April 27, 2021 Lucky!

April 27, 2021 Up Front and Personal With Covid

Another of Life’s triumphs! Ray and I have just recovered from a bout with Covid. After over a year of avoiding it, and even having our first vaccine, I started running a fever and feeling pretty dragged out two weeks ago. Two days after a marathon Golfito/Frontera run, which is where I’m assuming we picked up the virus.

I've spent majority of my convalescence hanging out on the deck reading and watching birds.
Not so bad.....

For me the worst was an outbreak of sores on my back which proved to be a staph infection. Initially, I thought my ailments were related to that. However, when I visited the doctor for a followup and explained my symptoms he suggested a Covid test.  And, surprise - +++++

I was pretty tired and listless for about a week, while Ray had almost no symptoms. We, of course, were much more worried about Ray because of his illness last year. Go figure! So for a week I read, played a lot of online word games and took many naps. 

Meanwhile, life went on. A number of home and garden projects continued. We’re getting regular rain showers now and everything is blooming and growing. 

I’m also pleased to announce that my sense of smell has returned. My first inkling that it had gone came with disinfecting our laundry because of the staph infection. I dumped some bleach into the washer and couldn’t smell it. So I dumped some more, and nada. Thinking the bleach container was mistakenly filled with water, I went to dump it out in the sink, and realized from the slimy feeling on my hands it was indeed bleach. A little scary. I tested citrus, some fresh herbs and even some smelly soaps and nothing. 

The "vacuna" (vaccination) mobile - two guys and a cooler

Door to Door Service

I have to say that I am again quite impressed with Costa Rica’s health system. Two guys showed up in our driveway on a motorcycle with a cooler, filled out some paperwork, and shot us up. I’m assuming they’ll return on May 5th, for our next jab. 

Like other socialized medical systems I think non essential surgeries require a lot of waiting, and in most cases you share a room with a few others in the hospital. But the availability of a local clinic (appointments and test results are online) and the fact that their Covid vaccinating seems to be only a month or so behind the US is pretty good, I'd say. Initially CR has been using only the Pfizer vaccines, but they are now receiving Astra Zeneca as well, which is distributed through the WHO’s COVAX program, that provides vaccines to moderate and poor countries. 

Underreported Cases

I’ve read a number of news reports that claim (Sorry, Trumpers) there may be only as much as 1/10th, or less, of the Covid cases that are actually reported. So the virus is probably much more widespread. Our case demonstrates this perfectly. First, neither of us knew we were infected. I thought my problem was the staph, and Ray was fine. Even when we were tested, I asked the doctor if he, or we, should report the infection. He said we would need to go to the hospital and be retested for our cases to be registered. 

So imagine how many asymptomatic people there are, or others that just blow it off. because they aren’t very sick. Several people we recently spoke to from Golfito said “grippe” (their explanation for anything from the sniffles to debilitating flu) was all over the town. Was it Covid instead? Who knows?

Meanwhile, I totally get how something like that spreads so rapidly through a community, especially when extended families live in close quarters. Like most of the world!

Anyway, we lucked out.

Ray is showing off his vaccination shot (see the cotton wool swab on his arm) - and he needed to show off his fake shotgun, which is really a piece of driftwood. Getting shot!!!

April 2021: Lots to write About....

Monday, April 5

So many things to write about…….

To cap off a full week of hosting four house guests for the past week, a couple of socially distanced dinner parties, a full day shopping, dentist and vet visit, some rigorous house cleaning, and of course……. a car breakdown. We are finishing up the week with another Golfito and border run today. After today I’m hoping things will calm down a bit. I’ve collected some wonderful little vignettes along the way. 

Hamptons Anyone? This luxury yacht (over 200 feet) parked itself off our beach for a week. Its tenders were a 27 foot sports fishing boat as well an inboard inflatable. We still see the same sunsets, though!

Semana Santa

Easter week, Semana Santa (week of the saints) brought hordes of traffic passing our little metal box on the hill. It has been blistering hot and dry for the past few weeks, and coupled with cars and truckloads of beachgoers, (not to mention the family motorcycles stacked with families of four and five) our peace and quiet was shattered by crackling gravel, noisy motors and billowing pulvo (dust). Compared to previous years there were a lot less visitors due to lingering Covid restrictions, but still….. Semana Santa also brought some waves which attracted a good number of surfers - many of them international travelers. 

Juanita's birthday. We went to the beach at Punta Banco and took Briana along

La familia de Eli

I outdid myself making encucatas. Mmmmm!

Locally, our casa was bustling. Eli and his family moved in for the week, which involved massive amounts of food preparation, lots of rice and beans, as well as a few more hungry visitors dropping by. After weeks of solitude, our heads were spinning. I enjoy having company, and the associated cooking, cleaning and “being on.” But some down time is good, too. 

