This  morning I Uber’ed over to Villas Escondidas to hang with my “first family” in Costa Rica and their present guests.

 

After hugging Melaney and Laurie I was introduced to Kylie W. from Hawaii. She’s scoping out the country as a possible asylum solution for her thirteen year old trans nephew (who lives in a state on the east coast) and for that child’s parents and herself.  And she’s sold on the idea after meeting everyone and picking their/our brains about what it’s like to pull up stakes and jump into the unknown in a new country.

Kylie W and me at Rainbow Refuge at Villas Escondidas today

 

We chatted while we waited for the arrival of Monica Helms and her wife Darlene. They arrived shortly after noon, so Melaney and Laurie brewed tea and offered a small cake-like treat while we sat and got to know each other.

 

I had read Monica’s wikipedia page in advance so I was familiar with her history. She served in the military for years (pre-transition and post-transition) and  created the first trans pride flag; it’s in the possession of the Smithsonian Institute these days and being safeguarded until T-Wrecks and his regime get their just comeuppance, whenever that will be.  Hopefully sooner rather than later.

 

I learned that Darlene is a science nerd (professionally!!!) as well as being a fine photographer. She also served at the CDC until T-Wrecks fired her for being trans. They decided they wanted to hire her back recently, but she’s outside the U.S. now, living here in Costa Rica, so the U.S. is out of luck as far as being able to benefit mightily from her passion and accumulated wisdom.

 

Darlene

 

I also learned that Laurie Barron was in the trenches during Stonewall and during the AIDS epidemic back in the 1980’s; she lost far too many friends and loved ones during that era, and she has been a fierce advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community ever since.

 

After we got the lowdown on our new friends and decided on a path forward together as allies, we decided to walk down to the waterfall at Rainbow Refuge at Villas Escondidas. Laurie stayed back at the cabana while the rest of us trekked down and back…

Me and Monica

(in order of appearance —   but in terms of utmost respect,

this should read “Monica and me”)

Monica Helms and Melanie Phillips,

two longtime LGBTQIA+ advocates 

 

 

Kylie W.

(I won’t divulge her last name unless she gives me permission to do that)

Top of stairs to bottom:

Darlene, Kylie, Monica 

Next to stairs: Melaney

 

 

Monstera (aka split-leaf ) Philodendrom growing out of a stump.

Errant windblown or animal-dispersed seeds around here have plenty of opportunities to germinate!

 

The waterfall at Rainbow Refuge at Villas Escondidas

 

After the waterfall trek we were ready for lunch, big time, so we drove to a new place (to me): Chiringuitos De Rio, a sizeable soda/restaurant not far from Villas Escondidas. Laurie took photos there. When I see them, I will share them here with you, too.

 

Not long after we arrived, the clouds opened up and there was a major downpour that landed on the tin roof like a billion bb’s every second. It was magnificent.

 

After I finished my meal, I called for an Uber, hugged everybody and said my goodbyes,

 

My Uber driver took me home in such a convoluted way that I became a little afraid he was lost or taking me someplace I didn’t want to go, but he wasn’t.  Every Uber driver has their own shortcuts; some longer than others.

 

There was a brief challenge when we got to my place. The vehicle couldn’t get up the driveway even as far as Cat’s house because it had rained and he wasn’t going fast enough to get all the way up the driveway. So, I said, “No problem,” and I got out to walk up.

 

But then he tried to back down the driveway all the way to Calle Esteban Salas, and he got off the driveway and onto a muddy/clay-ey depression beside the road and he couldn’t get out.  So I walked down and tried to help push him out.  No go.  We put rocks and drier dirt under the wheels for quite some time, then tried again.  The first four or five times without much luck.

 

It took about fifteen minutes to get him unstuck and backed down to Estaban Salas.  Not long after, I got a message from him thanking me for helping. I didn’t even know Uber drivers could do that, but it was very kind of him to do that.

 

CHARLI WAS AWOL FOR 90 MINUTES AFTER I GOT HOME

 

Because Charli didn’t come in the house when I called her before I left this morning, she was outside until I got back — and then some!

 

I realized it had poured here, too, while I was away, so I called for her right away, but she didn’t respond.  So, I just left the door open with the screen door shut and started typing this blog post.  Before a whole lot more time went by, she came straggling in, looking wetter than she wanted to be. It appears she either didn’t come onto the porch during the storm, or that she went wandering after it in the soaking wet bushes.  Whatever she did, she’s in now, licking herself dry after eating a hearty welcome home meal that I made her as soon as she came in.

 

All’s well that ends well!