Valentines and New years

Aja had lots of fun here with some of her cousins in Thailand. It is Valentines day and Chinese new year so there is lots of red and hearts and dragons and tigers when you go around Thailand, especially in the big malls in Bangkok. You don't see it in the country where my daughter and I mostly are....but in the big city they are attempting to understand valentines day and although they haven't gotten it down quite right, they do understand that anything that makes people spend money is worth trying. Well i am not sure we have gotten valentines day right in north America either....i guess it is as unique as the various relationships that we have.... even here in Thailand the land of simplicity things are complex... may be that is the thing about hallmark holidays is that no one knows the rules... Chinese new year, which aja and i spent with my brother’s wife’s family in Bangkok, is a little easier to understand... give the kids some money in red envelopes... eat lots... set off a few firecrackers...put out food and fruit and candles and incense to honor your dead relatives... say a few prayers...burn a bunch of paper money and in some cases things like paper cell phones, paper cars and anything else that you think the dead can use ... and of course you can do it anytime during the day or you can go on for 3 days or so... anyway it was fun and i wish i had bought a couple of small paper cats or elephants to put onto the fire because even in the spirit world i am sure when all is said and done and you’ve made all your phone calls, spent all your money and driven everywhere you can go, it is nice to sit and relax with the cat or ride an elephant... which is one thing we are going to do here in Thailand.... happy new year and valentines day to all.