Happy Birthday, Ti Ti
She Is No Longer a Young Lady

Nearly a decade ago, I went to Myanmar wanting to interview Aung San Suu Kyi, who was often called the Lady. As Bobby Burns wrote,  “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” I worked for months prior to going to Myanmar by contacting scores of people who might be able to carry my request to the Lady. Despite that, I failed.

However, as luck would have it, I met a young lady named Ti Ti. At that time, that young lady was nine-years-old. Today is her eighteenth birthday. In America, it is still June 1, but in Myanmar, they are half a day ahead of us. It is June 2 in Inle Lake near where my family lives. Therefore, if you go outside and listen carefully, you will hear most of the known world singing Happy Birthday to Ti Ti.

Today, Ti Ti is transitioning from a young lady to a lady. This is a photo of Ti Ti when we first met half of her lifetime ago. She is sitting between her parents.

The following video is a list of times that Ti Ti and I have been together. Therefore, as Ti Ti is now an adult, I am nearing my eightieth birthday. It is a transitioning time for me also. When we first met nine years ago, I was young, debonair, and a fair-haired youth. However, I’m transitioning into an old man, but I still love Ti Ti and my family in Myanmar.