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
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