Live Well Laugh Often Billy & Akaisha Kaderli Lighten Up Love Much

THE ADVENTURER'S GUIDE TO EARLY RETIREMENT A COMMON SENSE APPROACH BILLY AND AKAISHA KADERLI Buy it Now!

CAT AND CABOODLE Chiang Mai, Thailand Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

SEH HAND FEEDING HER AILING CAT

Her name is Seh. The little sundry shop across the street from our Guest House is her life's work. Over the years we've gotten to know this lady, and here is her story.  Somewhere down the line, the family life eluded her; no husband, no children. Instead, there are cats! Lots of them, she will tell you proudly. Sometimes 13, sometimes 18, but Seh keeps the number under 20, so it’s manageable. Pouring out her considerable love to them, there's medicine to buy, and fresh fish to prepare. Most Thai women play the game "Husband Number One, Husband Number Two." This is the game where any man who frequents their business, and spends money, is accorded status of sort, by being named a "Husband" followed by a number.  You lose your status if you have not been seen for a while.

Sometimes, if the lady is very glad to see you, she will give you dominant position immediately to show you (and every other man in the vicinity) that she cares, and you are important. It’s a well known game, and Seh does not play. Or at least not in the "normal" way.

If Billy approaches her with his arms open wide in obvious invitation, Seh will shout “Nooooo!!” and laugh heartily. Or she may pick up her TV remote control, point it at him, and start changing channels. She is certainly not interested in finding a mate, not even in pretend. “I open ev’ry daay” she will say. “I like mun-eee” and will give a twinkling expression. Doing well in this small shop with a prominently displayed TV, she watches her Asian soaps, and admirably, the news. Following everything, everywhere, in any country, Seh is up to date on current events. With a sharp mind, and her own strong opinions, Seh is not afraid to express them. On occasion, a deep worried frown will cross her brow and remain for hours. This is when one of her cats is sick, and it is serious. Or perhaps one of her refrigerators is not working properly, and she must pay to have it fixed or replaced. These are issues of import, and for a woman alone, it makes for a heavy mental burden.

SEH'S SUNDRY SHOP

MODERN MARVEL

A recent purchase was a clothes washer/spinner combination.  It was delivered in the back of the small shop where she lives. I have never seen her so excited, so proud. “Ev’ry daay, I wash, two ow-wuz, then go shop-ping for store. Now, easier!” She is beside herself with joy, as she invites me into her home to take a look at her new purchase. There, in the semi open-air grouping of lean to’s, shelves and cement rooms, proudly sits a teal colored plastic washer and spinner. “Man come, make something to bring wa-tuh, and put…” as she wags her fingers at the electrical outlet far away. I am thrilled for her. A real breakthrough in her life of toil. I smile, laugh, make a big deal of looking inside the machine while we both share in the wonder of the modern world. “Bee-yoo-tee-fuul” I say slowly and with a thumbs up, so she knows I share perfectly in her delight. When I see Billy later that day, I let him know about the washer that Seh bought. He, too, is excited for her and we immediately run to her store, so he can show her his

support. Seh goes through all the same English words she knows to tell him the costs, the financial plan, how it will make her life easier every day. Billy smiles enthusiastically, broadly, and says, “I bring lawn-dree too-morrow so yoo wash?” She smiles widely back and says “Af-tuh Mun-daay, I doo for yoo. FREE!” and laughs without restraint. This is work, and Seh understands work. There is no hint of a Husband being involved, so now we have a new, and "safe" game to play.

Billy and Akaisha continue to journal and photograph their world travels.

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