Meth: a Ticking Timebomb Gone Viral

Papaya Wars

Over the past week, I have struggled to find worthwhile content to post on this blog. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue and I would wait until something inspired me enough to share. If I'm being honest (which was my undertaking when I began this journey), I cannot deny that being nominated for a Quill Award has pressured me to write entertaining posts (not that I wasn't trying before). I realise now that the harder I try, the less I gain (so to speak) and the best way to achieve quality content is to post only when I have something worthwhile to say.

Nada and I live in a cul-de-sac. There is no footpath and very little traffic goes past our house. Beyond the front fence is a small, raised garden bed about two feet wide. It contains shrubs and flowers; papaya is the last tree growing in this garden. At the moment, it bears many under-ripe fruits. Papaya ripens from the bottom up, and Nada has had her eye on one fruit in particular. Yesterday as we left for our walk, we passed the tree and Nada remarked that when we got back, she would take the semi-ripe papaya. Unfortunately, the fruit was gone when we got back (to Nada's dismay but not mine because I hate the smell and taste of pawpaw). Obviously, someone else had been eyeing the 'delicious' fruit and had beaten her to the prize

The suspects are many, and this morning, Nada's indignation remains. So, I did my best to calm the storm that was brewing on the horizon and avert any possible future conflict. Apparently, in Thailand, it is considered bad manners to 'steal' fruit from the front of someone else's home. However, I pointed out that we had only been living here for three months, and whoever the culprit was had likely been nurturing the tree for many years.

I told Nada that whoever had done it was likely poor and couldn't afford to buy fruit from the markets (where twenty baht gets a fruit that has been properly ripened, rather than the almost green one the 'perpetrator' had taken from 'our' tree). I like the idea that my presence (and money) here in Thailand makes a difference in some small way to people's lives. I pointed out that when we go to the markets, get a haircut, pay someone to make orthopedic shoes, buy her a nice watch or go to a restaurant, we are supporting her community...people who are far less fortunate (financially) than we are.

This argument seemed to work, and my girlfriend is slowly getting over the loss. I did, however, offer something of a consolation prize when I pointed out that the tiny miniskirt and midriff top she was wearing outside today, might attract the attention of the partner/partners of any would-be fruit thieves, and if the lady (I assume it was a Thai lady because I doubt any Farang would resort to such a heinous crime) noticed her husband ogling Nada, might bring some degree of revenge...at least, that's the seed I planted in Nada's mind.