The Tickle Fairy

What a week this has been. Something urgent came up at work, back home Mama is sick; and in the wake of Ketsana in the Philippine capital plus its threat to wreak further havoc in northeast Thailand and our neighbors Vietnam and Indonesia, I was wondering what kind of positive report could I turn up with. The one admirable function of FFF is the motivation for participants to find the good out of not-so-good situations when they happen. So find them I did, and they make up my faves this week:

1. Caring family and friend. Being an only child has a few disadvatages. I am away from home and two days ago Mama had an asthma attack. The only immediate family members that she has at home are our two dogs and a cat. So who would have taken her to the doctor but a great-niece of hers and a close friend who were not just around, but also caring enough to help her. In the course of our phone conversation yesterday, (they were all inside Mama's hospital room) they laughed over something I said. It made me feel so much better and told me Ma would be fine. My head-splitting worry gone!

2. Golf umbrella. It's huge, it's heavy and since my divorce it has stood idle in a corner, but it proved very useful this week as I walk to work in the unceasing downpour brought on by Ketsana.

3. Going down to DK Booktown and Asia Books. It's not for leisure reading which is one my of all-time favorite pasttimes. It's an errand to search for a reference text then arrange a mass order. But the thought of being in the midst of books sent me hurrying out even through the heavy rain. I had the best time browsing new titles and blowing mental kisses to old pals in the world classics section. It was fun fun fun and highly therapeutic.

4. A small step but I did it! After procrastinating and harboring thoughts that it's not possible because of major hurdles, I finally told myself off, "what the heck; if you didn't try then you'd never know whether you can or not." So last night I timidly but finally began entrance application process at a UK university. I know it's a long shot but seeing my reference number, a signal that I could now start working for step 2 requirements, was both encouraging and exciting.

5. The Tickle Fairy. It's a strategy I tried on my 5-year old's display of typical misbehavior. I am very pleased that he laughed his way to obedience as I can't be upset while I need the rest of my energy to assemble ideas for a dissertation proposal.

~ FFF is brought to you by Susanne. Click her name for more faves ~