Saturday Morning Family Outing for the Win

 

Jonah

My Mom had a saying, often uttered with a frustrated sigh.
"Can't win for losin'."

I get it. Often as not it can feel that way, I suppose. Maybe especially when there are big events that feel like big losses. Or multiple little thwartings that all add up.

But not today.
Not today.

Today we went swimming. A small and ginormous 'bai teo' where we all pile in the back of the truck and head out five minutes down the road to where a shallow pool provides fathoms of play.

Lukmee

Jonah gives the victory sign as he springs up from the water.
"I did it!" Funny how, every where you go, kids keep saying, "Watch this!" as if your eyes aren't glued on them the entire time.
Funny how, everywhere you go, no one says no to ice cream.

And this is deeply good and lovely to watch for any child's play. But these children?
These children....I know their stories.
They shouldn't be all frolicking and carefree on a Saturday morning.

And it makes it all the more of a win somehow.

We bought 29 ice creams.
Twenty children, 9 adults.
I told the booth attendant,
Rao mee kropkua yai!
(We have a big family.)
Yai, yai!, (big, big) she agreed, wide eyed.

Can't lose for winning, Mom.
Not when the wins are like this.