The other day, I chatted with my family in Myanmar. Ti Ti wasn’t there since she is living in Bangkok, Thailand. However, Auntie was with my family. I think Auntie is one of Ti Ti’s grandmothers.

We spent much of an hour remembering the fun times we shared in the past decade. Our chat darted around remembering things we did on my three visits. On my first trip, Moh Moh was my guide around Inle Lake. On my second trip, Ko Ko was my guide.

However, the best trip was our family tour to places Western tourists rarely see. This is especially true of the village of Set Set Yo. I had yet to learn why Moh Moh and Ko Ko stopped at this remote village. It turned out that they brought gifts to the young children. Several dozen kindergarten-aged children got notebooks and pencils for school. While they were handing out their gifts, I spent time carrying a small child around and flipping some of the youngsters.

I don’t recall how I wound up with a little girl who wasn’t a year old. I called her the little one. I finally asked Moh Moh and Ko Ko what the Burmese translation would be for the little one. It is A Ngal Lay.

During our chat, I asked Snow whether she remembered this gift that she had given me. The video doesn’t show Snow’s gift very well.

Another part of our talk was about our family tour together. Talk about Set Set Yo where I discovered my great grand-daughter.

We talked about their new business, which sells all sorts of twine and rope.

Fatty played with their new puppy.

Ti Ti’s two younger sisters were too young to recall who I was on my first trip. Nevertheless, in preparation for my second visit, Ti Ti explained who I was and said my name was Papa Al. Snow accepted my name, but Fatty has never called me Papa Al. Instead, she calls me Bo Bo Gyi, Buddhism’s most important nat or avatar.

However, my family is Buddhist and takes Buddhism seriously. This season of Thadingyut is also known as the Festival of Lights.

Thadingyut is called the Festival of Lights.

Thadingyut is a time to pay special homage to Buddha and others like family members, teachers, or older people. It is done while sitting and bowing to the one to which you wish to pay homage. My family has paid homage to those special people in Myanmar at this time of the year. They also pay homage to me annually during our chats.

I understand the importance of Thadingyut, and I feel honored. However, in the West, we don’t have similar means of expressing homage to someone. Thanksgiving is our closest holiday to Thadingyut. Thadingyut is different because it singles out one person at a time.

Therefore, this essay expresses my love and affection for Auntie, Moh Moh, Ko Ko, Ti Ti, Snow, and Fatty. My mind recalls all the times of fun and caring. On my last visit to my family, we celebrated New Year’s Eve at Nyaung Shwe Restaurant, our favorite eatery near Inle Lake. I made Bananas Bo Bo Gyi for them.

Then my granddaughters sang Auld Lange Syne.

My family has given me happiness, caring, warmth, and love. Words can’t express how much they have given to me. And at 81, I can’t sit with crossed legs and bow to them. This essay is my attempt to pay homage to them.