Finally, Phai is taking a well deserved nap this afternoon

Phai was up at 4:15 this morning and making arrangements for the final day of her mother's funeral. She came back to the house at 6:00 am and woke me up and we showered and she left again. I came to the restaurant and called my father via FaceTime and shortly after she was out in front on a motorcycle to take me to the Temple. There were many people at the temple eating breakfast along with the monks in the community center. After all the eating and chanting was done we went to the place on the temple grounds where the beautiful (and I am still trying to learn the proper name) stone pagoda or monument had been placed. There was more chanting by the monks and then the family placed her ashes inside and poured water over the monument. Finally it was time to go home and both Phai and her sister fell asleep for some much needed rest on mats on the floor of the house under a fan. I joined Phai for a nap and then came to the restaurant where I am now typing this Blog. 

Phai slept for several hours and is like a new woman. The pressure is off. If you can imagine what she has gone through the past 6 days with the passing of her mother and taking control of all the arrangements for a 6 day, almost around the clock, funeral ritual. Between coordinating the food, the monks, all the rental items like tents, PA systems, tables and chairs, etc it has been an unbelievable task and she did an amazing job. I am so proud of her. Top all that with trying to keep me fed and informed of what has happening since she is the only one that speaks enough english it was a herculean task she faced and conquered with flying colors. 

We finally opened the store behind the restaurant this afternoon. It is very cool today and raining at times. The cool weather is a relief and the rains so badly needed. 

The pillars for the house were delivered during all this. They are 12 foot high solid cement and they are made out of solid cement. All nine were piled in front of the restaurant so Phai's sons and son in law had to move them a few minutes ago. It takes four strong men to carry one of these pillars. See photo below. 

Well I have made a lot of progress on the photos and video but need to update my blog now so I hope to be able to add the photos and video tomorrow.

IMG 1777

The cement pillars for our new house.

IMG 0804

Phai, Ning and I wore our new Thai shirts for Mom's Funeral


© All rights reserved. Photographs are the property of Site Owner and may not be reproduced without written permission.