Aunt Sandy and Uncle Dick (you’ll remember the parties at their house in Newark, CA for Tawn’s graduation party as well as our bon voyage party when we left the Bay Area) arrived last night three hours late – 2:10 this morning, in fact.

Fortunately, I checked the flight status about 9:30 so had plenty of advance warning and actually went to bed for about two-and-a-half hours before getting up to go to the airport.

At the airport, I had to laugh when I looked at the huge arrivals board: Dick and Sandy’s flight was the first one listed in the upper left hand corner and Lilian’s and her mother’s flight, scheduled to arrive Sunday morning at 9:40, was the last one listed in the lower right-hand corner, three columns down.  “That’s all the time I have,” I thought to myself, “three columns’ worth.”

Mom and Dad’s first day in Bangkok was low-key.  About ten we picked them and Uncle Ken up and then drove to Tony’s Fashion House, where Tawn is having a few suits made and I’m having some shirts made.  It was time for a fitting and as I expected, the staff of Tony’s was salivating over some fresh foreigners who might like to have some clothing made!

Afterwards, we drove to Som Phong restaurant, an outdoor place specialising in seafood, and had a really nice and tremendously inexpensive seafood meal.  Whole grilled prawns (huge!), a whole fish baked in salt, shrimp cakes, stir-fried morning glory, paw mok (crab mousse), and crab fried rice… plus sticky rice and mango… all this for only 2,200 baht – about US$60.  A steal.

In the afternoon, Tawn went for a haircut and I walked our guests over for massages.  Those went over very well!

The evening was very low-key, dinner at our house with Tam, Markus and Pune joining us.  The menu was simple: cheese and crackers for appetizers, a large green salad with a choice of additions and homemade balsamic vinaigrette, and loaves of fresh sourdough bread.  For dessert: chocolate and coffee pound cakes.  Prosecco and Pinot Grigio was served, too.

The other afternoon while I was waiting for my shoes to be repaired I had a latte at Starbucks and read the paper.  Next to me, a couple was meeting with their architect, who was reviewing plans for a remodel of their condo.  There was a wistful moment as I watched him, remembering how much I enjoyed studying architecture in high school (even won an award at the County Fair) and wondering what would have happened had I pursued that career.

The good news is that the basic skills I learned then are still with me and have proven useful from time to time.