In this Saturday update, I’ll catch you up on the details of the nine days Lisa and I just spent together.
You’ve already seen hundreds of images of us enjoying the outings we did, but details have been lacking.
Lisa and I “Get” Each Other
We’re both ambiverts — people who truly enjoy interacting with other people (especially best friends!) but who need significant “down time” that doesn’t include humans. (Pets, yes, humans, no.)
So, our days weren’t chock full — 24/7 — of “joint adventures.” We had a couple/several hours each day where we were “doing our own thing” — sorting and choosing among hundreds of pictures which ones to share on our timelines, reading books, texting other people, creating additional blanket art for FloofsCafe.com, etc. Which made this first visit super cool and comfortable, “just like old times” when Lisa lived with me for several months ten years ago after moving west of the Cascades to find work there.
Our Adventures Were Beyond Written Description
…which is why you’ve seen literally hundreds of amazing “beyond anemic description” images on our Facebook pages. Each of them could be given at least a paragraph, but no way am I going to do that because you probably supplied your own “wows” mentally as you went through them: gigantic leaves and plants, breathtakingly gorgeous waterfalls, beautiful animals, and more. (Lisa will have more images later, taken with her camera, including tractor/trailer loads of sugar cane — and empty trailers, too!)
But one thing I really want to express amazement over is the engineering of the waterfalls walkway at La Paz.
I had to look up a decent description. This is what I found; click on it to read all about it.
To refresh your memory, here are a couple images of the staircase:
I can’t imagine building this structure along the edge of a sheer cliff!
How the heck were they able to do this??? It’s a massively long, rock-solid steady, structure that is at least 5K steps up and down (the site above says 10K steps but my wristwatch didn’t reflect that), attached to the side of a cliff/chasm. IMO, it’s an engineering marvel. (But then again, we didn’t take every detour to see a new waterfall; we missed two of the five.)
Charli Loves Lisa
Charli recognized Lisa right away and showed herself within minutes of her arrival. Most people who come here have never even seen Charli in the flesh/fur. She hides away immediately.
Not so with Lisa. She was delighted to see her again and kept rubbing against her nearly every chance she got. That warmed both our hearts.
Lisa Cooked Several Meals
I’m a creature of habit. I usually have rice and beans, a peanut butter sandwich, or something else easy to make or nuke. Lisa spent time creating mealtime masterpieces: soups, sandwiches, and other great-tasting meals.
We ate out three times…
…so she could taste a native casada, frijoles, rice, fruits and vegetables. We had lunches with my Costa Rica family on feria day at the Grecia Football Club, with Jon at Rescate, with Adilio at La Paz, and together at Cafe Delicias.
I also bought my first ever bag of Pollolandia chicken so she could taste it for the first time on the same day I did. Franchises appear every several blocks, it seems like, and for good reason: It was fast, delicious and affordable on Tico budgets! I have since had it again — yesterday on the way home from taking her to the airport. T’was my comfort food of the moment.
We got my MPI proof of life document squared away
I zoomed in to have a visit with an MPI rep who confirmed my existence virtually so that neither Lisa nor I have to mail anything back to them. I will need to do this every two years, but it was a breeze.
My only remaining near term must do’s are my tax return (my sister’s ex, Dennis Mullens, is working on that) and transfering my AXOS account to Charles Schwab. I need my 401K plan in an international account since I don’t plan on returning to the US if my pensionado application gets approved. I will do that sometime this week because I want to get my RMD (required minimum distribution) put into my BECU savings account as soon as possible. I have an email request in to Schwab now.
I wish I had taken notes about some of our conversations
We ended up laughing hysterically a few times but I don’t remember over what anymore, dammit! But you probably would have had to been there anyway to get the full effect of them. That’s the thing about hysterical laughter; it often depends more on ambiance and current mental state (tired, pensive, curious, etc.) to join the mirth!
The Leavetaking SUCKED
Thursday and Friday found us trying NOT to think of having to take her back to the airport. Friday was — by far — the hardest morning we spent, and we both knew it would be.
It was such a joy being together again that we both became very teary as we approached the security line at the airport, beyond which I couldn’t accompany her. We embraced and hugged and wept.
We have no idea when the next time will be that we can be together again. I know I can’t travel safely to the U.S.
I will help fund her next trip as best I can so she doesn’t feel the need to choose the cheapest available flights, because her legroom and layovers were brutal: ten hours in SF and 13 in Chicago. And the United app sucked, making her feel anxious and vulnerable. She’s considering Delta next time.
I texted with her via WhatsApp while she was in Chicago from 10 to about 11 p.m., then I went to sleep because I had a walking date with Crystal today at 7:15 a.m. and I developed either a hellacious cold or allergies yesterday and was stuffed up. (They’re burning sugar cane field detritus now, so that may have triggered an allergic reaction.) I feel better today, happily!
Haven’t heard from Lisa since last night despite two texts to her this morning
I presume she’s now safely enroute from Chicago to Seattle and that she will text me again when she gets home via shuttle at around 3 p.m. my time. I asked her to let me know.
If I can think of any more details later I will return and update this. I have withdrawal symptoms today — sadness, etc. — so my brain isn’t working on all thrusters again yet…
Once again, a HUGE shoutout to Adilio and Jon for transporting us hither and yon while Lisa was here to experience Costa Rica.
You were real champs and we are forever in your debt, amigos!
And thanks to Dale for sharing his Uber ride with us on feria day.
Lisa loves all my Costa Rica friends and they all love her.
I couldn’t have been happier watching that unfold!
Total Success!!!!
Please come back soon, Lisa!
Adilio and I are ready to plan some new ADVENTURES with you!