Love the Ocean

I enjoy the peace and quiet at Panama City Beach the pass few days.  I enjoy swimming the ocean.   I saw 3 small sting rays out on the deep.  I swam until I was exhausted.

I had a moment to think about our trouble world.  Million of refugees are fleeing their home as we speak.  Many are dying.   It is a reminder how far we Laotian had come.  Because we are peaceful people, the number of casualties were minimized.  Many of us live a peaceful life now.  At any scale, War is Hell.

Let us pray for those who seek refuge.

The Training

Without conditioning your body, you might as well hang it.  It’s no use to get out there and get hurt.  For the past three Half-Marathon I ran with pain on my knee.   No more!  For training,  I take a 45-50 lbs. backpack with me up and down the mountain.   It’s 1.4 mile each way.  If I have more time, I go around the mountain, that’s 5 miles.   I’ve gained some ground in the past couple of months.   It seems to be working out.  This is what I am doing to strenghten my core.  The goal is to complete the Full-Marathon without any incident.

Soul

I consider mor lum leuang to be one of the wonders of this World. I think so because not everyone can be a mor lum or the master mor lum. It is said that in order to be a master mor lum, one has to be devoted their whole life to the art.  Some even gave up their souls.   How else can a person memorize all those lengthy folk stories.  They need power beyond human normalcy to tell a great story and some of the stories are burdens passed on by their masters and their masters’ masters.

While I was hunting for some CD to listen to last week, I ran into exactly what I wanted. It was a rare music that I have been missing. I bought one CD and one VCD. The VCD was exactly what I need. I wanted to hear mor lum leuang. I want to feel its magic it possesses. I couldn’t wait until I got home to play the VCD. I sat and watch the whole presentation with amazement.I listened to the story tentatively. I was paying attention because I want to hear the sound of their souls and the souls of many in theirs.

Added to favorite collectables, Vientiane History, lum by Khamfhanh Thonthong and Viengphou Nhounimh.

Hamilton Field

It’s Friday morning. I had a moment to reflect and meditate on things. Breakfast and coffee was in order. Hamilton Field was less than a mile down the street so there’s no need to hurry. There was enough time to horse around at the weigh room. This would be another great day!

There was a person I recognize from previous and previous events when I arrived at the Hamilton Field. Seeing her at 3 separate events tells me something. She was in charge of the volunteers. It appeared that everything was handling very well by the LSA (Lao Student Association) from Fresno. They brought food, took care of the refreshment and everything. They were the element that was needed at event such as this one. With the set up going so well, there was a little to help out so she appointed me the greeter.

The first person I greet was the Lao Oversea TV crew. Some emails ago he told us he wasn’t going to make it. He came over and greeted us right away. We shook hand and introduced ourselves to one another. With him was a young woman with a big camera. She introduced her self. “Oh,” I said. Beside many other people that came through, the Oscar nominee man was also there for me to greet and so was the young lady from Legacies’s. We chatted normally. I did not mention anything about his international acclaim documentary. I would save that for a better time, if there is an opportunity. They hung out a little before they slipped inside the building. A Boutsaba greeted me and I was happy that she did. Boutsabad introduced her sister, children, niece, and nephew. “Oh my God, my old friend,” would have been my first reaction if we have met when we were kids.

I tried to say “Hi” to everyone that came through. At the sight of euy Kith make me feel better. She was the only one I knew from before. She greeted me warmly as always and introduced her side kick. That means I get to ask her, “Who is the big fellow euy?” later. I didn’t. I figured he was just a good friend. I was glad to see her. She bailed me out with a sound system and they belong to the muscle guy she brought. We bonded quickly before she took him upstairs to join everyone else in the War Room. Standing in front of the entrance, I can see everyone else started to arrive. It’s about that time. I spotted my friend and her group stop short at the flag pole. Okay? Haven’t we gone around the world long enough? I have not seen her since last August when we joined American’s Finest City Half Marathon in San Diego. She kept talking and talking. It seemed some people who just want to hang out by the flag pole. I wondered if they were going to come up at all. When they finally did, instead of heading to the front door where I was standing, they made their way to the side of the building where food was. “Hmm, must be hungry,” I mur mur. When they got food, then, they came over and say hi to me. “Hi Amphone, how are you? These are my sisters.” Finally…I get to greet. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you.” After a quick bite, they too had to hurry upstairs.

