Crazy, yet sane

This is Mem. I have known her since I was a sophomore in High School. I'll always remember when she moved in. Everyone was talking about her. And if you know Dugway, this isn't a surprise. I have to admit that I was feeling a little put out because all of my friends kept talking about her and doing stuff with her. People were saying she was from another country and she just moved from Russia. I didn't get what the big deal was. Then I met her. She was nice, I guess I couldn't hate her. Turns out she moved from Germany. She lived on a military base there. But she was also half Thai. Pretty exotic. Well, one day we both signed up for a drama class field trip. None of our other friends were going, so we hung out. It was the best thing I ever did. Mem and I are kindred spirits, to borrow from Anne Shirley. We lost contact a few years after high school, it happens. Well a few years ago, around the time I moved into Salt Lake, we found each other again. And it was like nothing had changed. I love this girl. She is one of my best friends.

So ever since I've known her, I've always wanted to visit Thailand with her. Her parents own a house there, and all of her mom's family still lives there. But it has never worked out. Instead, I settled for souvenirs. They go every 3-5 years now. It's expensive and you have to get all that vacation saved up. Mem and I decided that the next time they went, I would go to. I would love to experience something like Thailand. Seeing places that normal tourists don't go to because no one speaks any English. Mem's family were planning on going in a few years. Well, last Friday that all changed!

Mem texted me that her dad and mom decided they were going this November and December. Mem and her sister were going for the month of December. I was so sad! How could I go? I am going for 2 1/2 weeks to Greece in October. I just can't justify that, right? Wrong! I called Barnes and Noble and asked the main manager how she felt about me going on this trip. December is our busiest month. Plus, I'm going to be gone for most of October. She told me that staying the whole month probably wouldn't work, but she would be okay with a few weeks. So I would be back for the weekend before and the week of Christmas.

Well, I decided just to do it. I have no debt, no full-time job, and I can afford it. So guys, I did it. I bought a ticket last night. I'm going to Thailand from December 2-17th. I'm crazy! I'm going on a trip just a month before that. A big trip! Expensive trip. But you know what, I don't even regret this. It's just money after all. And if I were still working at the Foundation, I wouldn't be able to do this. I wouldn't have the vacation. But Barnes is way more lenient about this. I'm so excited to go. Now I have to go get some shots and malaria pills. This is the trip I've been waiting to go on most of my adult life. Maybe I'll hate it. I mean it is 80% humidity and heat after all! But mostly, I think I'll love it. The people, the food, the scenery!

Mem told me that her family is going to try and feed me all the time. I'm going to have to ask her how to say thank you and no thank you in Thai, since that sounds like what I'll be doing a lot of!