Journal entry by Al Negstad — a minute ago
With time to adjust in Bangkok I finally got into a book Berger gave me this fall when I was in Norway (readers put it on your list). Originally written in Norwegian, the story is set on a small island off the coast of Norway occupied by a family of five. The book is The Unseen by Roy Jacobson. During a war, WW I ?, five Swedish men come to the island to build a quay. While they are there they double the population and when they leave Jacobson writes this observation; "They leave in rain, it sets in at the beginning of October and stays, and even though the people on the island heave a sigh of relief at being back to the numbers they usually are they think it is sad. Having visitors has its advantages. When they leave the islanders are left with only themselves and feel this might not be enough. Visitors create a loss. They make it clear to the islanders that they lack something, presumably they did so before their guests arrived, and will continue to do so." p. 78 and there ends the chapter.
The ambivalence caused by departing guests is familiar ground for me. On the one hand I'm happy to "have my house back" and on the other I have that feeling of loss with their departure. Is it a sense lacking something? Was something lacking even before their arrival? Of course for me, the big departure was Joanne's death last April. What does Jacobson's observation have to say about her departure? Joanne certainly created a loss in my life, which made me aware that I lacked something before her, and now I lack it again. More to think about.
The Bangkok Christian Guesthouse, where I' staying, is located in central Bangkok. It's inexpensive and clean. I've used it whenever I'm in Bangkok, since that first time in the mid-nineties when L and I were on our way to visit L in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. During the Asian crash in the nineties there was the skeleton of an unfinished skyscraper next door with squatters living in it. That was in the old Guesthouse building, but a number of years ago a new one was built. I've always thought this urban neighborhood was stable. Now the huge building across the street, more than a block square, is being demolished. On side one alone, that meant the eviction of 2 Seven Elevens, a Starbucks, and four restaurants. What will come next. Will the sidewalk food stalls, serving some of the best food in Bangkok, remain? Perhaps I'll have to return next year for answers to these questions.
Blessings,
Al
The ambivalence caused by departing guests is familiar ground for me. On the one hand I'm happy to "have my house back" and on the other I have that feeling of loss with their departure. Is it a sense lacking something? Was something lacking even before their arrival? Of course for me, the big departure was Joanne's death last April. What does Jacobson's observation have to say about her departure? Joanne certainly created a loss in my life, which made me aware that I lacked something before her, and now I lack it again. More to think about.
The Bangkok Christian Guesthouse, where I' staying, is located in central Bangkok. It's inexpensive and clean. I've used it whenever I'm in Bangkok, since that first time in the mid-nineties when L and I were on our way to visit L in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. During the Asian crash in the nineties there was the skeleton of an unfinished skyscraper next door with squatters living in it. That was in the old Guesthouse building, but a number of years ago a new one was built. I've always thought this urban neighborhood was stable. Now the huge building across the street, more than a block square, is being demolished. On side one alone, that meant the eviction of 2 Seven Elevens, a Starbucks, and four restaurants. What will come next. Will the sidewalk food stalls, serving some of the best food in Bangkok, remain? Perhaps I'll have to return next year for answers to these questions.
Blessings,
Al
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