I stayed downstairs with the overflow crowd. There were people coming in and out. A few older people gave up their seats to their wives and came down to join us in the hall way. When things got settled, I parked my self on a chair next to some older people. I started a conversation with one man who said he has been living in the Bay area since day one. He knows everyone. It would be impolite to ask for his name so I didn’t. I didn’t expect a lengthy conversation. But boy, did we talk? In our conversation he asked for a family that goes by the last name of Insychaingmai, if any, in Georgia. We tarm souk tarm touk kan (asking how each other is doing and ask for someone we know) to bond. I was able to tell him that I met one not too long ago. He asked if there are a lot of Lao southerners in my city. I assured him that there are many Lao Southerners in Georgia and they are doing very well. I added that he should come and visit sometime. The Insychaingmai he asked about plays in a band and sings. It was great that we had that talk. I didn’t arrive in the US the same place as he did so I couldn’t identify with some of the thing we talked about. He went on telling me what he remembers pointing in all directions where everything was. Next time I see him I can say, “I met you at…”

There I was, my place was downstairs greet.   It’s nice seeing everyone.   I assume that the event at Hamilton Field went well. My hat is off to those who thought of the idea. Well done…I hope the event brought closures to those that sought it. I only hope those who wanted to come but did not can follow up on some type of report. As for me, it was another great day. Life on the go just gets better and better. The mini vacation in San Francisco was one of the treats I gave myself this year. I hopped in my friend’s car; in my thoughts were thanks. I tell ya, “I make a living out of what I get…I make a life out of what I give.” I can’t go wrong this way.

San Francisco’s ILNYF

My trip to International Lao New Year Festival in San Francisco was memorable. I was prompted by one of the organizers four months earlier to organize a Kato Lao tournament. I was like okay? Is there anything else that I can do while I am there? It is going to be a volunteer basis I either give a yes or a no answer. Knowing the magnitude of the task, I wondered why he didn’t ask Kato players in California (there are a bunch of them in the area). So I gave the option that if he found someone else (in the area), he can let me know right away. I believe the invitation was not about getting one more person to the festival. It was always about the getting someone else to share the cause. I wanted to help so I thought about saying “No” and donated all the money that I have for the trip instead and stay home. But the invitation was clear and the guy is a sounded enough. He asked me to help with the sport section of the festival. It was simple enough of a task comparing to what all he and the others have to do

Truth of the matter is I was already prompted 2 years ago by the other organizer. I believe it was at the International Conference for Lao Studies II in Arizona that he uttered the invitation to me. “We will have an international sport tournament in the San Francisco Bay area. We hope you would bring a Kato team to compete,” said the poise Doctor. Having learned that I’ve hosted a couple of Kato games in my city, saying so would be a decent gesture. Having said “Sure” then, I have to be true to my word. Since then I have been looking forward to bring some kind of support to the international sport tournament. Two years later, what do you know? The International Lao New Year Festival came to town.

The flight was booked a month earlier. I was lucky to have caught that $204 round trip when it was offered; it was by chance that I did. Expedia.com hooked me up. I guess all that singing worked. Connecting flight? No problem. Wednesday was the last day. Work was busy but this was a planned trip. This is a fun trip. Spontaneous is the name of the game. I was running around getting everything done before the day is done. By Wednesday evening it all came together. Got the flight itinerary printed out; got a few changes of clothes packed; my lap top and printer were included in the packing list. I would need both a backpack and a carry on suitcase. I normally travel with or the other not both. Yes, a printer this time. There was some stuff that needed to be print out. I just bought this printer so I can finish up at the hotel. I calculated that it would cost as much as the printer at the copying place. It was small enough anyway. I was not planning on hunting for a print shop. I offered that printer to my friends after the event, they declined. They didn’t want to tug it around the airport either.

