiscing mood. But with that I will now turn to bed. Do send me a hello for I want to hear what I’ve been missing in your world! I’d love to wake up to tales of your weekend and such.
Cheers and thanks for the nightcap/coffee!
- Jade -
Hmmmm. The beauty before life continues in its design. That's what I thought after seeing your picture and the story. Before I sound like a downer, I'll head into bucket shower talk and share that I've NEVER been so grateful for a shower as I was after three weeks worth of bucket showers while in Mexico.
And the clouds in your picture were the same clouds in my pictures from the weekend … do you think they could've possibly floated your way?
glad the water's back *phew*
and yes, it's a gorgeous photo – even more so when you know it was the little guy's last gift… bless him, and you for sharing that moment with us
and thanks for coffee x
Hi Jade!! Thanks for staying up so late to join us for a nightcap! I think I need to refer to a map to see where all these different places in Thailand fit in the big picture that you talk about. Your experience with the group this week sounds very encouraging. I committed to leading a night hike tomorrow evening at a local farm and natural area in town. I'm nervous b/c I've been in "Mommy" mode for so long that my brain is a little rusty. We'll see how it goes… I've been reading up to get the juices flowing again. If water is low, is there a place you can swim to cool off and refresh? Not the same, I know. We did a lot of swimming this last week due to the heat wave in New England (that was in the midwest before it came to us)– we belong to a local pool club. It was fun– especially for my son who swam in the
BIG pool for the first time. Have a great week! Thanks for coffee!
A bucket shower sounds kinda romantic and whimsical… (if we really want to put a positive spin on it). Re. the gecko and the butterfly, it's the circle of life, the butterfly had a purpose and the gecko satisfied.
Re audiobooks for some reason I simply can't listen to an audiobook of a book I've read many times and loved, it sounds wrong to me because it's different to how I read it in my head. Maybe I should listen to an audiobook before I read the actual book…
Thanks for coffee!
I just love your photos! I love how the clouds are almost imitating the tops of the trees. The moth is almost angelic looking. Your story of the gecko reminded me of a time I was weeding outside lost in thought, focusing only on the demise of the wild that was almost growing before my very eyes. I saw something out of the corner of my eyes, I didn't jump I just turned my head. In a split second a rat snake had slithered out of a bush and started devouring a gecko less than a foot from me. I couldn't believe my eyes. I started looking over my shoulder and around the yard for anyone. I wanted someone else to witness this scene, I almost didn't believe it. No one else was around. So, I turned to the snake and said, "I guess were cool like that, huh?" I've wondered if the snake was hungry enough to risk revealing himself rather than wait another day for a tasty morsel. It's funny the things nature shows us.
Thanks for the update on your blog. I always enjoy it.