I leave for Thailand on Saturday. There is a remote chance I will be online one more time before I am there is a couple of weeks. Then, from home, it is spotty. Also, I will try to stop by chat before leaving.

The kind of abuse shown in a comment in my last blog deserves a response. My response is that I hope and pray the person finds peace and contentment. My good thoughts are with him in spite of his comment.

Friends and Lovers

Sometimes we have a friend of the opposite sex. We like them and then maybe there is some flirting. Eventually there may be some patting or touching. All of this is done in a friendly way.

One day, when we least expect it, and we are where no one can see us, we kiss. But we still aren't sure about things.

Then, weeks go by and eventually there is hugging and kissing and rubbing around. We get confused. There is no actual sex but we think about it and joke about it.

And that makes us more confused.

When the confusion leaves, we are left with one question.

Really?

“See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...we need silence to be able to touch souls.”
Mother Teresa of Calcutta

There are books everywhere we go. We only have to pay attention and then read them.

I was walking the other day and I came upon the book you can see in the photo. It is a book on Buddhism; at least that is what it is to me. It might be a different book to you.

The books of nature have taught me more than all the paper pages I have read in my life.

"Let children walk with Nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of death and life, their joyous inseparable unity, as taught in woods and meadows, plains and mountains and streams of our blessed star, and they will learn that death is stingless indeed, and as beautiful as life." John Muir

"Every moment spent in negativity is paid for with something truly priceless. That something is life."
Ralph Marston

Soon I will be going down this road, with my son by my side. Going home.

In honor of all those from all nations who paid the ultimate price for freedom, including those from Thailand.

WW I: The Thai government sent 1,284 Thai soldiers to the European Theatre in 1918 in order to assist the Allies in the last battles of the war. Many fought alongside American and British units, and at least 19 died under enemy fire.

WW II: 143 officers, 474 non-commissioned officers, 4942 other ranks, and 88 field policemen.

Korean War: The Kingdom provided 4 naval vessels and 1 air transport unit to the UN command structure. The contingent suffered heavy casualties including 129 dead.

Viet Nam War: 1,351 deaths.

No troops were lost in East Timor or Iraq.

Afghanistan: 2 (as of 2007)

A few years ago, when I first came back to the USA and lived in a 5th wheel for nearly a year I wrote about something.

* * * * *

Monday, January 29, 2007, 3:13:29 PM- In The Arms of the Angels

Sometimes in the dark and cold of my fifth wheel I feel a deep and lonely fear. In a land that is familiar, but is not my home, I long for the smell of curry and chili peppers. For the sight of children playing with their homemade toys and the women sitting on low bamboo platforms. The men drinking their rice whiskey.

And when I feel that way. I wait for the angel to speak my name.

"Benjawan?"

"Yes, my angel."

"In my arms Benjawan, you can fly away from here."

And the angel comes to me and takes me in his arms. We fly away to a place where people know my name. Know where I was born. Know who I am.

When I open my eyes back in my fifth wheel, it is bright and warm and filled with love. With music and people who know my name.

* * * * * *

My angel still comes to me. Every night.

But now I know where I am. And people know my name.

"If we don't stand up for children, then we don't stand for much."
Marian Wright Edelman