Unfortunately, at this writing, we’re still waiting for that “down time.” 

Seriously HUGE bamboo. Look for Big Ray on the right.

Bamboo Tales

 

Easter Sunday mañana Eli decided it was time to gather bamboo. We have been wanting to build a new frame for Ray’s boat cover in Golfito, and I am anxious to my get my covered garden area out back, as well as a few odds and ends projects needing bamboo. We first visited several Tico families in nearby Langosta to seek permission to harvest bamboo. 

Eli wields his machete. No need for a chain saw here.

Giant buds about 3 + inches in diameter.

Armed with chainsaw, machetes and tape measure, we hiked over to a truly enormous stand of bamboo towering above us nearly 75 feet tall. Yellow, striated with green, these hefty poles are covered with an annoying hair that is a potent skin irritant. Newly emerging buds measured several inches in diameter, and feet high. 

Eli expertly hacked away long pieces, while Ray (mostly) dragged the heavy poles across the field to the car. Not easy, each 25 foot piece weighed in the vicinity of 40-60 pounds. Once we had a stack of ten they were lifted and tied onto the car roof. Once again the old (not always trustworthy these days) Suburban delivered the goods. There were a few stressful moments when they loosened as we were driving. Most of the poles will form the frame for my garden enclosure. It was a hot, dirty, strenuous job, rewarded by ice creams from the local “super” on the way home. 

A Long Day (Yet Another!)

A few days before we had stopped by Ray’s farm property and discussed with Alexis, the former owner and now caretaker, the need to get a legal paper taken care of. So early Monday morning, we (Eli and family, as well) packed up and headed into Golfito. We delivered Eli and family to their house, the rest of the bamboo to the boatyard, took care of the lawyer, filled our water bottles, and had yet another unsettling car stalling issue. 

The "finca" (farm) property in Cuervito

The new porton (gate)

We stopped by our favorite mechanico, who felt that we should be OK, and continued on to the border for some fencing and construction supplies. A few more times the car stalled, but always eventually started back up again. Mission accomplished but not without much trepidation. 

An all too familiar sight - Luis, the mechanico, under the hood, checks for spark. 

We arrived home in time for a late afternoon “wallow” in our new favorite tide pool. We recently discovered a perfect spot among the rocks at the nearby point where you can sit in chest high water, and when the waves break they push bubbling water into the pool - our very own saltwater jacuzzi! Sometimes walking the beach or swimming is just too much exertion.

Ray and Briana wallowing in the tide pool

Thursday, April 8.  Jobs Well Done

The week has continued to be eventful. On Tuesday a visit from Mechanico Luis confirmed that our starter needed replacement (I had brought one back with me in anticipation of this), as well as a faulty distributor cap. Then unexpectedly the tree guys showed up ready for some trimming. Felling one of the trees resulted in smashing a couple of huge beautiful heliconias, so I spent the afternoon doing garden repairs. 

Yesterday was my culminating day of a month long project of thorough cleaning and organizing. Both containers have clean interior walls, the yard is looking really fine, lots of small repairs, linens all clean and Mama’s dog bed washed and stored away (just in case there is an adoption in our future). Eli is staying out for a few days, so his work list includes legs for our not to be swinging any longer, couch. We haven’t been able to find replacement rope that is impervious to sunlight, and, as the original was fraying it made sense to change Also on the list is my garden enclosure, and whatever else we come up with.

We hosted a small party yesterday with some great comida (food), so now there is little on the agenda for a couple of days. I’m giving myself full permission to call family and friends, do some writing, and maybe get out the sketch pad. Ha!)

Relaxing with my little buddy

 A Day in the Life

After our flurry of social and other assorted activities, I decided to take it easy today. As usual I woke up around 4:30 just as daylight crept in. Often when I’m in the bathroom /kitchen area at that time I feel a flutter of wings as Batty arrives home to roost in our bodega (storage part of the container). I prepared coffee and gallo pinto con huevos (rice and beans with scrambled eggs), and settled in to catching up on the news, indulging in a few games of Scrabble and doing some writing. 

Denis's panga is so large it needs a tractor, rather than 4-5 guys and some balsa logs (the usual way) to bring the boat in and out of the water.

Sounds

The pounding surf competes with the increasing chorus of birds. Overhead pairs of parrots flying by adding to the din. A regular stream of motorcycles drives by at daybreak with farm or construction workers - our usual morning “rush hour.”  I put some overripe bananas on the bird feeder and immediately draw in a hungry crowd. We still have a few late bloomers noisily trying out dining independently. Several hummingbirds make their rounds sipping water and nectar from our heliconias. A ritual they perform every few hours. Creatures of habit, they will perch briefly on a couple of the same bare branches to rest before continuing foraging. Sometimes they methodically canvass the inside beams of the deck searching for spiders or insects trapped in the webs. 

