My story is one that changes every single day! Today was one of those days....I woke this morning to find that my Uncle Manuel, who is my Dad's older brother, has been written about in the Los Angeles Times newspaper yesterday. He is here in the. US touring for a couple of months. Let's recap...I met this uncle for the first time last August when I was in Thailand for the very first time. My family went to see him perform on the Dinner Cruise line where he performs 6 nights a week. This was by far one of the highlights of my first and second trip to Thailand. The atmosphere is Amazing,the food is Fabulous, and the Entertainment is Phemoninal! Not to mention the fact that My Uncle Manuel IS the Elvis of Thailand!
We did not have time to connect a lot before that show, but after, well let's just say he interviewed me for over an hour. His first question to me was..."Where have you been?" Whew!! What a loaded question! I started at the beginning and he listened to me intently the whole conversation. At the end, he told me he loved me and he was so happy that I had my Dad now! I will never in All of my life forget this conversation with my Father's brother. Now, the second time I visited it was like I had known this family of mine my whole life. I was able to experience the family and my Uncle from a "daily life" point of view. I LOVED every minute of being with the ToiGB's! We had a family dinner both times I visited Thailand. The first visit Uncle Manuel was not able to come because he had to perform. My second visit was the same, he told me he really wanted to be there, but he had to perform that night. I assured him it was OK, I would see him the following evening on the ship for his Show. Well, guess what? He showed up at the family dinner.
This truly meant the world to me. It made me feel so loved! So validated from a family I have been without my whole life! I am so thrilled to have this opportunity to share with the ToiGB's and the world how happy I am to be a part of this family! The second time I saw my Uncle's show was AWESOME to say the least. The emotion level is a 10 and it stays that way the whole time! It is really hard to put into words just how AMAZING this feels! I will say...that I am so very PROUD of him, and to be able to experience this with my Dad as well, is more than I can hardly take.
Now...let me just say that in this last picture, I was not doing well at all! We were saying goodbye and I realized ALL I had missed in my life and my culture with this family. I was a mess to say the very least. I am processing and working through my journey everyday! Today was a good day...waking up to see the success of someone I Love.
Here's to you Uncle Elvis! I will see you soon in Thailand! I can not wait till we are together again! Till then...
