The Facebook message found me on fringes of Southwest Thailand. It was from John, first home-town boyfriend and now writer for the local paper. “Lori Danneffel died.” This can’t be right. I just saw her this summer. Lori? She has a husband. Grandkids. A contagious laugh that still rings in my ears. A pit forms in my stomach, the kind […]
New Years in the Middle of Everywhere
New 生日快乐 Tradition
生日快乐 shēngrì kuàilè! My odometer turned over today and kicked it off by starting new shēngrì kuàilè or birthday traditions. First: no cake. I had planned on celebrating by indulging with a coconut crunch old fashioned and cuppa Joe at a Dunkin Donuts (as there are Dunkin Donuts in Bangkok). Instead, my taste buds did a U-turn. I grabbed […]
Dinner Entertainment
If I didn’t believe in the Great Flood before, I do now. So, I just left Bumrungrad Medical Center in Bangkok for my annual “mid life check-up”. A probe, squeeze and roter rooting for one set price. I thought I’d reward myself with a special treat. I walked past Dunkin Donuts, eyeing the coconut crunch donut, saving that for Monday, […]
Temples and Tastebuds
It’s the coconut capital of the world.That’s all I knew about Surat Thani and thought it would be worth spending a day. But I quickly found out this coastal Thai city has more than what Chicago has Starbucks. I visited several, each one having its own flavor. This one had a meals on wheels program. Another temple taught young […]