Across the street at the beach Iobani and his crew are preparing to take a group of surfista tourists out for the day to a spot accessible only by boat, barking orders and thumping as the boat rolls unevenly on coconut logs down to the surf. 

Peaceful

Meanwhile, Boquette is dozing, feet upward on her rocking chair, while Zsa Zsa is curled up in fetal position behind my chair in her bed. Whiskers, Boquette’s father, from next door is curled up in the tree roots under the stairs where he thinks he’s incognito. If he times it right he may stick around for feeding time and get a handout. And…since it is before 7:30-8:00 Big Ray is still comatose.

Ray checks out the morning waves

Always, unless rainy and or stormy, the temperature hovers from high eighties to nineties. Always comfortable in the shade, though. Likewise, the ocean water is constantly in the mid 80’s so its cooling. but never chilling. We are undergoing the "tempranos” now when, in early April, we begin experiencing overcast showery days, the precursor to the upcoming rainy season 

This is my special time. Everyone else is sleeping so I have the luxury of a clear fresh mind with no distractions. 

The Day Progresses

While Ray puttered about cleaning, squeezing oranges for juice and making lunch, I lounged. He later hitched a ride into town with Denis, a neighbor, for some bolts for the sofa project, while I spent an hour varnishing the new sofa legs, watering a few plants and jotting down some thoughts. A massive grader had been scraping and sculpting the road bed followed by a roller most of the day. Ray went down and chatted up the operator to see if they could detour up our newly graveled driveway to smooth it out. He didn’t think it would happen but at 5 o’clock the roller came rumbling up the driveway. It would stay here for the night and we will get a few “rolls” in the morning. We put the sofa together, cleaned up the sawdust and tidy up our “living room” deck in time for dinner. 

First a truckload or rocks and gravel was dumped off in the street. Then the local dozer guy spread it out and did a rough smoothing out.

Later we hosted the Town's roller for the night, which meant the operator had to go up and down our driveway for further smoothing. 

Denis and Raquel, sans their daughter who was at Grandma’s, joined us for a lively pasta dinner - Ray’s specialty. With our broken Spanish and their increasingly improved English we managed to get most points across. They departed just before 8 so Ray and Denis would be able to watch their favorite Turkish soap opera in Spanish. What a hoot! These big macho guys hooked into this incredibly campy, corny series. 

Maleska turned 7 recently, and we were invited to celebrate with her family. Delicious food, elaborate decorations and good cake!

Smashing the piñata is a rite of passage at birthday parties. Adults are blindfolded and turned around several times, while someone pulls the piñata up and down. Not easy. Kids were given a break on the blindfolds.

Beef Stew for the Masses

Expecting Eli and Co. to be staying through the weekend I made an enormous beef stew for Sunday’s meal and beyond. But that morning they informed me they would be leaving midday on the bus, so it looked like Ray and I would be eating a lot of stew for a while. However, being a holiday the bus never came, so that lightened my stew load considerably. Then a local guy came by on Monday as we were eating lunch, so that helped. The next day the tree guys shared the last helpings with us. Whew! 

Sometimes I look at photos of myself and all the wrinkles, along with Ray's greying hair and bushy eyebrows and think how old we look. Of course at 67 and 68, 70 is just around the corner. Then I think that we do a lot of physical stuff, including walking and swimming most days. We feel good, eat well, and can still do most things - so, Life is Good! Pura Vida.

Back to Costa Rica, 2021

 March 8  Welcome Home

I arrived back home in CR early March to pink blossomed trees everywhere, baby birds cheeping away, my garden having flourished during my absence and…. greatly improved roads - some parts even blacktopped.  With temperatures hovering near 90 it’s been very warm. Not too much relaxing - Lots to do: doctors appointments for Ray, car repairs, shopping, fretting and tending to Mama’s sore leg, lots of “spring” cleaning and organizing, driveway improvement, and other assorted domestic “events.” 

Our new and greatly improved bridge
Finally, the dozer is filling in the narrow road between the new culverts

You would not want to drive off the edge into the ditch

Pink and white blossoming trees everywhere

Even along the beach

This new bridge required this temporary one before the real one is built. 

 There is a lot of effort going into infrastructure locally. Forest and pasture land is being developed little by little and some large estates, as well as many modest homes for both Ticos and Gringos are going up. 

This was the temporary bridge coming in by truck some months ago. 

