A huge wooden oblong crate was delivered. It was the kind made from sturdy planks, with the top nailed firmly in place, about six feet long, four feet wide and four feet tall. The return address was my brother and a military APO. We were expecting him home from his eighteen month stint in Thailand where he had worked at a US Army motor pool. Mom had the delivery men take the crate down to the basement which had its own back entrance and a wide doorway down a few short steps. As the days stretched into weeks, we waited for Tom to arrive. At least once a day, we surreptitiously snuck down to the basement to gaze at the crate, wondering what could be inside.
Tom’s homecoming a month after the crate came was meant to be festive, but after a few rushed hugs and slaps on the back, we steered him down to the basement. Dad produced a rusty crowbar which weeks before he had routed from the dusty back corner of the garage in anticipation of the opening. We hurried Tom along as he struggled to pry up the top. Finally Dad grabbed the tool from him and efficiently dispatched the wooden cover guarding the unknown treasure inside.
It was 1969, years before high tech bubble wrap and Styrofoam eggs were used for packing. Instead, we found a mountain of stringy paper strips and wadded newsprint. Removing the cushioning fluff, Tom began to lift wondrous items from the crate. There was a teakwood box hinged with brass fittings, inside of which my Mom found a magnificent set of brass flatware-knives, forks, spoons, serving utensils-each with beautifully fashioned teak handles, polished to a fine luster. My present was a teak and brass abacus-I was good in math in school. Dad received a diamond tie tack and matching cufflinks. Tom kept unpacking gorgeous wooden and brass objects. Finally, all that remained was a reel-to-reel tape player and two large speakers. Tom had purchased this audio marvel from the PX as a gift for himself.
Later, after the family had settled in, left to admire their presents from the Orient, I followed Tom back down to the basement, ostensibly to set up the new stereo system. I was puzzled as he began to unscrew the fronts of the tall speakers. This was the true opening Tom had been awaiting. He carefully removed a package wrapped in plastic from the first speaker. As he slit the tape and unwound the bundle, I saw a green leafy mass. Each speaker contained a kilo of the verdant stash. Tom explained this was called Thailand Thunder, the best marijuana in the Far East, if not in the world! I was only a freshman in high school and had never even seen the demon weed. But my big brother introduced me to my first toke. I was spoiled for life by Thailand Thunder.