Grandma Lies, why does grandma lie?

Last night, Monday night, Mali Phomlum (Oowon) died of a heart attack. Oowon was on the family trip that we took to Chulachomklao Fort Naval History Park when we got stuck in the puddle with a car that would not start. She brought her grand daughter with her. The kids were great, but near the end they got very tired. They were chanting to go to Big C. Somehow Oowon's daughter thought she was going to get colored paper. She was disappointed and started crying. She kept saying "Why does Grandma lie?" "Grandma lies." in context it was pretty funny and cute. She was very persistent. When we got home Jit cut up some color paper for the kids. I will never forget "Why does Grandma lie?"

Yesterday Oowon's grand daughter went to school in her uniform. She did not know that her grandmother had died. She had been told that her grandmother was cooking. Death is very sad.

There is a difference between feeling grief, and having empathy for people feeling grief. I did not know Jit's aunt or Mali Phomlum well enough to feel grief, but I feel empathy for the people in grief. I have tried, in my photographs, to create a document of the funeral for peoples memories. I have also tried to express the grief that I was seeing. I hope that my photography will be valuable to the community.

Yesterday was spent preparing for the funeral on Mali Phomlun (Oowon). The ceremony is at the Wat next to the Klong Toey dock. We went across about 12:00 so that Jit could help in the food preparation. There were many people from the community. People looked very tired. I wandered around the temple and helped out. There was laughter, sadness, support, conversation, photography, and welcomes as new people arrived. We got home about 9:00.

The community soccer (football) team came as a group to the funeral. They helped carry Oowan's body to the ambulance Monday night. There were many people who are attending both funerals. Being part of a community means sharing both laughter and grief.

I wandered around the Wat and the Klong Toey dock area. In the Wat there was a large vessel for burning Chinese money. The shape of the vessel was very round and the top of the vessel had a chimney that was partially burnt out. I took many pictures. Many people live in the Wat and there is also a school. Back near the river are houses for the Monks to live. There were many robes hanging out to dry. I walked to the river and watched the river traffic for a long time. Large ships, barges, small boats, kids swimming next to the oil terminal, an oil tanker, CP 36 Bangkok Thailand, is docked by the terminal, another tanker is turning in the river and going downstream, the sun is setting, there are layers of life and action.

Jit called her uncle's family to let them know about the death. We will return to the ceremony for Jit's aunt on Wednesday. The ceremonies last about six days between the placement of the body in the coffin, the chanting ceremonies, the ordination of the monk, and the cremation. We will be attending and participating in both ceremonies as we can. Today Jit's family is sponsoring the day's refreshments for Jit's Aunt's funeral. Pon, Git, Run, Jit, and her parents are the sponsors.

Today I will prepare a CD of photographs for printing. I will also send in the film from yesterday for developing. Tonight we will be going to the funeral for Jit's aunt.

Anne emailed yesterday, I will be meeting with the Technology Office at STOU on Thursday.