Today Marianela drove me to Grecia and dropped me at the bank. I invited her to lunch (my treat) and she was able to accept, so I let her know to meet me and Jon and whoever else he had in tow at noon (mediodia) at Mas Q Sabor.
I went to four places to get cauliliflower, jam, peanut butter, cat food, a new sponge, and … pajamas.
Yes, pajamas
I’m finally acclimated here so I needed to get a pair of men’s long sleeve and ankle-length pajamas. I got a size that’s too roomy for me, but they’re 60% cotton, so hopefully they’ll shrink a little the first few times I wash them. Their pajama stock was very limited. They mostly had short sleeve and shorts-type pajamas, which makes sense for CR in most microclimates, but not this one. I need something to wear that isn’t slacks and shirts when I’m at home. Pajamas were calling my name.
I finished shopping in record time (only had four items on my shopping list), so I went to Central Park there in Grecia to sit on some of the new benches and vegetate until it was time to head for Mas Q Sabor. Jon and his passsengers arrived shortly after we did.
While I was at the park, I took some good pictures and even spotted a young iguana right next to the world famous metal church across the street from the park:’
It was 18 to 20 inches long
Early this morning before coming to get me, Marianela had gone to the feria and spotted one of their biggest wild iguanas grazing in a tree, so she snapped this image of it:
It’s at least three feet long, probably longer!
I think it’s this one!
I took this image last month sometime.
At Mas Q Sabor
At Mas Q Sabor Marianela told me a harrowing story about losing a cherished necklace and pendant that was given to her by her father back in Venezuela decades ago on her 15th birthday.
(A 15th birthday celebration in South America is a traditional “Quinceañera,” a rite of passage marking a girl’s transition from childhood to womanhood. The celebration blends religious traditions with a large party that often includes a church ceremony and a reception with food, music, and dancing. Key rituals can involve a father-daughter dance, changing her shoes, a special toast, and receiving a last doll or tiara.)
She lost it in January and was pretty sure it went missing inside or near her bank, so she has been on a months’ long mission to get it back. She called the bank to see if anyone had seen it and turned it in. One representative said they had it; another said they didn’t. A third said yes, they did, and a fourth said nope. It was frustrating and I imagine infuriating!
But, knowing that someone (or more than someone) was lying, she kept at it and finally got notice today to go retrieve it. I told her I’d be glad to go with her to the bank and wait with her while she got it before driving me home because she had already driven to town once for the feria and a second time to bring me in.
She said, “I don’t know how long it will take.”
I said, “That’s okay. I have no pressing engagements!”
So we went there after eating. It took ten minutes to walk there and back and a good 45 minutes to an hour inside the bank to finally get it, but I was the one lucky enough to be there to witness how utterly thrilled she was to have it back. That made my day almost as much as it made hers!
Now … back to the lunch
I asked Jon to choose a typical Costa Rican menu item for me that included fish. I’m not always sure what to order and I want to experience it all eventually. So he chose something that included white rice, a green salad, and fish and I added a limonada to the mix. It was delicioso!
Clarkie, Dale’s husband, wasn’t able to join us today. (frowny face). He had a conflicting appointment with his dentist.
I got photos of MOST of us:
Dale took this one of Marianela and me
I took this one of Marianela, Dale and Jon
Jon had brought my “cuerpo release doc” for me to fill out and sign. He and Francisco had done their part at their home, so all I had to do was fill out the upper portion while they witnessed that I had done it of my own free will and while of sound mind (or as sound a mind as anyone has ever seen in me LOL)!
Now we just have to have the ZOOM meeting on Tuesday and everything will be in order. I can’t mail the document until after the virtual meeting, but I feel very good knowing that it’s signed, dated, and witnessed so that were I to croak before now and Tuesday they could probably still fulfill my wishes of having my body donated to the University of Costa Rica for medical training purposes.
As Marianela headed back toward El Cajon the sky looked dark, cloudy and foreboding and it began to rain pretty furiously on her windshield. But by the time we got to my driveway, we weren’t under that particular cloud so I was able to get back home without needing to open my umbrella.
Before exiting the vehicle, I pulled out my wallet and Marianela signalled “No…” because I had treated her to lunch and waited while she retrieved her cherished necklace. I absolutely insisted on paying her. She’s a working woman and she needs the money (she holds down two jobs), and I had a wonderful time with her the entire time I was with her.
We had a fun tussle over the dinero
She still insisted on taking about half of what she usually does, though. And she took that much, I think, mostly because I pulled out two HUGE, HEAVY handfuls of change and I’m pretty sure she needed it to give change to other passengers. I think that because when I pulled it out, she went to work exchanging the $4K she had accepted earlier into coins instead.
But at first she even balked at that, saying, “You need this for the bus!” I laughed and said, “I will never have to hire this many buses!!” She laughed at that and that’s when she decided she’d go for it. It was so much fun!
We always hug when we part.
I love this country and these people.
Damn, I’m one lucky individual!
In Other News
Last night I read Marilyn Stevens’ book cover to cover. I wasn’t planning to read it in one sitting, but I simply couldn’t put it down.
She and I do, indeed, have a lot in common psychologically, plus we were both caregivers for our mothers. But she was a caregiver for hers a lot longer than I was for mine. And my caregiving was sporadic, as I was living and working in Hollywood while Mom was (usually) in Washington State. I would fly up just about every three-day weekend and she and Dad would drive down sometimes, too, even after her diagnosis (terminal brain cancer). And I was there for the last three weeks of her life after Jackie’s company’s Family Leave Time ran out.
Marilyn did an amazing thing in her book. She “channeled” her mother’s side of the story based on actual conversations they had and based on knowing her mom’s sensibilities and proclivities as well as she did. So, in reading the saga, I felt that I heard “both sides of the story.” It is a truly masterful piece of literature.
Again, if you’d like to read it, here’s the link: https://amzn.to/3LH3U1l
I reckon that’s enough for this entry! It has gotten dark outside. I need to start winding down so I can got to sleep pretty soon.
I hope your day was as fulfilling as mine was!