Happy Khmer New Year

feel good stories inside

The nature of the universe by Dina Chhan

Dear Friend,

How are you? 🥳I’m on holiday because in Southeast Asia, it’s the new year, where everyone celebrates by going to the pagoda, making merit, playing traditional games and “splashing water”.

This year, like many years of late, we’re choosing to stay at home to avoid traffic, crowds, and tomfoolery. ☀️ SE Asia is also experiencing another year of record highs of 100°F (40C), which coupled with humidity feels like 115°F (46C). We’re okay though. I rather like the self-imposed relax, turn on the A/C, and stay-at-home vacation.

But there are a couple of nice stories I’ve been meaning to share with you. As Eric was leaving our place, he watched a bunch of boys on bicycles laughing because one of them failed to throw his trash into a bin while riding by.

The kid was going to leave the trash on the sidewalk, until Eric said in Khmer (he practices everyday), “Hey, I live here.” The boy, then rode back and picked up his trash without getting off his bike, put it in the bin, and apologized. 😮😀

Enduring Ibis by Dina Chhan

The second story takes place in Hawaii, where my mom was at the bank cashing a $300 check. Mom and the teller exchanged pleasantries and established that large bills would be fine. 💵 The teller then proceeded to count out the money on the counter, “One hundred, two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, five hundred, six hundred, seven hundred, and eight hundred.”

Mom told the woman, who appeared to be new to the branch, possibly a transfer, that the check was only for $300, but the teller insisted it was $800 until she looked closer. 😮 She, then, almost cried when she realized her mistake 😨 profusely thanking my mom, who simply said, “I’ve been banking here for almost fifty years. No problem.” 💵

More feel good stories & content

✔️My friend Frieda told me about the science teacher who had for 16 years been telling his students about the 2024 total solar eclipse, promising that he’d invite them to watch it together at his house. And then it happened! About 100 students showed up to complete the assignment. Happy Teachers Day! 🍎

✔️ A humorous short story that caught me by surprise at the ending by Remy at Enfant Terrible, Bach and Existence and Baby Shark. 🦈

✔️ I also particularly enjoyed Chris’s The Funnies #183 (where he complies funny tweets and memes). 😄

✔️ The Humanitarians of Tinder (via Tim Ferriss) is great for a giggle. I had no idea that this was a thing, but then again, I’m not on dating apps. 😇

✔️ Finally, this story Hero Bank Teller Saves Customer From Losing Millions on a Scam–by Asking a Few Simple Questions reminded me of not only my mom’s story, but also Richard Osman’s latest Thursday Murder Club book, The Last Devil to Die (which was lovely).

“Don’t try to be different. Just be good. To be good is different enough.” - Arthur Freed

Family of birds by Dina Chhan

“Dina Chhan is one of Cambodia’s only female sculptors and leading painters. Born in a refugee camp on the Thai border in the wake of the Khmer Rouge, Dina has also used her work to work raise awareness of Cambodia’s hidden landmines – which cause a huge issue to this day and litter many areas of the border.” via Culture Trip

Substack updates

// I’ve been busy with neighbor/internet drama, which I’ll save for another day, or maybe I’ll skip all together. I don’t know. It just gets weirder and weirder.

Anyway, it prevented me from working on a new essay, and almost from getting this newsletter out. Which reminds me…

// I’ve decided to scrap Lani on the Loose as the name of my newsletter, and just label the newsletter, newsletter, as it seems more streamlined since No Girl is an Island is the original name.

// My second audio post What’s your relationship with food? felt ambitious since it was about 13 minutes long. I kept the sound of me struggling to say “anomalous” and the laughter that followed.

I hope you and your family are well and good. And I’d love to hear a feel good story from you, too. ❤️🙏 Thanks. xo