PARADISE IS GONE!
Shock woke me this morning. My husband yelling, “DAWN! Thousands killed in Thailand. It’s on the news. An 8.9 earthquake! Your Dad!”
“WHAT?” I came running downstairs, my thoughts reeling. ‘An earthquake? Oh God. An 8.9. If that hit the city of Bangkok, it would be leveled!’
CNN blasted the headlines as my husband handed me a cup of coffee. I held my breath… “The earthqake centered in Indonesia, launched tsunami waves up to 30 feet high washing away close to 200 people off the beaches of Patong Beach, Thailand.”
“Oh my God”, I whispered, still in shock as the pictures flashed before me the devestating remains of a place I called home for almost 6 years. Bangkok was safe. My father, brothers and sister were safe, but Paradise, the hotel on Patong Beach I helped my father open in 1982 — the place I called sanctuary after running from John out of the country, was no where to be found.
In a matter of minutes the phone rang — my sister on the other end. “Dawn. I just talked to Dad. It’s gone — all of it — Paradise is gone.”
‘Oh no’, I thought, ‘what about all of our friends? What about all the people we knew that made that tiny community their home?’
“Dawn, you there?” my sister asked.
“Yeah, I’m here.”
“Do you know how lucky Dad is? How lucky we are?”
“Yeah. I know,” and I was left without words. Our father sold the hotel less than two years ago. We were all there, on the oceanfront hotel he and I named Paradise some twenty years before. We were celebrating the change of ownership and ringing in the New Year of 2003. A beautiful bay off the Indian Ocean where, in the eighties, I taught windsurfing with a gentle yellow Lab who adopted me, and rented bicycles to tourists. The bells of those bicycles ring in my ear now. “Jaka-yan…Jaka-yan!” I can hear my voice calling out the word for bicycle in Thai. Then I realize, as I sit here and write, that the windchimes outside my door are ringing too…and I wait for more news.
Dawn
December 26th, 2004 at 5:39 pm
Dawn,
I read your postings and comments just about everyday, but I have never felt more compelled than today to comment. Just a couple days ago you were so happy writting about christmas, and than days later woke to a horrible shock. I think at times we are luckier than we ever feel or know, it just takes the biggies to open our eyes, and to make us really thankful for we have survived and what we still have….. Glad to hear your family are all ok, and I hope the best for your friends..
Hang in there!!……life has many more surprises to offer, but it`s how good we come through the other side that counts!….. You are a survivor!!!
Take Care
December 26th, 2004 at 5:42 pm
Dawn,
I’m so happy that your Dad and sisters are OK. And I hope that your friends/business associates are safe too. I’ll say an extra prayer tonight for them.
The rest is replaceable.
Regards,
MovieFan
December 26th, 2004 at 9:08 pm
Thank you,
This certainly was an unexpected jolt that hit close to home. The news is still sketchy from Asia and the photos from CNN get worse and worse. Can’t get ahold of my Dad. He has been out with his network of friends, many from the Foreign Correspondence Club of Thailand (FCCT), gathering information about the survivors and helping to organize support. Although my Thai is rusty, I can understand my Step Mother when she explains the devastation. Mostly everyone is extremely saddened. Certainly my thoughts and prayers are with them also and I find myself today in quiet reminiscence of happier days there. I recall a magical place of great healing for me surrounded by some of the kindest most unjudgmental people I had ever met. The world shares this huge grief. Terrible.
Dawn
December 27th, 2004 at 12:01 am
I’m so sorry Dawn. And I didn’t know that you still had family in Thailand. Being there at that time must have been so peaceful and wonderful for you and now to hear Paradise is gone is really sad. I’m very happy to hear that your family is safe and I hope all your friends from there are also safe as well. I’m still watching all the news on TV and it keeps on getting worse and worse.
December 27th, 2004 at 10:07 am
I’m glad your family’s alright Dawn.
December 28th, 2004 at 3:20 am
Wow! What a story… Your very lucky
December 28th, 2004 at 3:49 pm
Dawn, where can I get your book?
thank you!
Lisa
December 28th, 2004 at 6:55 pm
Dawn, my wife and I watched Wonderland last night. Super, super,super. I’m very excited to read your book. Stay strong!
December 29th, 2004 at 1:49 pm
Dawn,
we are so glad to be here with you now to help you with the realization that the life you knew in Thailand has suffered a tremendous blow….We are so happy to know your family is OK and we are here with you this weekend to share the spirit of the Holiday Season with your extended family!!! We love you more than you know!!!
John & Kym….
December 30th, 2004 at 4:50 pm
Dawn,
Is there a fund set up that will help people in Patong Harbor to rebuild their houses? If there is please let me/us know. I’d like to contribute to help the people who helped out one of us Americans so long ago. Or maybe you could forward the funds?
I don’t mean a general contrib to the Red Cross or Unicef… I mean contributing aid that will go to real people directly, who need it.
MovieFan
December 31st, 2004 at 10:09 pm
I too, was and continue to be shocked by the unbelievable loss of human life over the past few days. My heart goes out to you, for losing a place that obviously gave you such solace during a very difficult time.
After seeing the movie “Wonderland” I often wondered what became of you, and finally decided to search on line, which led me to you site.
You are such an inspiration to those who do not believe that their lives can be turned around, and that out of terrible events, our deepest strengths are often found.
I would really like to read your book, but I am confused about whether or not it has been published. I was unable to find it on line. Can you let me know how to purchase it, if it is available? I can only guess at the strength and courage it must have taken to relive such a difficult period both for the movie and the novel, but I would also hope that both have been cathartic.
With warmest regards,
Tammy
January 1st, 2005 at 2:49 pm
Im Happy your Family is safe.
January 1st, 2005 at 6:48 pm
Happy New Year Dawn.
I wish you and all your family here in the U.S. and in Thailand the best.