My life may never be the same.

Am I sounding a little dramatic?

Heather and Kent are back home in Wisconsin after our week together. It was a good week. Another 4 suitcases full for me and my friends. I have more chocolate than any store in Costa Rica. Most of it is for baking or giving away but the mini Cadbury eggs are just for me. They also brought one of my floor lamps and in putting it together we discovered a flaw. Some metal hadn’t been ground off the way it should have been. Over to the neighbors. He and another man were outside. Sign language worked great and it only took a few minutes. While I was waiting I looked at his plants and saw a cactus with tons of little shoots. I asked if I could have two. He broke off 3 and I came home and got 2 branches of one of my crown of thorns. I still need to bake and take him cookies.

Back to Heather and Kent. They rented a house in Orosi that is part of Orosi Lodge. Nice house, lovely grounds, wonderful balcony. We were concerned about the noise and whether Heather would be able to sleep but thought, if necessary, they could come here and I would sleep in their house. Their house has a small bedroom on the main floor and a larger one upstairs. Heather was pleasantly surprised that there wasn’t much noise and she slept really well the whole week. I brought mattress toppers for both beds, food so they didn’t have to go out for everything and other things I thought they could use.

Saturday we went to the feria in Paraiso for more Cafe Christina coffee for Heather and then on to Cartago to meet Ziomara. We had a little time to waste and they had their first experience at El Rey. I didn’t realize I hadn’t taken her there before. It is quite an experience, but a little overwhelming.

We met Ziomara in front of the church and headed out of town to Armonía Campestre restaurant. A lovely spot with great views and great food. On to see Quebredilla, a little town  nearby.  Both Heather and I really liked it and thought if I move again this would be a great choice. Very developing area and close to where the new hospital is being built. On the way back we stopped at a really good bakery/bread store and then at a VIVERO (nursery). Oh my. Great choices and good prices. But we are taking the bus! Oh well, that can always change. Put the box full in Ziomara’s trunk and if she will drop us at Walmart Fran can take us home.  I did get some wonderful treasures.

Sunday we headed to Paraiso again. This time to Laura and Johanna’s house. Heather had gotten fingerless gloves for Laura and Patricia to help them with their arthritis and allow them to crochet easier. I hope they help. I also brought a little yarn and will take more to them today. They had 6 hats for me. Johanna was showing Heather and Kent things she made and I suggested she show them the little table. Heather loved it and they talked about Johanna making her one and I could bring it in September. Instead she sold her that one so she could take it right away. When we left Heather had the biggest grin on her face. I wish I had a picture of the little round table but I don’t. Another time.

Now it’s Monday and I get a text from Heather saying I have a problem. Outside their house, in the pouring rain, crying loud as can be is a tiny kitten. To make a long story short she checks with all the neighbors who say this kitten doesn’t have a home and now I have 3 cats. They took her to the vet for flea treatment and I take her back tomorrow for her first shot. Her name is Rain or as I call her Little Bit of Rain. So far Domingo is like a big brother watching over her but Dally just hisses like mad at her and spends most of his time outside. I am keeping her inside for now.  Apparently here if your cat has kittens and you don’t want them you just put them out on the street and lock them out. This kitten talks very loud so maybe that is why she got kicked out. She is cute as can be though. Did I mention she only stops talking if she is being held?

Departure Tuesday morning was quite interesting. José had been sick all week so we made  arrangements for Luis to pick me up at 9 then go get Heather and Kent and go to the airport. On the way back I would get out in Cartago to run errands and get more cat food. A little after 9 Hector shows up and I only understand a little about why Luis isn’t there but we load up and go to town. We unload me and their suitcase and Kent talks to him. We are thinking they may have to go with him and I will stay behind and get another taxi for me and all my stuff when he calls Luis and he is only 2 blocks away. He did a run earlier to the airport and traffic was terrible. So we load them up and load my stuff  in Hector’s car and give him instructions and pay him to take all my stuff to my house.

The trip was uneventful and it was late enough traffic wasn’t bad. No complications at the airport and even security went smoothly. I got out in Cartago and got the embroidery floss for the dresser scarf Johanna is doing for Roz. Unfortunately it was at my favorite yarn store so even though I have 2 1/2 tubs full from the US I couldn’t resist some beautiful combinations. Now it is raining and I don’t have my hat or umbrella. I did get wet on my way to the taxi but I didn’t melt. Walmart, lots of  everything and Edwin brought me home.  He works at learning English so we talked all the way. Since I speak so clearly and slowly It works good to practice with me.

Mom you did what!

Meet Little Bit of Rain 

Isn’t this gorgeous! I have 4 blossoms so far 

What a difference a doctor makes

I just got back from my 2nd after surgery follow up visit to Dr. Mejia. My eye is perfect. No inflammation no problems. No sensitivity to light. I have 20/20 distance vision without glasses. He gave me a pair of reading glasses to help  with close up vision until I get my actual prescription on June 7th. I don’t go back until then.  He told me to return to normal life. I started with 2 eyedrops that he gave me and am now down to 1 for the next two weeks. I am buying a refill to make sure I have plenty. I wear my eye patch only at night.

Now let’s just go over last time.  Surgery, second surgery two weeks later for milky liquid in my eye and a cyst on my iris. 8 follow up visits and the gel in the back of my eye coming loose from the retina and leaking into the front of my eye. Poor vision for over a month. 5 different kinds of eye drops that went on for 3 months. Red bloody eye for a long time. Terrible sensitivity to light. I had a lot of trouble keeping that eye open but it is so strange. That corrected with the surgery to the other eye.

Now maybe it was just my eye, complicated by diabetes and the problems would have happened no matter who did the surgery. I would like to think so. I really would. But I don’t. I will just leave it at that and again tell myself that I have to follow my instinct  I have heard so many stories about cataract surgery with no problems and now I have experienced that too.

Rainy season has started. We have rain and green year round here but during rainy season it rains more. Sometimes all day. I left this morning with my umbrella out and my raincoat on. The raincoat went in my bag because it was too hot. It isn’t cold, just rainy.

Heather and Kent will be here a week from today. We tried finding a place out here but didn’t so they  are staying in a house that is part of Orosi Lodge. They have 3. I am anxious to see it. There is talk of an excursion to Irazu volcano and then a back route to Turrialba volcano, which is active.

That’s it. Life is good again in Paradise.

It has been quite a week and it isn’t over yet.

Let’s go back to Sunday. Jeannette let me know that Ligia’s father died and the funeral would be the next day at 2:00pm. I knew I couldn’t go because I would be in San Pedro for my eye tests. She also said people would be going to the house that day so I agreed to meet her at her house at 6:00pm. Three of us walked to Ligia’s parents house which is on the other side of town. People were already gathered outside and inside the house. We went into what would be the living room, a long rectangular shaped room, with folding chairs around the sides. At one end was the coffin with a large crucifix and candles.

Now I do not mean to be gross or insensitive but I will tell you the differences between here and what I have experienced in the US. If you die today, your funeral is tomorrow as most people are not embalmed. The coffin is much smaller than I have seen. Narrower and not as deep. The bottom half is closed and there is a glass panel over part of the top, which is open. Someone will stay with the deceased all night and the next day until the funeral. The more modern way here is to have the deceased at a funeral home. This is the traditional way.

I was treated as an honored guest, and was the only gringa there. Ligia took me into the kitchen where I was introduced to her mother and sisters and brothers and aunts. Her mother is very ill also and she thanked me for my kindness to her daughter.  I was very touched. Refreshments were served and we left after an hour.

Monday ended up being a very busy day. I left on the bus about 8:30am for the lab in Cartago and the blood work I needed for my eye surgery. Breakfast was next at my favorite little place near the  hospital. I try something different each time and today it is Juevos Rancheros. Good bread, eggs,   sautéed onions and peppers. Good so far but it was topped with tons of spicy thick salsa. Next time I will ask for salsa on the side.

I had plenty of time and had no trouble finding the Lumaca station for San Pedro. I people watched till Naty arrived and then we headed out. No charge for me. I love my ID card.  When Naty got off I moved closer to the front and she asked the driver to tell me when I needed to get off. It was the very next stop, at the Mall.

Right in front of the Mall were a line of taxis so I went to the first one and showed him my written directions. The starting price on the meter was 645. By the time we got to the clinic it was still 645. Turned out it was only 4-5 blocks. Poor man. He had to go  to the back of the line for $1.08.

Eye tests only took a few minutes and I walked back to the mall and walked around it a bit. Now let’s see if I can describe the area. I am walking along a small frontage road - yes with sidewalks. Down a little hill is the main road - 2 lanes each way - with a divider between the lanes. To get the bus back I have to be on the other side of those 4 lanes and divider and there is no intersection and I am thinking am I going to have to dodge traffic and climb the divider? That would have been quite a sight!

I walked back a little ways and saw stairs going down the hill. Walked a little farther and saw Subway with the bus stop in front and a light and opening in the divider. Wasn’t as bad as I thought. Several busses stopped and I watched for one to Cartago. I knew I didn’t have to go all the way to the station but could get off by the church. I know that area well and knew taxis were lined up across the street. Hopped in and said WalMart. I wanted to stock up including cat food so I wouldn’t need to go the week after surgery.

There are 2 drivers I usually use from Walmart. Fran and Edwin. Last time it was Edwin so I called Fran and it turned out he was at Walmart and waiting. They are both so helpful and we practice  English on the way home.

Tuesday I went to Orosi to pay rent for the next 3 months and Wednesday Otto was here for a massage. Thursday Jose was here at 7:00am and we arrived at the clinic about 8:30. I had not received a call giving me the time I should be there so I hoped for the best. I had brought coffee and a cooler of food for Jose to eat while I was in surgery but he never left the waiting room in case they had questions. He filled out my forms as they were in Spanish. I brought a container of Cocoa Krispie bars and handed them out to everyone. He told everyone how good my cookies are and chatted with others waiting for family members.

The minute I sat down someone came and started eye drops. There would be several doses before surgery. I was taken to meet with the doctor who reassured me. After my last 2 experiences I am a bit concerned. Now it is my turn. Change clothes, put a head cover and slippers on and into surgery. Lay down and get hooked up to a few things. This time there will be no injections to numb the area. It is all done with liquids. I am not going to give you all the details. The doctor’s comment afterwards was it was a very difficult surgery but everything is perfect. There seems to be something about my cataracts that make the surgeries difficult. I may find out more when I go in today for a check up.

I will say that something he did or just the fact that my eyes are working together is making my right eye better. I am not having trouble keeping it open and it doesn’t feel as irritated. All very good things. I will need glasses for close up which is the opposite of before but it is a small price to pay.

I am now back from the doctor and his comment was “perfect “. I did an eye test on the wall and read every line. Close up it is still fuzzy but that is normal. In a month I will be able to get glasses to correct close vision. Little pain in my eye now and then but nothing serious. I told him whatever he  did helped my right eye too and he joked he is a magician. Very nice doctor.  


Yesterday after surgery Jose told me he received a message that Tia had died. You might remember she also lived at La Quinta Gerardo and was Gerardo’s aunt. We had many long talks - she talked and I smiled or frowned. Didn’t understand a thing. Her funeral was this morning. I was concerned about being in crowds and didn’t go.

Busy busy week.

My latest bougainvillea from Jose.

Tia

I only need my patch at night now