This weekend shall henceforth be known as the Nanavati invasion, the high point in the penitential period known as Sonali month, which falls immediately prior to the holy season of Nesting that ends in the much exalted Hosteling Week requiring all faithful to make a pilgrimage to Bangkok for festivities.

I might have been in a more appropriate mood for the next couple of days if they'd fallen a week or two ago, but part of the reason I'm not in the mood for them is the very act of planning for them. I think that all of the details are straightened out, with just one or two phone calls left to make. Tomorrow is going to be like herding cats, and will also serve as a valuable lesson in my own insignificance. I will play den mother, come off as a wee bit anal retentive, and chomp at the bit as I'm reminded that most cultures don't value punctuality the way I do, the whole time being entirely ignored.

The bit that I find hilarious though is that while most of us are less than thrilled with the recent change in the weather, it's kind of a going away gift for Sonali. Being from the UP she loves some winter. Moving to Thailand, she's not going to see much of it for a while. There's something beautiful in the joy on her face when she finds out she gets to wear her favorite coat one last time. The rest of us may be a little bitter, but I'll choose to look at the bad weather as something fortuitous for her.