Happy Mother's Day!

I apologize for not posting for awhile.
I've been missing my mom so much this week. She passed away December 22, 2004.
I hear speak to me often though, and tonight I heard her say, loud and clear: "Don't be sad. Enjoy your family."
I did have a great Mother's Day, despite the sadness. Anjoli made me a basket at school filled with cards, homemade chocolate chip cookies (made at school) and origami flowers. She wrote a cute tribute to me. I promise to scan it soon.
Sujoy gave me a beautiful blue star sapphire set of earrings and matching neclace. The earings are very cool - they are tear shaped but the circular parts (with the stud behind them) are Chinese characters- one is a symbol of prosperity and the other represents good luck. I wore them all day today.

Last night, Sujoy took us out to a very nice, loungy restaurant downtown that featured a traditional puppet show by a group called the Shan Puppet Theater, that was really cool. I was surprised! We got special treatment when the owner heard that Americans were coming: he wrote up a brief synopsis of each scene for us. I wish I had brought my camera. We met the puppeteer after the show, and Anjoli and I got to learn how to work these gorgeous puppets. You wouldn't believe what he could make these things do! One of them was an old man who smoked a long pipe and coughed up real smoke! Another one was a beautiful woman with long hair - he showed us how he made her caress her hair (she was flirting in one scene) - she pulled it from behind and then flicked it back over her shoulder. He also got one to spin plates and a big bowl as well - on this very thin stick. He was a really sweet guy and very very cute! ;) We got his business card and I told him I would try to get him a gig at the nearby American School. (We're registering Anjoli there for next year). We met a journalist who was really taken by Anjoli's enthusiasm - so she was really a conduit for us- she translated and encouraged us to exchange business cards. It's funny because on our Magic Bus road trip we went to the Taiwan Center for Traditional Arts and we saw this amazing display of a Master Puppeteer who was known all over the world - he ended up settling in Paris. He died recently, and lo and behold this guy we met (Sam) was his protege! (Or one of them at least).

Today we went for a long walk and found the local recreation center (finally) with 2 huge pools - one outdoor and one indoor - plus a big spa (more like a lagoon), sauna and steamroom. I promised to take Anjoli every day (or therabouts). She's totally psyched.

We topped off the day with a great sushi dinner at a nearby restaurant. I am so full now. Back to salad city tomorrow!
Now it is way past Anjoli's bedtime, so I better say goodnight!
Hope you are all well.
Remember to appreciate your mom and give her lots of hugs - and not just on Mother's Day, ok?
Be well,
Sue

Here are some pictures of the puppets we saw.(I found these on the Shan Puppet Theater's website). The first one is of the old man who smoked:




The Shan Puppet Theater: