Life in Costa Rica: I have to write

Or I will forget all the things that are going on. And who knows, 10 years from now I may want to go back and remind myself of the adventure I was on. And if I don't write it, I will definitely not remember it.

So here goes. Sunday I left here at 10:45 for Cartago loaded with chocolate and barbecue sauce and cooked bacon and 2 loaves of banana bread. One had chopped dates and one had mini chocolate chips. Douglas picked me up and when I got to their house, Ziomara asked if I was willing to go to her work with her later that afternoon. I was excited. Lunch was hamburgers. Here that means a formed patty, not patties made from fresh ground beef. There was ham and cheese and tomatoes and lettuce and bacon and mayonnaise and barbecue sauce. We also had refried beans and chips. We left and left the chocolate for the kids and the breads for coffee later. She works for a construction company as the general manager for a project. The project will be 3 buildings and should last about 4 years. One building of 69 apartments has been built and there will be 2 more. Buyers were coming for a tour and she needed to be there because the inside sales person was not available. She has 2 working for her as inside sellers and there are also outside sellers. It turned out the buyers came early and one of the outside sellers showed them around and then Ziomara met with them when she got there.

Back to the early morning trip to the hospital to deliver hats. When I sent a message to Anita asking if I could bring one of the crochet ladies with me, I was told that I couldn't go in but would just hand the hats to a nurse. That wasn't what I wanted so I decided to speak with Ziomara about it. First she called Anita and learned that there is a waiting room where I could go and give out hats but there were restrictions on my going into the chemo room. Last time we had patients with us who were going to have chemo so that is why we were allowed in. Now with a Tica no is no. With a Gringa, this Gringa anyway, no means ask a different person or a different question or a different way. Ziomara talked to her mother when she got there and her mother knows an important doctor at the hospital and has an appointment on Monday with her and will present my case. I don't care if I have to go several days to contact all the ladies and I would like to bring one of my crochet ladies with me each time so they can have some personal contact and answer any questions about the ladies who make the hats. So I sent a message to Anita saying I would not be going yesterday. Now today at the craft ladies, with Iliana's help, I found out Flory works at the hospital and we explained what I want to her and she made a call and said I would have my permission pass by next Thursday. It is sounding quite good at this point.

Speaking of the craft ladies, I was asked to be at Aura's house next Thursday at 2:30. We will drive to Iliana's farm and have a birthday party. I was told to dress like a hippy. I said for the woman it is a flower child. They said I could wait and change clothes when I get there but I said no way. I will be a flower child all the way. I asked if there was going to be marijuana and they did lots of laughing. They said I could if I wanted to but I said I had never tried it. This should be quite a celebration!

Sunday will be the sixth month rememberance of the death of Aura's husband so they are gathering for Mass and rosary and lunch. I need to go to Rosita's house but I am not sure yet what time. We are going someplace from there but I am not sure where. I am to contact Emilio for the details.

Tuesday was crochet ladies and they gave me more beautiful things. It sounds like Ziomara and her partner are selling the yarn shop so I need to figure out some other places to sell the items here as well as bringing them to the US. It is looking like my next trip will be June7-27. I will spend 5 days with Heather, then travel, then another 5 days with Heather. I also found out that the hat I made for Kathy while I was at Heather's in January is a perfect fit.

The bananas are pretty much gone. I made18 loaves of banana bread and sent enough of it to the senior center for all of them. I gave some to Otto today and he said it was the best he had ever had. I forgot, I also had a sewing project. Katherine contacted me saying she had gotten Courtney a little backpack for school but it turned out it wasn't big enough. Could I help. I went over and got it and figured what I could do. I picked out several fabrics from Heather's super duper finds at Dig and Save and we picked one and I proceeded to make the backpack bigger. It was wide enough, just needed to be longer. We were a little concerned I had made it too big but Courtney loved it. She said "Gay Lee gave me flowers."
Tomorrow it is back to the other yarn shop in Cartago for yarn for a project for Jeanette and I need to get cotton roping for a project that Ligia Sanchez is doing for Heather. The shop isn't open on Saturday which is when I would normally go to Cartago.

I think that covers the highlights of the last week except I got a message from Jeanette asking if I had something bitter for her granddaughter to take to school. The kindergarteners had to bring all different tastes. I offered ground cocoa. While I was out front waiting for her to pick it up, Dona Alicia came by and thanked me for the banana bread. When I told Heather she said " I am so glad you are part of a community." It is true, I am. And not just a stranger living in a strange place.