We have lightning bugs in Chiang Mai…

The other night Tim brought a lightning bug into the house. He was so excited he let it go just to watch it fly and flash! We don’t remember seeing them at all this time last year; maybe we were still in a fog. Anyway, we were all fascinated by the idea of these flashing insects being in Thailand too as they were absent from our lives while we lived in Melbourne. Now, I think the species may have been a bit different to the ones in Indiana as they flashed a little faster, but none-the-less they were still lightning bugs. Faith and I saw them again last night as we put our helmets on and took off on the motorbike for a study break at the nearby street market that’s on Monday and Tuesday nights each week.

I mention the little things like lightning bugs, night time motorbike rides and street markets as they represent the torn feelings that are beginning to settle in as we settle into a new land once again. Settling doesn’t happen overnight. And it definitely doesn’t happen just because we want the pain and frustration over with so we can get a move on with life. It happens slowly and in different ways for each of us ~ even when we don’t know if we really want it to happen ~ kind of like the story of the velveteen rabbit…bit by bit.

So once again we find ourselves in the land of limbo ~ definitely desiring with all our hearts to be with family, friends, and cornfields for the summer months, but realizing that we actually have productive real lives, possibilities, and relationships here that are being left behind…and did I mention the soup shop and grocery store ladies?

Just in case you were wondering…Scott and the boys are already in Indy for June and July and Faith and I will be joining them this weekend. Faith has to finish her finals at school first and then we’re off. Another funny thing happened with Paul. I was talking with him on the phone for a quick minute since they are already in Indy and adjusting to jet lag. First of all, he lost a tooth already…and of all the 10 teeth he has lost so far…this is his first one to lose in Indiana…and Tim lost one on the plane during his flight over this time. Paul also informed that that it is the rainy season in Indiana…I thought that was funny coming from him…He doesn’t think in terms of winter, spring, summer, or fall…but cool season, hot season, and rainy season. His frame of reference is completely different…as he has spent more of his years away from Indiana than in it. See you all real soon…Love, Cat