By: Anna Cates, Wilmington, Ohio
and Steve Van Allen, Cincinnati, Ohio
A kilometer from Ankor Wat, at Ta Prohm, a Mahayana 12th century Buddhist temple. Huge fig trees hang over the temple and spread across the ground. Moss grows green over the temple stones.
I walk around the walls and note three young saffron-robed monks sitting around a campfire. They call out, “Sok subai,” and wave. I wave back and walk on.
When I get back to my driver, I ask what the phrase means. He says, “Are you happy?”
In decades since, I have often wondered, am I happy?
The US fell to 23rd in the World Happiness Index last year.
moon’s halo
melancholy blue
memories