LindenShieldARTs.bsky.social
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Today is a different Friday than we normally have.
Brian and I went to the gym, as usual, and guess what! – Ugly American was there in all his glory. I’m not sure how he got in today, but he said “Good Morning” to us, which we ignored as we entered. He proceeded to go to the back, making lots of noise with the heavy equipment. Then the walking up and down behind me and loud talking on the phone started up again.
I definitely need to work on my character-building. I was so busy trying to ignore him that it had the opposite effect. I found myself straining to listen each time he passed to hear if he were speaking English or not. I couldn’t hear him but Brian told me later it was, in fact, English. Then I was mentally seeing news signs about “old American lady arrested for assault at a local gym, the victim sporting teeth marks on his calf that match the teeth in the old woman’s mouth….”
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When we got back, my favorite cleaning lady met us in the lobby with a big bag of gorgeous bananas. Apparently, she has a banana tree and grows her own! We each had one as part of our breakfast this morning and they were delicious!
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Brian got a text from Khun Bpaum, our housekeeper, this morning saying that she was sick and so wouldn’t be here today.
I went to my massage as usual. Khun Weaw was back and I got a really nice massage. I am very, very lucky that both ladies there are so good and willing to give me massages.
Brian texted me soon after I got back to my place from that, asking if I wanted him to bring a “Sanak” as he calls it. Sanak (सनक) most commonly means a sudden whim, craze, obsession, or a fit of madness in Hindi and Urdu. As if he really needed to ask… We shared a really decadent treat and then had a glass of lemonade. Whoopeee!
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I will be heading to the cafe soon to enjoy some sketching.
These are my latest sketches.
An amazing thing happened at the cafe yesterday. I walked in and a young man was sitting at the front. I turned and started toward the back. He stopped me, stood up and said, “I’m in your spot.” I laughed and told him that it wasn’t ‘my spot,’ and that I could be comfortable at the back. He said, “No. I’ve seen you drawing before and you need the light. I’ll move somewhere else.” He insisted, and moved to a spot in the outside area. Can you believe that?
Heidi came and we had the nicest visit. I feel as if we could talk for hours and never run out of things to talk about. When she left, she was going first to Canada, then to the States, and finally to India. I’m in awe of her calmness telling me of her plans to see family. She is planning to be back here in the spring, so that gives us both something to look forward to. Meanwhile, we can keep up with each other via email and chat, and maybe even carrier pigeon… :0)
After she left, I finished the sketches above.
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Sue Elliott
