a meal for ta, 8.26.24

before leaving today, we stopped by ta’s house. as we were hanging out with the family, there was a slideshow playing on the television with family pictures from the last 40/50 years. i saw a version of my parents younger than me. i’ve seen these photos before, but never had that perspective. there were a lot of pictures of ta with chan and boun in a world before me. it made me feel grateful, yet aware. life looked so beautiful back then, but back then was at the time and at the time now things don’t feel so beautiful. as i sat watching the slide show, yiy dropped off a plate below ta’s picture. she lit an incense and told him to enjoy this meal because it had been a while since he’s ate something he really loved. may have been years, actually. i thought that was so sweet. i almost cried but was able to hold it together.

so thankful for the family i have.

i truly am so lucky.

-ratha, 5:12pm, 8.26.24