Yee Sip Sahm (23)

I'm a year older, but not much wiser because I started the day off by going into the boy's bathroom before class. Thank Buddha no one was in there and no one saw me gasp and run out. Note to self: learn to read Thai before using any more public bathrooms. I asked my sleepy class to be well-behaved students for my birthday. They perked up and started singing and clapping a song in unison. It was the loudest I've ever heard them before and I just stood there wide-eyed, blushing and laughing. Sweethearts, I tell ya.

Thanks so much for everyone's well wishes today; they are so very much appreciated. It makes me feel not too far from home. Nothing makes me smile like Grandma singing into my voicemail. I had a lovely day that ended with eating lots of food with friends, winding down (and digesting) with my Sangha meditation group, and then coming home to open my mail after sharing the most delicious slice of chocolate cake in all of Chiang Mai with a pal who adores chocolate as much as I do. Is it bad that I was meditating about that cake the whole time....?

I give a big cheers to my mom, because that's what birthdays are all about. She is an absolute, bona fide rock star. As much as I would like to think she gets it from me, I'm sure it's the other way around. If it wasn't for her, you wouldn't be reading this and now craving chocolate cake.

High fives for moms everywhere!

Also... the one day of the year where I read my horoscope, my mom was sweet enough to send it to me:
TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (JULY 24). There is nothing common about this year as you lead yourself and others to accomplish one worthy purpose after another. Your spectacular talent for interpersonal dealings helps you in both love and work over the next four weeks. You'll be appointed to a position, perhaps by popular vote. Gemini and Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 10, 4, 39 and 16.

Pretty interesting...