WONDERFUL NEWS!

 

Lisa Twining, my Best Friend Forever, is booking her flight to Costa Rica today! She won’t be arriving any time soon, but her vacation dates will at least be on the calendar so we can start counting the days!!!  I’m sooo happy!

 

Now I have to think of something for her to bring me that I’m missing having, but all I can think of is the Mexican Trains game and maybe a used/thrift store priced small printer that will work with my laptop.

 

I don’t need a printer often, but when I do, it would be real handy to have one. Jon sent a document to DIMI in Grecia that I need to print out, sign, and have witnessed by him and Francisco (to finalize the bequeathing of my mortal remains to the University of Costa Rica when I croak) and I will need to retrieve it the next time I’m in town and get two copies of it made. But I’ll get four copies because I’m anal: one to keep.

 

But back to Lisa.  I’m wracking my brain to see if there’s anything in particular that I miss down here, and I really can’t think of a thing. I have a box of stuff in Jackie’s garage that sits waiting to be transported down with visiting friends/family, but I don’t think I’m going to remain in this casita beyond the one-year lease period because of the steep climb that it takes visitors to get up here.  It’s hard on my knees (especially going downhill, for some reason, so I take it very slow — like a 90 year old to protect my knees!) and I don’t want to risk blowing one out for any longer than I have to.

 

I love this place, the landlady, and the neighborhood and microclimate

I have no gripes at all — except for the intensely problematic 85%-grade hill that ascends me to mi casita every time I go anywhere. GRRRR!!!  That  obstacle keeps friends who aren’t in tip top shape (ambulation-wise) from visiting me, and that’s the big issue. I’m sad about it, but it is what it is, so (back to Lisa!) I don’t want to ask Lisa to bring me much more until I land in a more accessible place.  The stuff I brought with me, plus the couple of cat trees (one I bought and the one gifted to me by Fiskar’s moms Melaney and Laurie) completely filled Jon’s vehicle.  I don’t want much more: I certainly don’t want even a van load of stuff.  So, Mexican Train and a small printer will probably be my sole requests.

Which, when you think about it, is pretty cool. I DON’T ACTIVELY OR ACUTELY MISS ANYTHING I LEFT BEHIND except for my EXO McCoy action figure. I will have Lisa bring me that, for sure. (I’m talking about things, here, not people!!! I miss several people, but I’m pretty used to seeing them only occasionally, so intense missing hasn’t kicked in yet.) I am missing Lisa; she had been, up until I moved away, the one constant in my life, even as busy as she became just to keep a roof over her head. She’s still a working gal and her work is all-consuming.

 

I sure hope her newly launched FloofsCafe.com is bringing her in the much needed (semi) passive income that she has been hoping for and working hard to achieve. I know she’s only just begun to roll out products, and she has more work to do to get everything online and ready to announce, so at the moment it’s semi-passive income she’s receiving from the site. She’s still actively working on it every moment she can spare before and after her usual 60 to 70-hour work week!  PLEASE SUPPORT Floof’s Cafe IF YOU CAN!!! IF YOU CAN’T because of your own income challenges, please at least share the URL with others, so they learn about it. Every new set of eyes on the site should generate additional interest and shares, and that’s what it takes to help an ecommerce site go viral. I know she would do the same for you.

 

Sad News…

 

Lisa texted me a day or two ago to report that our dear Auckland friend Neil (Helen’s and Mark’s neighbor from across the street) has died after an extended illness. What a delightful gentleman he was, and what a devoted friend and neighbor to the Schofields.

 

He often walked and dog-sat their beloved Rafferty. For as short a time as we knew him, he was simply grand.

 

In the background of this photo, you can see the American flag that he sent up the flagpole on his property to welcome us to New Zealand. And the stuffed animals in our arms in the picture are ones he gave us.  We treasured them then, and we treasure then even more, now.

 

Rest in peace, sweet, sweet Neil!

We will never forget your kindness and charm!

And Lisa — I’m ready for some more adventures with you!

I can’t wait to welcome you to Costa Rica and show you around

(unless you just want to crash and veg during your vacation)!!!

YOUR CALL!