This world is filled with people of goodwill.

 

Sometimes it’s hard to remember that.

 

“If it bleeds, it leads”

 

The news always leads with what’s happened and/or is happening that’s tragic/wrong/bad/corrupt/uncommon.

 

The good rarely gets press coverage.

 

From roughly Thanksgiving to Christmas, networks do a somewhat better job of balancing the bad with the good, but come January 1st, it all reverts to covering the bad.

 

Here in Costa Rica, goodwill becomes good thoughts and deeds every day.

 

Case in Point

 

The moment I announced my imminent move to San Isidro this coming February, Melaney Phillips advised me of what to expect (since she lived there for years), what to look out for, who to never hire or trust as lawn care and indoor maids in that location, and more. She drove me to meet the owner/landlady and stayed while we visited and got to know each other. She drove me back to the bus stop when we left there.

 

When I got home and announced publicly on Facebook and here that I had decided to rent the place, I fretted (for about the fifth time in as many days) about making sure that my current landlady and her husband land a renter for February before I leave so they won’t experiemce an income gap.

 

I expressed the same concern to the new landlady while we were in negotiations, saying that was my only remaining concern, and she responded, “I understand and certainly do appreciate and approve of your concern for your landladies!”  (Why yes, yes, of course she would, if anyone would! LOL!)

 

Two different people responded to the same concern (paraphrasing here), “That’s commendable /wonderful, but don’t delay your own needs to accomplish it. People here have faith that everything will fall into place as it should. Everyone will be helping you and Cat look for a replacement, but don’t stay just because they don’t find someone before you have to leave. It’s the high tourist season, the perfect time to list their rental again, and they can do that until they find another long-term renter who plans to stay. It’s already been listed as an Air BnB so all they need to do is reactivate the listing.”

 

These comments helped my tortured soul, for sure!

 

Another hoped my current lease wouldn’t be a problem to end in less than a year. I assured her that Brooke wrote a contract that allowed me to break it with 30 days’ notice without risking losing the deposit.   And I’m perfectly willing to leave the deposit with Cat if they don’t find a renter for February.  I think that’s only fair.

 

I truly and deeply care about Cat and her husband!  And the new landlady isn’t requiring a full month’s security deposit, so I can pretty comfortably afford to give a little to make sure Cat’s family has some backup since my rent at the new place will be $50/less a month than it is here.

 

Marianela, my driver, has committed to helping move me to the new place on February 1st, and Jon will too if he’s available that day, so the move will be swift (only one trip instead of two, if Jon can commit). These people are kind-hearted givers.

 

BANANA BREAD SURPRISE

 

This morning at the tail end of my 7500+ step walk, I spotted Noelia and Luz on the road ahead of me.  As soon as they saw me, Noelia’s face lit up and she lifted a small plastic bag.  From a distance, I couldn’t see what was in it, but as I came closer, I recognized it as a thick slice of homemade banana bread. MY face lit up!

 

I asked her, “Para mi?!  (For me?”)

 

She grinned, nodded, and handed it to me.

 

I embraced her and said, “Muchas gracias, querida!”

 

Then I hugged Luz and thanked her, too.

 

Luz invited me to walk with them to Calle Los Angeles, so I did that, holding Noelia’s hand all along the way. She loves that.  It gives her the grins and giggles. Which of course delights me!

 

When we got back to the driveway leading to their home, Luz told me that tomorrow is Noelia’s birthday, so I turned and said to Noelia, “Feliz cumpleanos manana, Noelia!”  and then I said, “Ah!   Noelia y Navidad! Me preguntaba si nació cerca de Navidad. (I wondered if she was born near Christmastime!”)  Luz nodded. I asked how old she will be and she said, “41.”  I thought, but didn’t say, “Forever young!”  Because Noelia is! She is a wonderful spirit with a childlike delight of the world. Which makes me delight in her delight.

 

THE HARD PART 

 

It’s gonna be hard to tell Cat and her husband that I’m moving (which I will do today), but it will half kill me  when I tell Luz and Noelia.  It’s gonna break my heart to say goodbye to them, and to several others on this wonderful calle, because they have all been so kind. Oranges. Blooms. Petals. Chats. Smiles, grins, laughs.

 

I will never forget them. 

They will remain in my heart and thoughts til the day I die!

 

Everyone I’ve met in Costa Rica has restored my faith in humankind.

 

God, I love this place and these people!