Shutters on the Beach

Departure is kickoff to courage. One makes a mental checklist of all the ailments one has or might indulge in depending on the areas to be visited: typhoid? yellow fever?  dengue fever? malaria? I already suffered malaria in 1962 in East Africa. Welp, doesn’t matter, said the infectious disease doctor.  Other kinds of mosquitos thrive in SouthEast Asia.

Kobe owns Staples

I dreaded the about-to-happen18 plus hours (not including the five hour flight from Memphis to Los Angeles) inside a metal tomb with tiny windows. It would do wonders for working on my needlepoint bears for the Grizzlies House at St. Jude. But would acerbate the feet cramps that come along with too much stagnation. 

Scrim with Video of Lakers

In all the preparation, I had missed the fact that the team of my heart, Memphis Grizzlies, was to play at the Lakers den of iniquity – Staples Center – this very night. Wow. Bucket List in action. The concierge at Shutters (best hotel in California – smack on the sandy beach with an atmosphere of Cape Cod) was able to secure two seats on Row A right behind my team! Within touching distance!  In the Staples Center! I couldn’t believe it. I wondered if anyone on the team would notice I was there. I wondered if I’d be the only obnoxious loudmouth cheering for Tony, Mark, Mike, Zbo and the guys. A NBA fan driver had said Memphis needed to bring back Pau to play alongside his brother. Interesting concept.  

Pretty teen in hip Keds

Beach air in Santa Monica was good for the soul. Sun shone with gusto as we motored to Tom Bradley Airport.  Checking in at Thai Airways is always quick and well-attended by the young ladies in orchid colors. It’s my favorite airlines. On their new planes with business class beds everyone wears harnesses – like car seat belts – for takeoff and landing.  What a great idea!! The cross-the-chest harness actually is hooked to the belt across the seat and can be released once in the air. Can we do this in America? Also, the restrooms on Thai Air are so big you can turn around without whopping elbows on the walls. And they smell like jasmine.  The carpets have small lines like a child’s version of birds flying. I kept thinking it was my yarn fallen on the floor.   If you like rice, there was plenty to eat.

Hello Kitty air plane? at Seoul

Our required stop after 13 hours was to be Seoul, South Korea. I grimaced. Would we have to dodge wayward missiles? Would the airport be jammed with tanks and military planes?  I watched four movies, one a charming British film: “Cheerful Weather For the Wedding.”