Monday Reflections

As Jen has said, the camping weekend was very enjoyable and over much too soon. It seemed to be a slice of the simple life wedged into our usually much too busy schedules. Watching Sam and Lydia experience the "new outdoors" was such fun. Collecting acorns in a Pringle's can kept Sam busy for hours, and Lydia was her usual sweet natured self. Lake Michigan put on its usual awesome display of power and beauty. For Dad and me, it was a chance to relive camping with our family, something we had not done for many years. We had a little bit of everything, weather-wise, but even the rain was useful so that we could find out whether tents, etc. leaked :) I agree that campfire time, along with broomstick pies (Are they called "pies"?) was the highlight.

And now it's Monday. I have already spent two hours in the dentist's chair since they called and had a cancellation. I now have a temporary crown for the tooth that broke when we were in Thailand. It will be finished on Sept. 8. Ang, my dentist said they had done a good short-term job on my tooth in Chiang Mai (and for $12).
The dentist here found that hard to believe. I won't even tell you what this new crown will cost.

Eric and Ang, your experience with water recently hasn't been as pleasant as ours. Thanks for the pictures. That flooded street scene looks very much like the picture I bought in Karon Beach showing the main street on the day of the tsunami. It's unimaginable to think about the damage, especially at places like the orphanage and the slums where you teach English. Who are the women in the other picture?

Well, most of the camping stuff is cleaned and put away, but not the memories. Getting my pictures developed will help us remember the beauty of Hoffmaster long after the trees lose their leaves and the campsites are buried by snow. "Thanks for the memories." Mom