Category: Thailand Expat
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I won’t miss the traffic
Airplanes are like a vacuum- a moment in between. Walking in out of steaming, sweaty humidity into a blast of orchid scented air conditioning. From gritty street food to perfectly portioned and packaged cuisine. From an energizing life full of twists and turns to a controlled and sterile environment. Time stands still as I anxiously…
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Fear 101
My cousin Dave is one of those people that somehow knows a lot about a lot. Frankly, I’m not sure where he gets most of his information. But, no matter his sources, I’ve yet to be disappointed with his knowledge and advice. The man is a carpenter by trade, but has interests that run the…
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Blackberries
Blackberries don’t grow in Thailand. It’s something I miss about late summer in the Pacific Northwest. My family will tell you about the ritual torture of blackberry picking “excursions” which involved Tupperware containers and long sleeves ending in at least one of us needing to be disentangled from thorny tentacles. The end result? A freezer…
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Mama Rides “Street”
Lazy Sunday morning. I glance up from the couch to see Rick walking down our stairs. He looks a little down. “Hey, you o.k.?” I ask. “Naw. I’m grumpy and I’m bored.” he says as he stares at his phone. I ask the next question as I silently brace myself for the answer. “So, what…
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The Great Leap
Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, 1989. “Hey mister! You wanna Scuba?” Almost asleep on the beach, I look up to see our friend Mitch, negotiating a Scuba adventure. “What’s your name, mister?” asks the deeply tanned dive guy. “Mitch”, replies Mitch. “Feeeesh?”, the diver repeats with a half smile. We all burst out laughing and sign on…
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Hail Plastic!
Before I came to Thailand, I had tremendous disdain for plastic. Anything made of plastic was “cheap”, shoddy and downright tacky. And, the tackiest of all plastic items? The plastic shoe. Are you kidding? From up on my high horse, I could clearly see the faults of these synthetic fakes: they don’t shape to your…
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Pirate Gratitude
“I guess I’m done being afraid.” This thought struck me as I boarded a tiny boat with 8 guests, two guides and two boatmen. We had arrived in Labuan Bajo the day before. This small town on Flores Island in Indonesia, has seen the fast influx of backpackers heading either to sea or to the…
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Happy Birthday, Son
My younger son turned 23 yesterday and I am 7000 miles away. In many ways, I have Phillip to thank for this. He has taught me so much about living life courageously. I suspect he has no idea of his influence. So, this blog is a gift to my son, Phillip. Happy Birthday, man! When…
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The Dogs
My day starts at 5:00am and I’m riding my bike to work by 6:15am. This time of year, it’s still pretty dark at that hour. But, it has been getting lighter each day and I decided to forgo turning on my hi-tech lights that my safety-conscious husband installed for me. Not this morning. Lovely dusky…
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Alone
About 30 years ago, I was on the city bus in Seattle. Coming or going to work, I don’t remember. I do remember the woman who sat next to me that day. I remember when she got on the bus and she was looking for a seat – our eyes met, and I must have…
Gonzo Girl 