The Surprise

     So last week we mentioned our surprising Bum's parents and how it did not go quite according to plan. Well, what had happened was: (queue the smoke and dramatic lighting, it's time for a flash back)
     When we got to Thailand we had already received news that one of Bum's mom's best friend's mothers had died. What we did not know is that the viewing was the night that we planned to go to their house. On the way to her parent's house, Bum called her mom and pretended to have just a normal conversation so that we could find out where they were and what their plans were for that evening. Turns out they were going to be going to the viewing about the same time that we were going to be arriving at their house.  You may be thinking to yourself that that is not a big deal. Her parents will go to the viewing and be back in no time. That might work in America, but in Thailand the funeral process is somewhat different, including the initial viewing of the body. Here parents were going to be there for quite a while and we had to decide what we were going to do. Our options were to sit at the house until her parent's got there (we have no keys to go in and wait for them and they could be hours. And this is topical Thailand with its crazy heat and hungry mosquitoes and we have an infant with us) or we can go to the viewing and surprise them there. Needless to say we take option number two.
     So we get to the viewing and park but there is no sign of her parents. Now we have to call again and see where they are. We are not sure if they have come and gone already (this would be weird but you never know), rode with a friend, changed their mind and not come at all, or what. So Bum calls her mom for the second time and asks where they are now. This is odd because she generally would not call them twice in one day while we were in the states. So her parents are going to be wondering or worried why she is calling again. So Bum just tells them rather matter of factly that we are waiting for them at the viewing and we need the keys so that we can go to the house and wait for them there.
    There is now total confusion in her parents vehicle. Her mom swears that it was Bum talking on the phone. Her dad said that is impossible because we are in America. They do not know what is going on. A few minutes later they pull up at the viewing and park on the other side of the road. We see them in the rear view mirrors so Glynn does a u-turn and pull up right behind them as they are getting out of their truck. We are in a rental car and they do not recognize it and we think that they refused to believe who their eyes were telling them was driving up behind them. We are just smiling and waving as we pull up and they are looking more and more confused. Then we get out of the car and everyone erupts into laughing and hugging and gleeful greating. Everyone but little Winter. The long drive, strange surrounding, and now all these new people and noises were just too much for the little guy and he broke down. He was balling as he was being passed around between the grandparents and a great aunt. Finally Bum got him back and he started to calm down. We sat and talked for just a few minutes then we got the keys and went to their house to rest.
     So not exactly as we had planned but still pretty good. Till next time.

God bless,
Glynn, Bum, and Winter