so sayeth the girl with the lucky face

Last week, I flew to Bangkok.  It was a medical adventure, one in which I was told in no uncertain terms that if I needed serious, or extended medical attention, the rolling plains and majestic mountains of America would be graced with my presence much earlier than intended- essentially, I would have been medically separated and become a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.

Luckily, thankfully, and all of the other adverbs that indicate how fortunate and grateful I am, it turns out I am basically fine.  There were a couple of touch and go hours, a very long four day wait for some test results, and then the best news possible, if not not-entirely conclusive news.

But all is well that ends well, and this all seems to have ended well.  I have some more serious reflections from the experience, but today, since it's Friday, let's focus on the fun and slightly more gratifying aspects of my recent endeavor, shall we?

The trip began with a nearly empty bus ride (see above picture.)  In the jittery evening before I left, I channeled my feelings of lack-of-control-ness into a desire to do something.  So I cut  myself some bangs.  And then I spent the bus ride trying not to worry about all the what-ifs of the upcoming hospital visit, and, as a study in narcissism, took a bunch of photos of myself.  But, mostly, I did this the whole ride:

But there were a lot of happy, hilarious and delicious things that happened while in Bangkok.  No matter how stress-inducing it all was, there are always a myriad of small little happenings that make life so grand, right?

To begin with, let's take the airline I was flown on.  Known as a boutique airline, it meant I got a full meal and, even better, free wine.  Some red wine was just what I needed on that flight!

I was also graced with a taxi driver who didn't use meter, got a bit lost, and then charged me far less than I had expected and wished me good luck at the hospital as he dropped me off.  So sweet.

And then I was greeted by this:

And there was a bathtub. A legit bathtub.  I took my first bath in nearly two years.

(Not my first bathe, people. I clean myself regularly.  Basically.)

Despite being there for other reasons, I found immense joy in my spacious room with industrial strength air conditioning, huge window and comfy bed.

One of my first days there, I was walking from my hotel to the hospital's food mezzanine across the street when I heard a man yell to me "Miss! Miss! You are very lucky, did you know that?"

When that happens, and you're a female, alone, I think it's a natural reaction to kind of lower your head and walk a bit faster.  But then I remembered I was surrounded by dozens of other people, and besides, he was saying something kind!

So I looked up (continuing to walk briskly, though, just in case), and replied "Me? No, I didn't know it! Thank you."

He then said "Yes, I can see it, in the aura around you.  Your face is very lucky, and I can see it.  You will have good luck this month."

Which is just so sweet, when you think about it.  Here I was all alone, a bit worried about medical type things, and a man just wants to tell me I've got good things coming.  He might be nuts, but, darn it, I'm choosing to believe him.  This is my month!

And it must have been luck, because not long after that, these were in my possession:

And while a good portion of the trip was a lesson in hurry-up-and-wait, I spent those waiting hours enjoying the natural light while inside somewhere with delicious air conditioning and yummy treats.

That would be a second caramel macchiato, this time with ice, and a blurry shot of my delicious pad thai.

There were long walks along bustling roads in Bangkok, a fantastic trip to a grocery store that could have easily been Safeway back home, baths galore, and kind people who recognized me after I tread the same path to my hotel, and food court, and back again for days in a row.

And on and on the sweet, small joys went until all was well, and I was inside this guy's taxi, heading to the airport to head home.



And he was the most hilarious taxi driver ever.  We were caught in some atrocious Bangkok traffic (I left ages before my flight just for this reason), and he would spend those long breaks with his seat lounging back.  When we'd get a path, he'd shoot up, and push that gas so fast we'd pulse forward with such rapidity of movement everything hanging from his rearview mirror would swing with such force I swear it was all about to take off and fly.

The best was when we came over a small hill so quickly that it knocked everything stashed in his visor over his head and trapped it all between his back and his seat.  He paused for a minute, we both laughed, and I fished the papers, CDs, and other items out as best as I could without actually inappropriately touching him.

And when I touched down in Cambodia, I had the most wonderful conversation with the man who drove me to my hotel in Phnom Penh, and I was reminded how far things come in a short time when we understood each other completely for the entire thirty minute conversation.

And my lucky face and I rest a bit easier, now.

Cheers, all! Happy May!