Thailand Letter
September 29, 1997
Bangkok, Thailand
Dearest Family,
I wrote to you yesterday after church but I couldn't get it sent until this morning. I don't know what was the matter but I got up at 2 a.m. and tried to get it "queued" but it didn't work. Finally about 6 a.m. it worked. Some of your letters were on the computer but I didn't have time to answer them until tonight - I hope this letter goes faster than the other one.
Emily - I can't believe your experience in meeting Hillary Clinton and getting to shake hands with her. I will be able to tell lots of people here that my granddaughter did that. Patrice was in the library with the children and when they were ready to leave the librarian told them they might want to stay because Hillary Clinton was there. Timothy became impatient so they went to the elevator to leave and he pressed the wrong button and they ended up on the floor that was to pick up Mrs. Clinton. Emily said the Secret Service Men were kinda' upset but Mrs. Clinton said it was okay so she greeted the children and Patrice and talked to them about the library - Timothy wouldn't shake hands with her - Ha!!! Is the library you mentioned the same one you took me to when I visited last year? I am SO happy they have that library in that area - I believe I have told you about the Panhellenic Council making the library in the downstairs of that building that was close to your other home - I worked SO hard on that!!!
Michael - I am SO thrilled that you like High School. You were ready to leave the Junior High because you have matured SO much (ask your Dad what that means). I loved hearing about how much you enjoy the "yummy" food when the family gets together for General Conference - we won't get conference here BUT I have sent all my pictures home with my Bishop so I hope you get together and look at them. The school children here in Thailand are "angels" compared to some I have taught in other places - they are SO respectful and study in very hard circumstances.
Bob - I LOVE THE PICTURE AND I PRINTED IT AGAIN SO IT CAN GO ON MY WALL ALONG WITH THE CABIN PICTURE. You, Claire and Laura look good enough to eat - where was it taken? It looks like it was at a park. We didn't get the Women's Broadcast - in fact, we don't get anything like that!!! I can't tell you how proud I am of you for going to Mexico again - I worry about it though - Nov. 6th. I don't believe I know what ear bandages are - are they for when people have surgery on the outside of their ears? Fall in Utah is my very favorite time of year - it is quite "Fallish" here now but hardly cool!!!
Brett - what in the world is "Red Alert" and "Counter Strike" - I will have to learn a whole new language when I get home. It's hard for me to think about Haunted Houses and Halloween - I LOVE THAT IN AMERICA AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HALLOWEEN IS HERE. I'm glad you like P. E. but study hard in your classes.
Claire - I loved hearing about Home Making and Mexican Food. I'm proud of Bob and Michael for helping set up the tables and chairs - your calling involves the entire family but it's worth it. Don't over do!!!
Lee Anna -I'll try to reply on your e-mail so you will get messages at your school - so far, your address has been the same as your family's. I REALLY miss our Family Home Evenings too but we will have them again before long. Thanks SO much for the information on how to get USA Today on the internet. Bob has sent us that info too but we can't get it to work - we don't have Netscape.
Ann - I'm SO glad you are still using the vests and hat - they have been used for a long time. It was WONDERFUL to hear news about John & Julianna and you sound just like everyone else who has anything to do with them - I have had several letters just in the past week from people in my ward who have said how happy they are to have them there. I worry that they have worked much too hard on the yard - that is such a PAIN!!! They aren't very good at letter writing but that's okay - Ha!!! I would have SO loved to go shopping with you and Jean. I REALLY want you to come to Bangkok but I don't want it to be a huge burden for you moneywise and timewise. The airport is closer to where I live than any other place but that doesn't mean it is close. We have a driver hired to take us to and from school and I think that would be a good way to go when you come. Taxis don't know where places are and I can't guide them. This young man who drives us is very good. You wouldn't want to stay with me because in the first place we only have one bed and in the second place it is so very HOT. BUT I don't want you to come unless you can see where I live and where I go to teach in some of the schools. Bishop Patch stayed in the Marriott Hotel that just opened - I have no idea how expensive it is but I could find out. Maybe it would be better to wait until after I have been here longer and know more about everything - besides I don't want it to be too long before I would be going home. Thanks for decorating PaPa's grave. I want you to all get together for conference and look at my pictures. I'll bet there weren't any pumpkin chocolate chip cookies left after your standard's night - I can almost taste them. It's SO wonderful that Susanna is close and can come home quite often.
Jimmy - a Colonial house out of rocks - I hope you took a picture of it. I remember all those houses your family has made. I'm glad you used the vest.
Ron - you are very welcome to park your 4-wheeler trailer on the farm. I personally believe it will be safe over there now. I think the theft of our trailer was an inside job - I had just left it there without checking on it and I think someone working on the farm thought I had forgotten it. Your trips to Wyoming and the Sahara Sand Dunes sound FABULOUS!!!
Jessie - you just thrill me to pieces because you are so much like your Mom. You will always be "over programmed" and that is WONDERFUL. You will receive so much from life and you will also contribute so much - keep up the good work.
Ryan - how neat that you would send me a message. I promise you I will write to you when you go on your mission. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you get to come to Thailand? You would love it here but you would also love Montana!!! The missionaries in the Pakkret Branch here put on an open house last Saturday and they worked so hard - they didn't have many come but they weren't discouraged.
Little Sarah - my mouth has hurt all week just thinking about you. I hope SO much that you are all better by now.
Our school today was SO good. Tomorrow will be our last day in this school - we are hoping they won't have a huge ceremony like they did the last school. I am LOVING the teaching helps that Julianna sent - it's like having a huge pill when you are really sick. (That isn't a very good analogy but that's the way I feel.) They are so hungry for anything American. We had the funniest ice cream today - it was coconut with hard green pieces of flour in it and also corn. It tasted good but it was very, very different. They sent us home with a big basket of goodies - pomelo, apples, sweet toast, guava, yogurt and mixtures of sugar, salt and chilis to dip things in.
We will be teaching 6 neighbors in a few minutes. They have formed a business and I guess it is doing quite well because they are going to England on a business trip. They come to practice English and stay for at least 2 hours. I told Virginia that I believe we are over programmed!!!
We will go to Sukhothai at 4:30 Wednesday morning and won't be home until about 9 p.m. on Thursday. They have sent an itinerary that sounds just wonderful. We visit several Wats (Temples) - spend time at the Historical Park and visit the textile museum where they tell us we can buy native cloth and handicrafts at reasonable prices. They also tell us they have beautiful gold that they have made "look old" whatever that means. If they take my Visa I may break the bank again John - Ha!!! I am SO happy to have my emerald ring that will be my 50th anniversary present from Lynn and I don't need to buy anything else.
I love you all so very, very much and thank you SO much writing to me. I'll have lots to tell you when I write again. PLEASE BE CAREFUL. Grandma B