Did you expect pictures of the Johnson family riding on the backs of smelly gargantuan elephants?

Yeah, so did I! I’m bummed…

Anna suspiciously started to lose her voice the other day; then she got a fever; then she had bowel symptoms you’d rather not hear details about…etc. Needless to say, I was optimistic that she would feel better after 24 hours. (It’s just a little bug, right?)

I really wanted her to be well so the two of us, father and daughter, could take on the pesky pachyderms on their own turf. But after a rough night with little rest, I knew our Indiana Jones’ dreams would not come to fruition.

I might have taken Sarah on this little expedition since Anna had fallen ill, but Sarah too slept poorly the night before the trek. So instead of the muddy jungle, the whole family stayed within the tame scenery of our hotel for a fun-filled day of recovery.

The consolation for me (since I’m the one who really wanted to go on this little elephant riding excursion) is that we will be back here in Chiang Mai every January for our annual conference. There will be other glorious opportunities for me dangle from the Oliphaunts trunk.

(And for those who may have already unjustly branded me as an insensitive and selfish father, I want you to know that Anna seems to be feeling a bit better. Believe it or not, I was more concerned for her health than with Dumbo and his pals…)