Reflecting on the High Holidays: Rosh Hashanah -

From a Boy to a Man
Love for his Country

In searching for information, I found two mementos that are relevant today. One a listing of Dad's high school graduation speech, "Is Democracy Doomed?" And the other was a poem/letter Dad wrote to his grandparents in 1943. He left Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) to proudly serve his country as a lieutenant in the
army during World War II. On

Weekly Flowers
Boonrit Continues to Care

How often might one ask: What if or if only? I contemplate this compelling scenario due to an incident that alters my life. The Chang Klan and Sridonchai intersection is known to be hazardous, and I always cross with extreme caution. If only there were a split second difference in our timing, our paths would not have

Listening to Captivating Tales
Quiet and Curious

Our paths cross as I wait in the scorching sun for the gallery to open. An intriguing petite woman walks by gracefully. I observe how easily she totes several overflowing mesh bags filled with fruits and vegetables, most likely purchased from the nearby market - the same place I frequent. Usually, I shop early in the morning.

Years of Friendship
Loyalty • Respect • Trust

Dad and Stanley are engrossed in conversation, and I am reading nearby. They are in their world, and I am in mine. I glance up to see if either would like something, but neither notices, and I prefer not to disturb their whispers. Seeing them clasping hands is endearing, and I feel fortunate to capture this perfect moment in time.

Curiosity and Surprises
Life Is Full of Dreams

I loved bath time with my mother - it was our special moment. I would chatter cheerfully and endlessly about secret dreams as my giggles and splashing water filled the room. I ramble on about the day I will soon be able to fly, as she calmly and meticulously finger-curls my hair. After patting me dry and giving me a loving

Sole Female Merchant
A Smile Remembered

Shopping the market on Jalan Surabaya in Jakarta, Indonesia, is exciting, rewarding, and without exception, challenging. I begin in the early morning with dealers who agree to meet me before the official opening, and others stay to work past closing. Time is limited, so we ignore the sun's pounding blistering rays and

Freedom to Engage
Magic Happens

There is a mysterious beauty that permeates my world in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Traveling through the streets of my adopted city, we no longer pass a person with eyes lowered and in silence. Instead, we now greet each other with an unbridled familiarity. There is an unspoken agreement that we are in this predicament together