Christmas Cheer!

Hasn't anyone figured out a machine that can put your thoughts onto paper yet? I suppose that would be silly, after all some of our thoughts are pretty foolish and often absurd, though I have a gift of saying most everything I'm thinking anyway- so I suppose it wouldn't be that much different....

Anyway, I wish it was possible for the last couple weeks... I have been constantly thinking of great one-liners, beautiful paragraphs and eloquent phrases to put on my blog. Alas, at those moments I was walking down a beach, lying in a bed on a sleeper train, bumping across the ocean on a ferry or unwrapping special gifts Christmas morning with a mamosa in one hand, sand under my feet and a prezzie in the other.

All in all over this Christmas season (which was about a week of cookies in the staff room, a weekend off--at a WONDERFUL beach with a WONDERFUL second family and a long weekend for New Years)...I have realized one major thing- Although the last 7 months has been some of the most difficult of my life... I am blessed. Now that Christmas and New Years have passed and I will be finished my teaching contract in Thailand in 8 weeks (no I am not counting down..?!) I can no longer remember a lot of the special details I wanted to include in this Christmas blog entry. Alas, I will try to describe them in the following.

A View Out My Train Car Window.

As I snuggle in I don't realize, that when I awake something glorious will be before my eyes.
I look out and I see many things before me.. and these are out my train car window.

Across the tracks, not a long while back I saw a man- enjoying life and a cigar,
I ponder where he's been-- will he travel far.
I wonder of his pain-- if anyone else knows his name.
As I gaze out my train car window.

The train rolls on as such does life... full of wonder and amazement, stories and strife.
Full of fulfilments and 'acclamades', glimpses of hope. Hope beyond reason, for one, none--for most.

Beyond the window, beyond the pane, I see a lady, a bike, signs of rain.
I watch her struggle-off to market she goes, when she will return I do not know.
Will she make enough money to get through the day-
Will she send all that money, far far away. Do I work hard like her-in each and every way?
I wonder, as I gaze out the window.

Fields blur by- palm trees too, a shack, no--- a house.
A business, wait--that's a mansion-- look!---- There's a few.
Dogs run about, chasing this- eating that, running loose of course, no tag or chain to hold them back.
I envy their freedom- as I whiz on by, though comfortable on the train my mind feels as if it's in a tie.
I try to think about not thinking- I am happy and thankful- correct?
I can't look back now- not with a hint of regret.
I ponder, as I gaze out this window.

The next time I look out there's nothing to see: instead of bushes and brushes there's a face looking at me.
It's a face I once knew, better then, than now- once a face full of reason and without much doubt.
The face is now older- and recognizable as such, grown up maybe but inside still a wee pup.
It's soon easy to see there's no one looking at me.
It's my reflection, as I gaze out the window.

I can see clearly now the cheering crowds outside-- are they there, I wonder- or only in my mind.
I see family- and friends- then loved ones gone on... there are no tears only laughter we always knew how to have fun.

I think of great times and down times- of sad times and glad times.
I often remember those oh- so mad times.
I try to focus on the good, but my mind wanders to the great- how this year, wait last year- I found a new love--I believe true love- somewhat accidentally at the wedding of two mates.
I think of the future and all that that it holds- where will I be when I start to grow old?
Then I recall old is only a term- something for which I doubt I will ever yearn.
I reflect, as I look out my window.

Then the train rolls on the it's time to get off-I soon realize the pictures that went past do not stop.
As I step out of the train I see the woman- the man with cigar.
Then I see me in those people-- in that bike, in this car.
I don't know why my eyes didn't see before, but alas as I step out of that train door...
Though, I cringe at the thought of bliss everyday, I now don't have a choice- there is no other way
For as I step out, I find- that though the train has moved on
This is life- and if I choose I can be part of those pictures from dusk until dawn
Those pictures, out the train car window.

For life is a window to a world far and wide- full ... fighting, injustice? ....should I run and hide?
But wait just a moment- that's only what I choose to see, for behind those injustices are you- wait, is that me?
If life is a window beyond which I look- if I'm in through that window- how do I look?
Am I the hard working lady- am I enjoying my life, or am I the woman on the other side- do I cause the strife.
Now my eyes now strain to see, what I portray to the world as me,
As life looks in, through this train car window.

What do you see, now what will you choose?
As we travel together- we've got nothing to loose.
Choose the best. Choose today, don't let the least little thing get in the way.
Now look, out the train car window.






Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone! I did have a fabulous Christmas on the beach- New Years on a different beach was great for fireworks, but wasn't the best place I've been- oh well! Good people= good times. Thanks for all the phone calls and goodies you sent during Christmas!


A VERY BEACHY CHRISTMAS- PICTURES


A VERY RUDOLPH CHRISTMAS- PICTURES

A VERY LOT OF TRANSPORT-New Years