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Miracles do happen - as Jojje knows first hand
by Elfi
Bengt George Richard Sjöström, “Jojje”, is not a ‘famous’ man
in the usual way, but he is amongst the bravest and most adorable people I ever
had the luck to meet.
Born in Stockholm, Sweden, 48 years ago, on his 14th birthday on July 10th,
1963, he had a terrible accident and lost both his legs and his left arm.
E: “Jojje, you have been my neighbor for the past few years and I always wanted
to interview you, but I always felt a bit shy about it.”
J: “No, no, you don’t have to feel shy. I am used to interviews. I have given
many after my accident.”
E: “How did this accident happen?”
J: “When you are young, you sometimes act quite foolish. I was playing at the
railroad tracks with my friends when one of them threw a stone at me. I got
angry and when he ran away I followed him. He climbed up on one of the wagons
and jumped from one to another. I did the same thing and at the last wagon I
slipped. I tried to hold onto something and gripped a 17,000 Volt electric
cable. Luckily I only touched it with my fingers, but immediately they got stuck
to it and only when they burned off did I fall from the wagon.”
E: “It was a miracle that you survived. Just imagining - 17,000 Volts!”
J: “Yes, it was a miracle in a way. I was rushed to the hospital and since my
arm was totally burned and both of my legs as well, they had to amputate all of
them. I was in a coma for more than three weeks and everybody believed I was not
going to make it. My chances of surviving were zero. Somehow, my heart was
strong enough and after six months I was finally able to leave the hospital for
the first time.”
E: “How often did you have to go back to the hospital?”
J: “Regularly for about three years. I was still growing and they had to cut off
my bones every few months.”
E: “That must have been traumatic for you. I mean, the whole accident must have
changed your life completely.”
J: “In a sense, yes of course. On the other hand, I received a lot of moral
support to overcome my depressions. It started at the hospital. A psychologist
will help you and the other patients also. When I came out of hospital, I was
very afraid. I thought social life is over for me. I believed, being handicapped
now, nobody is going to accept me anymore. It was just the opposite. Many
people, old friends and even strangers came to visit me, gave me support and
strength. My father was working at the Sport-Government, taking care of all the
Swedish National Teams. He pushed me to start doing sport again. Before my
accident, I was a boxer, ice-hockey player and a very good swimmer. I was
supposed to join the Swedish National Team. My father didn’t give up on me and
wouldn’t allow me to give up on myself. With the help of other sportsmen, I
started to play volleyball and swim again. I made it into the Swedish Olympic
Team for the handicapped Olympic Games in Montreal. Just before we were supposed
to go there, I backed out. Too many memories from the time ‘before’. Mentally, I
couldn’t manage.”
E: “That’s understandable. Besides doing active sports, what else did you do?”
J: “Tried to lead a normal life, as much as possible. I finished my last years
of studying in a school for handicapped people. It was great there. Everybody
tried to support the others. One got inner strength by helping those who were
depressed and it was always a great victory to see others overcome their
tragedy. It made you forget the pain you had to suffer yourself. After school, I
went into the business I used to dream of as a child: cars. I repaired cars, did
paint jobs and worked on engines. I always loved American cars. At that time
they were so beautifully shaped.” He brings me a photo album with all the cars
he’s ever owned. It’s filled with pictures of all sizes, both black and white
and colored. Jojje is in each of them with beautiful girls beside him. I ask who
the girls were. He answers with a smile: “My girlfriends.”
E: “So many different ones?”
J: “You could say I changed my girlfriends together with my cars.” He bends down
to me and whispers so his wife cannot hear him, “Believe me, I had a lot of
cars! Cars were my ‘real’ legs. The girls would always look at the car first and
then at the driver. If he looked OK, everything was fine. With one of my
girlfriends I had a parcel-delivery service. Taxis with telephones. That was fun
also.”
E: “So, you always enjoyed life and kept busy ‘walking’, in one sense of the
word?”
J: “Oh, yes. I got my prostheses right at the beginning. Of course, they always
had to be changed, like I said before I was still growing. More than 30 years I
walked only on my artificial legs. Now I have a problem doing so. I sit a lot in
my wheel chair. Time doesn’t stop and my back is not so good anymore and my
prostheses hurt me a lot. I also have bone cancer in my left leg. That’s quite
painful. Last year I went to Sweden and had three operations within half a year.
But it grew back. Now I get treatments in Pattaya. I hope everything will be
fine after a while. You know, I had to fight so much in my life, I wont give up
fighting now. The only thing that’s bothering me is I feel handicapped now, just
sitting around in my wheelchair.”
E: “I wish many more people would have your kind of spirit. How long have you
been in Thailand?”
J: “Altogether nine years. I stayed 2 years in Phuket, 1 year in Koh Samui, 2
years in Chiang Rai and now, finally, 4 years in Pattaya. I fell in love with
Pattaya. In Pattaya I met my wife Ning and now we have been married for almost
three years.”
E: “What are your plans for the future? Are you planning to have children?”
Jojje starts to laugh: “Well, we are trying every day, but without success so
far. My plans for the future? I’d like to stay in Pattaya for the rest of my
life. The weather is much better for me than in Sweden. Here I feel safe. I have
plenty of friends who are always willing to help. I have my wife and my dog
here. Isn’t he lovely?” He strokes his dog who is sitting next to him on the
couch. “He is a 100% pure Thai brand. A cocktail of all the dogs in the world.”
