In recent news, Monsoon became a temple cat and technology continues to fail us here at the Big Tree.

Rewind…now to explain the vague complex sentence.

The Friday leading into our fall break a small kitten came in with the rains. (Hence the name Monsoon for the rains here in the BKK aren’t gentle afternoon showers). She was/is a scrawny little thing with dirty ears and she curled around my heart instantly. It’s the cat lady in me and I couldn’t resist (not like I would try).

A Small Monsoon.

I wasn’t the only one who found myself in love with the scrawny patchwork printed ball of purr. The Big Tree guards and our sweet housekeeping staff were wrapped around Monsoon’s little paw too. Monsoon took up residence in one of the guard chairs just outside the Big Tree front door and once she got more comfortable she was prowling the grounds in between down pours. I learned quickly how to ask for “meow” meaning cat in Thai as soon as I approached the entrance. I found any excuse to go downstairs and sit with the sweet kitten.

I was once a jungle gym for my niece and nephews and now small kittens. Oh, how life goes full circle.

My kitten excuse led me to interact with our guards and housekeeping a bit more in my barely legal Thai and their passionate efforts at English. I learned that to say mosquito in Thai escapes me until one lands on me, which makes me say it more as an accusation. I learned that the drivers who drop off the rich benefactors of the Big Tree construction company think of the United States as “Amary-ca Eagle.” I learned that to sleep like Monsoon in a guard chair is called “noon” and can be said very easily in a coo-ing voice. I learned that Thai people are even more wonderful than I thought. My heart grew 3 sizes that day and each day that followed as I interacted more with Big Tree personnel as Monsoon slept away in my lap.

How can a heart grow? How can you feel it swell and melt at the sweet smiles from guards and staff as they help you learn bits of Thai that are easy to swallow and the meows of an innocent creature entice you to keep going back for more? How can this be?

Lord, I am awed by you.

Then as soon as she came she was gone.

As the more aggressive downpours left so did Monsoon to a Wat in our neighborhood. She is now a temple cat, living with monks and meditating over milk. As much as I want to make this sound cool my heart kinda hurts. Yeah, I ever so slightly made Monsoon a replacement for my sweet Ru who is back in the states. Yeah, I shouldn’t have done that but I did and the pain still wouldn’t make me change what I did if I could go back. The fact is animals are the best way to bond if I may say so myself and I thank Monsoon to infinity and beyond for the ability to now be able to say “Sa-wah-dee-ka” to the workers of Big Tree with a knowing smile. We have a bond that is sacred and Monsoon gave us that. Where ever you are thank you dear little Monsoon. You are a monk cat now but you are missed here at Big Tree.

As for technology fails I feel our troubles here at the Big Tree aren’t really worth a blog post but alas I need to vent a bit. I am learning a bit of patience as our internet continues to lag, drag, cut-off and die-off entirely. A word to the wise, when you pray to God for patience he gives it and perhaps you should think twice about praying for patience. Funny, funny jokes on me!

It helps when you get completely frustrated with the internet situation that you turn to books (imagine that for an English major), crafting, cleaning, adventuring with your husband and just getting out of the apartment to avoid ripping the router out of the wall. Fun times in the Carlin household.

Thailand you are teaching me so much and I don’t know if I can really contain it all but I promise I will try. I will try with all my might.