We all have one.

A “Bucket List” of things we’d like to experience or accomplish before we depart this life for whatever comes next.

One of those items on my bucket list is to earn an Amateur Radio (AKA “Ham Radio”) license.

It started when I was about ten years old.  We lived across the street from the Whites, Tammy, Tony, Rick, and Brian.  Their mom was a nice lady and a hard-working single mom.

Rick was a year older than I was, Brian was the youngest a few years younger than me, Tony was a couple years older than Rick, and Tammy was the oldest.

Although Rick and I were closest in age and he was a good friend, the White Boys sort of came as a package.  Tony had just recently earned his “Novice” Ham Radio License and for Christmas, from his Grandfather I think, he was given a Hi Frequency (HF aka “short wave”) radio kit, an HW-16 by Heathkit.  It wasn’t long before Tony had the radio built and a long wire “dipole” antenna strung out Continue reading →

I am very troubled by recent developments in the Thai news media where it has become a bit of sport to attack the United States, implying that the US is somehow responsible for the recent political turmoil in Thailand.

Before I go on, I would like to state clearly and unequivocally that there is very little about the current U.S. Administration that pleases or even comes close to satisfying me.  The current U.S. Administration has done as much to damage my country as the recent events have done to Thailand.  

I do not presume to speak for the US government or even the American people.  I speak only for myself.

In fairness, however, I must say that the US Government has acted correctly in this case.  I’ll tell you why in a moment. Continue reading →

The subject of today’s diatribe is the individual (if I had any reason to believe he is one, I would use the term, “gentleman”) wearing black shorts, black t-shirt, black baseball cap, black man purse around his waist, and a blue tooth earphone sticking out of his ear.  I have no illusions about the dude’s self awareness so that I should write  “you know who you are” or something because I suspect that he is blindly walking through life, being who and what he is, utterly oblivious to his abject offensiveness.

Apologies to my readers who are accustomed to the general positive tone of the Daily Diatribe, but this experience simply must be shared, if only on the off chance that one person on this planet will see themselves in the story and become more aware of how they shape the environment for those around them.

Shopping with my wife in the produce section of the “Makro” (something like Sam’s Club or Costco) on Ram Indra Road (Bangkok) near Minburi, I came across the guy described above.

He walked up to a bin full of “Rambutan” ( a local fruit) like he was interested in buying some.  

I have always thought of them as “hairy eyeballs” because, well, that’s what they look like.  Inside this hairy eyeball is a fruit something like a Lychee, with a white pit, about the same shape but slightly larger than an almond.

Anyway, this guy grabs one, shucks the red “hairy” skin, and plops the fruit in his mouth.  This got my attention because it’s not really the custom anywhere I’ve lived to just help oneself to a free piece of fruit from the produce department.  I mean there wasn’t a sign saying “Free Samples” or anything like that. 

Nonetheless, my thoughts went from, “Hey! You can’t do that!” to, “Well, maybe he’s just testing them before he buys a sackful and this is local custom I’ve never seen in 20 years coming and going to Thailand” (ten of them living here) to “OK, let’s see what he does now.”

My 200 pound self is standing literally three feet from this guy watching what he’s doing and I’m definitely the only gringo in sight so he knows I’m there and I’m sending the strongest “I DO NOT APPROVE” vibes I can.

What did he do?

He nonchalantly tossed the skin back in the pile, spit (YES, SPIT!) the seed back in with the rest of the unsuspecting Hairy Eyeballs, and walked away like he owned the place.  (Since I later saw him standing in line at the checkout counter, I’m guessing he didn’t actually own the place).

I described to Helen in clear Thai, and loud enough for him to hear, what the guy had done and that I considered it offensive in the extreme (“naa-kliat” or “hate-able” in Thai) and the guy didn’t blink or even turn his head to see who had just insulted him.  He just kept walking.

Helen just laughed (she was offended too but doesn’t feel there’s much she can do about a culture that is too shy to say something in a situation like this).

So again, my apologies to readers who were expecting  a more positive story today but instead were met with a Carl-O-Gram addressed to some anonymous Thai dude in Bangkok.

Anonymous Thai Dude, listen carefully!  I’m only going to say this once:

You, Sir, are a pig.

Ever upward I climbed, effortlessly, pain and fatigue I had none.

With each passing foot of altitude, I could feel I was getting nearer to something special, something I’d longed for.

Some special knowledge or awareness?

All I knew was that I was being drawn upward.  

Ever upward.

I climbed that mountain so high that I entered a layer of clouds.  Although I could see very little in the murky fog, I was still drawn upward toward the enticing unknown.

It seemed a long time I climbed through the gray murk and although my earthly vision was limited, I was not afraid.

As if the fulfillment of a lifetime or more of longing would be my reward when I reached my destination.

Finally, there was more light above me and I was drawn more powerfully upward.

Soon it was so bright I began to shield my eyes.

When I finally stepped up above that cloud into the bright unfiltered sunshine, I was blinded for a time, and had to cover my eyes.

My eyes adjusted and I beheld the most amazing beauty in that azure sky, and I knew that I was in the presence of my maker.  I bathed and basked in warmth of unconditional love and acceptance.

I looked around and discovered there were many, many other mountain peaks reaching through the clouds, yearning for their creator.

And then I noticed something that did not surprise me, but rather made me feel the warm embrace of the Almighty even more than before.

On top of each mountain was a man or woman, seemingly enjoying the same moment as I.

Hundreds and thousands, for as far as I could see and beyond, from all walks and all faiths, each having passed through that final cloud bank and reaching the summit of their mountain in the same way I had made it to mine.

By following their own personal path.

The lovely watercolor is courtesy of the fabulous Alba Escayo.  More of her work can be seen at albaescayo.com.

Thanks for reading!

cma