As a parent, you always hope for wonderful things for your children.  That's the dream of a parent.  That your children will far exceed anything that you have done, and will have wonderful adventures, and live fabulous awe-inspiring lives.  None of those "lives of quiet desperation" that gloomy authors write about.

Well, my newly married daughter is well on her way with a great beginning.  Sarah was newly married in July of this year, and in just handful of days will be jetting off on a wonderful adventure (by way of a gift from a fabulous benefactor who shall remain unamed... I would name him, but I know he's modest and would want to remain anonymous)...with her groom Chris, to Thailand for about 10 days.

I'm only moderately jealous, as her mother and I have never been to Thailand, and it sounds awfully exciting.  They will be met at the airport and driven to their hotel.  They have been allocated a driver who will tour them around Bangkok proper and some of the surrounding countryside.  They will have their own personal tour guide, to keep them in the safe areas, and see that the "Tourists" aren't taken advantage of.

We were a little concerned, a few weeks ago, when the Bangkok airport was surrounded by barbed-wire and the airport was the target of rocket-propelled grenades... but things seem to have calmed down enough to allow the fruit-of-my-loins to travel safely, and enjoy the countryside.

Bangkok, as I understand it, is a bustling city of just over 8 million people, making it the world's 22nd largest city.  But in reality, due to the "unregistered" nature of the populace, they believe it's really more like 15 million people who reside in Bangkok and it's immediate surrounds.  It is a Thai, Indian, Chinese and Western city.

Give the recent political unrest in the region (and the world)... and traveling with a U.S. Passport... I hope you won't mind if I hold my breath while my baby is enjoying this exciting adventure out into the great wide world.  I'm extremely excited for her, and anxious to see (and share) some of her photos...

but... I'm her dad, and I won't be able to breathe until she returns safe and sound... and it wouldn't hurt if she brought her new hubby home safe too.