Thailand Letter
Dearest Family, October 1, 1998 10:25 p.m.
I wasn't going to write tonight because all my roommates are asleep and the computer bothers them BUT - I had to write to John and when I sent his letter I also accessed letters from John, Bob and Claire and I want to write a note.
BOB - THANK YOU FOR REMEMBERING DADDY'S AND MY ANNIVERSARY!!! Yes - we were married in 1947 - SO today is our 51st anniversary and what a day this has been. I am moving on Saturday and will need 45,000 bahts before they will give me the key to the townhouse. I went to the ATM last night and it wouldn't accept the 2nd Visa Card John had sent me - I went into the bank and they were very nice but they said since it was my husband's card and the signature was different from the one on my passport they couldn't help me. SO I hurried and sent an e-mail to John and asked him to send me $2,000 Western Union - that will finish out my mission for me - I HOPE!!!
I decided to check on the Visa while I was at the bank and that was the beginning of a lot of trouble for me. The lady took the card and tried to find out information about it and she came back and said it had been used. I was frantic and called my friend here who used to work for Visa - she was appalled that I would give the bank employee my card - she said it was very easy for bank employees to make counterfeit cards if they have the number. SO - I have been on the phone most of the afternoon with Visa people from all over Asia. They gave me numbers to call and I just now got in touch with the Visa Bank Charge people in America - it was so frustrating because they put me on the music line for about ten minutes. She checked and it has NOT been used so I am relieved - I had it cancelled and I am not going to worry about it anymore.
JOHN - THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING ME. He called me this morning and said he had wired the money - it is really easy for me to get it from this apartment but I have no idea where I will get it when I move if I should need anymore. I told John that the most important thing I have learned from this mission is to be very careful with my money because I have learned what it is like to not have any - Ha!!! IT WAS WONDERFUL TO TALK TO JOHN TODAY - he is SO "upbeat"!!!
CLAIRE - THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SWEET NOTES AND THAT WONDERFUL PICTURE OF THE CEMENT FOR THE CONDO !!! I can't think of a nicer anniversary gift than that - it makes me SO excited. Thank you also for your earlier message - I'm so glad you found your "Mother's Ring". I keep thinking my camera will show up but now we have decided someone came into our apartment and stole my camera and also Helens.
BOB - I can hardly wait for you and John to come. I will be happy that the rainy season will be over - surely it won't rain in December. We have had monsoon rains almost every day for several months. I will be on the lookout for some good buys for you guys - there will be many people here for the Asian games . I told Gulati you were coming and he said, "We'll take care of them" and he will. I feel SO bad for the mother who hit her son in the eye with her golf club accidentally - she will never get over that if he loses his eyesight.
I am leaving early in the morning to go on the river cruise to Ayutthaya. I went to a farewell party at the Ministry this afternoon - they gave me a beautiful orchid pin and some sweet notes. We are all "partied out". This will probably be my last e-mail message for awhile - I am taking the computer on Saturday - Helen is kinda' upset and I guess I don't blame her because she will be here for another two weeks. I don't know what else to do and Janet and Darlene agree with me that I should move it on Saturday when I can have the use of a pickup.
Annie - I hope you got your toilet fixed - I can't imagine anything worse than having a toilet that doesn't work with your big family. Have fun in Jerome!!! Jimmy - I wish I could send you some dried "squid" for your report - they are hanging all over and people just buy them and eat them that way.
Darlene just came and asked me when I was going to bed - she is darling and just kidding but I know it keeps them awake so I will close.
I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY, VERY MUCH. Grandma B