By the end of the day I was ready but not before I say good bye to mom and dad. I can’t just go out of town without saying good bye to them. I wouldn’t want them to worry about me. That means I have to say good bye thing the right (traditional) way. Since it’s almost New Year, I would have go ahead and go kor kmar lar thot pu lak pu yhai (pay homage and ask to be pardon from the elders) just in case any “What if” happen. The kor kmar lar thot is a Laotian custom perform mostly during the Lao New Year. There was a little ceremonial performed in front of Buddha statues in my parents’ hong pa (the worshipping room in a home). The little ceremony was to praise Budhha and his teaching, to renew the blessings one received the pass year, asking for forgiveness for any kind of wrong doings one committed toward anyone or anything that exist in this Universe, and asking blessing and forgiveness from one’s own parents. In addition to all these, I went to ask for their blessings (a permission) for what I was about to do. My parents was total surprised if not shock when I broke the news to them, “Mom, Dad, I am leaving for San Francisco tomorrow morning.” The ceremony put my parents more at ease. They were more than please to grant me the permission for safe journey and a safe return. Even though I am all grown and have proven many times that I can take of myself, it is still customary to ask for their blessing. I sensed a little worry from my when she took the Buddha she wore around her neck and put it around mine. I thought, “Oh lord, what have I done? Have I scared her and worried her more with this premature ceremony?” We normally have this on or around the fifteenth. I thought this whole thing is to relieve them not otherwise. “This is Laung Pa Sum Leth dur louk dur,” my mom said. “Oh lord mom, this is a fun trip for me, you have no idea,” I thought. I left my parents’ home glad that I did all that was necessary. My mom felt better with her Buddha around my neck. Laung pa Sum Leth is from a temple that my mom and dad support. Laung Pa means the holy Buddhist monk and sum leth means success or succeed. It is said that Laung Pa Sum Leth blessed so many over the years.

It was a 35 minutes drive from my parents’ house. In my thought were expectations and anticipations of what’s ahead. It has been 30 years since my parents brought me to this country. Over the years I have met many people from the same background. This trip will give me the opportunity to catch up with many more. This is going to be a treat I’ve long for. This event is an event everyone will be most proud of. It will be a gathered of 3 different generation of Laotians in America. It will be a festival for all. Tai Oratai’s “Yhu Nai Jai Smur” accompanied me home. I was thinking, “Who is yhu nai jai me really?” One thing for sure, someone is. My question was answered when I returned home from the first International Lao New Year Festival in San Francisco. All their faces flashed in front of me when I played that song again when I drove away from the airport parking lot where I left my car four days earlier.

“Yhu nai jai smur hub oh?” Do you know, you are always in my heart?

I left home for the airport around 5 Thursday morning. I drove through the empty road that cut through downtown. Found a spot where my car will be the next four days. The check-in has never been easier. I tried to go back to sleep once I boarded the plane but it was not going to happen…too awake now. The flight was 2 hours long because of the weather. In Chicago I boarded the 747 that would carry us through the sky and to our destination. The duration of the flight was 4 hours. We landed in SFO around 1. As planned, Dara picked me up and dropped me off at the Marriot Courtyard. She was kind enough to stop at the Golden Gate so I can have a photo moment. I met Dara May 2007 while attending the Conference of Lao Studies II in Arizona. She is the Vice President of the Laotian American National Alliance. I didn’t know she was running hectic. I felt bad she had to pick me up. I normally arrange for my own ride when I travel.

I reserved 3 nights at the Courtyard. I stayed the next two nights at the Pickwick near the Civic Center Plaza. I ran one of the organizers at the front desk. He still had a lot to do so I didn’t see him until it was time to go to Champa Restaurant. It was not until 6 that he was ready to roll out.

We arrived at Champa’s restaurant around 8:30 something. In the restaurant where everyone met were some familiar faces except for a few that are new. There were some of the parents and their children were there for fashion show rehearsal.

So my first day in Cisco was okay. I ate a little at Champa’s. Had started my Thursday at 4:30 am, I was ready to called it a night. It was getting later and later at Champa. The restaurant people were ready to go too. I doubled check with the planning committee to make sure I have everything I need for the Kato Lao Champ Demo. After the group split, Noi dropped me off at my Hotel and went home. My king size bed was like quick sand. I sunk into it and felt into oblivion. I have no clue when I dozed off.

TBC