E: “Do you have problems staying here or do you have to leave for visa trips?”
J: “That’s the only problem I’ve got. I have all my paperwork together to prove
that I have a pension. Still, they won’t give me a one year visa. I am only 48
and I would have to wait until I am 55. But what happens if I cannot move
anymore?”
E: “I hope it will work out for you one way or the other. What are you doing
here? Are you working?”
J: “No, I’m not working here. Just enjoying life. Though I still would like to
build a T-Hotrod buggy. I don’t know if I could be approved to drive it. In the
meantime, I sometimes go to the race track. I came third two years ago at the
National Open Quarter Mile Drag. I was very happy about that. Also, I like to
help handicapped people here. Nine years ago, one could hardly see a handicapped
person. Now, since the school opened, there are a lot. Many of them are very
good athletes. I’d like to give them the same courage and help I got back then
in Europe.”
E: “Jojje, thank you very much for this interview. I really appreciate it and
hope people will learn out of it. I also hope you get your visa soon, and your
health improves again so all of us can see you around here for the next 50
years.”
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Buddhist Lent: A Gift of Common Sense from The Lord Buddha
by Kittisak Khamthong
Many people in Thailand know of this most important time of
the year for all Buddhists. It is the time when members of the Buddhist clergy
confine themselves to their temples for a three month period of meditation and
asceticism. Even Phra-Thu-Dong, monks who do not reside at any particular
temple, stay inside temple walls.
This is not only a time of retreat for monks. The Sanskrit-derived Thai word,
Khao Phansa, means ‘to enter the rainy season’. The beginning of the rainy
season is the time when lay people’s crops are beginning to sprout and grow.
In The Buddha’s time, life conditions were much different than now. There were
no large networks of accessible roads. Woodland paths were not reliable as they
could be washed out by rain in that long gone time when the seasons were not
thrown out of order by modern technology.
The Buddha, with infinite wisdom, knew that the daily comings and goings of
Buddhist clergy often caused hardship to the laity, as monks had no choice but
to walk through fields to receive their morning alms. The people also did not
have enough time to offer alms every morning. There was much work to do in the
fields.
To solve the problem, The Lord Buddha decided that during this time, monks
should cloister themselves. This solved many problems and had positive effects.
The people’s fields were protected from harm. They could give alms to monks in a
more efficient manner as they were concentrated in one place. The laity had more
of a chance to make merit, as they wanted to see their clergy well provided.
Thus, the large festival of offering to the monks at Khao Phansa. This also
benefited the monks as they had three full months for meditation and scripture
study.
Today, every Buddhist parent wishes their sons enter the priesthood at this
time. The reason is that their sons, confined to the temple, will devote
themselves more reverently to the study of the scriptures and the Pali and
Sanskrit languages.
Many people are interested in more arcane aspects of Buddhism. The real miracle
of the Lord Buddha’s wisdom is like other great avatars. Common sense which
brings comfort and peace of mind to all beings.
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Pattaya Fun Run
Winners of the “Fun Run”, the
Amari Orchid Resort.
Observed by Jay Patterson
‘Let’s start before the storm!’
‘Oh, no! My make-up!’
The runners in the Pattaya fun run were all veritable vol-au-vents at this
year’s rather skittish Pattaya Fun Run. This event, organised by the Tourist
Authority of Thailand and various businesses around Pattaya, is not really
intended to be a teeth gritting, edge of your seat, sporting event. The main
body of ersatz athletes come from Pattaya’s larger hotels and it is really more
of a fashion event where people can ogle sprinters who are prototypes of Thai
pulchritude: lasses in full makeup and serving staff not wanting to get their
dazzling, one day a week Adidas dirty.
And they’re off!
Neptune and all the other gods seem to be intent on spoiling people’s fun. As
the fresh breeze began to turn into a high wind, it was like a scene from The
Wizard of Oz and Twister combined. Tablecloths took flight and bloomed on the
wind. Hats flew and floated like squadrons of friendly UFOs. Ladies shrieked and
men smiled as Aeoleus attempted to lift skirts. Then Thor’s hammer began to
pound and bruise the clouds and everyone decided to run...for shelter, at least.
So at 15:30, (Thai Standard Time) everyone was quite enthusiastic about doing
what they could to escape Mother Nature’s wrath.. Mayor Pairat, lifting his
hands above his head, raised his voice as if he were Moses parting the Red Sea
and exhorted athletes with these inspired words; ‘Everyone, remember! Do your
best! Because...when you reach finish line, glory awaits you, and FOOOOD!!!’
Don’t spill any!
This last exalted word was drowned out as our dear mayor was almost trampled by
runners who know how fast buffets are gobbled up if you’re late. It’s amazing
how graceful hungry people can look, swimming against the wind, all fear
forgotten, as they intone their Mantra, Som Tam, Kai Yang, OHM. They reached the
finish line just in time to welcome the Prime Minister here on a visit.
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Pattaya International Marathon 1997
Timothy Naonye Moni, winner of
three of the last four Pattaya International Marathons, shows off his
championship medal and award winning smile.
The Royal Thai Military Band was
on hand to entertain the runners and spectators at the finish line.
It can get awfully lonely out on
the 42 kilometer trail.
The first to cross the finish
line in the Wheelchair Division of the Pattaya International Marathon 1997.
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