Getting closer - the road on the way to Pavones about 7 miles out is now paved. Rumor has it that our road will eventually be paved also. I have mixed feelings because it will mean more traffic, and moving much faster. On the other hand, the idea of no more dust, and smoother surfaces is quite alluring.  

The Beach 

I began my daily beachwalks immediately accompanied by the usual pack of our dogs and up to four or five “neighbors.” Early morning is tranquil: shady and cool with the ocean’s surface mirror-like; midday, a strong breeze and crashing surf under a blazing sun is much more dynamic; while later, before dusk, the wind and waves calm down under a golden sky back to tranquility. 

Zsa Zsa watches for pelicans - we know she will never catch one, but it's fun trying

I mostly have the beach to myself. But an occasional stroller, motorcyclist or even a herd of cattle sometimes occupies the same space briefly. 

Beachgoers often build temporary shelters from driftwood and palm fronds

Big Ray Update

I was pleasantly surprised at how healthy Ray looks, and is, when I returned. His leg is healing very well, and several “Frankenstein” scars are very diminished. He has been walking the beach and swimming regularly, as well as I suspect, infrequent yoga. A big relief for me. I see his endurance is still low, but improving daily. Quite a difference from 10 months ago! It’s probably just as well that he neglected to tell me about another somewhat minor cellulitis outbreak in January which would have sent me into another panic attack. As importantly, he has mellowed out considerably - another big relief (for me). 

Ray is now wearing protective "surfer tights" and booties to protect his feet and legs. It's been a long time coming - ha! He's been a little discouraged because he's having trouble getting up on the board. BUT I keep reminding him of where he was this time last year. More walking and yoga!

March 17

Right now I am enjoying a “cocktail” on the deck with a fresh breeze sweeping up from the beach. Lots of bird families with recently hatched fledglings are hiding in the bushes nearby. At least four nests of tanagers hatched recently. Too big for the nests now, the babies lurk in the nearby shrubs, waiting for their" take out" dinner to arrive. The “supermercado,” as we call the bird feeder, is bustling with parents collecting their babies’ next meals. Some 4-6 day old babies are braving the great outdoors to fly hesitantly to the feeder. Even then, they still beg to be fed from their parents - fluttering their wings and sounding desperately pathetic. The menu “du jour” is watermelon rind, ripe bananas and plantains. If only consuming bananas the “flock” gets through 5-8 small bananas a day.

Lying at my feet is Zsa Zsa who wants to be always within a few feet, while Boquette, the dirt dog, is under the container collecting debris in her unruly coat. Dry and cool, under the container is a favorite spot for the whole canine neighborhood. Although we don’t encourage it, we often host Whiskers next door (Boquette’s papa), and Tyson from across the street, as well. 

The deck at sunset

Poor Mama Dog is also underneath lying in the body pit that the dogs have excavated under the container. She is lying low because she is nursing a large cancerous tumor on her thigh that is probably going to get the better of her soon. She still has an appetite and wants to accompany us on walks at the beach so I’m using those as criteria for quality of life, for now. But I know eventually we’ll have a tough decision to make. 

Moving Days

The past couple of weeks have been a blur, beginning with moving out of the RV in Florida, then onto NC to help Dad move into his new abode. Moving always involves more than the literal word. There were many emotional moments going through piles of photos i mistakenly thought had been sorted and downsized years ago, miscellaneous papers, clothes and items accumulated over the years, kitchen, bathroom “stuff,” and the more obvious furniture, bedding, etc. One of saddest was going through Dad’s clarinets and sheet music that has been very dear to him for the past 35 years. The actual move took many back and forth trips along the halls of College Walk pushing a hotel style valet dolly piled high with tipsy boxes and personal items. Terry and I starting dreading running into Kevin, the manager, who kept reminding us that the operative work is “downsizing.” We were feeling positively guilty by the last few loads.

Dad tries out his new electric recliner

Ahh, that's better!

Terry and Ron in front of "The Church." Their latest acquisition for Ron's magic restoration touch!

The timing was good for me to be in NC when the move took place as I was able to help Terry and Dad with the move, before heading back to CR. There was a very strong melancholy undercurrent to it all. 

At 92 we all know that Dad isn’t going to live forever, but seeing him struggling to remember recent events and his deafness are grim reminders of his mortality. Neither Terry nor I fully appreciated how isolated he has been for a year now, which hasn’t helped. It made us wonder if things would be different without his isolation. The stories of how Covid has made life very difficult for so many, and lethal in some cases, has hit close to home. When I spoke to Dad last night he complained of being bored, as everything is closed down still because of Covid. Let’s hope that changes very soon as everyone there has now been vaccinated. 

Almost full moon rises behind us

CR Covid Updates

Of course, the day before I left FL i was called to come in for a vaccine. Then this morning I received another appointment both from Manatee County. 

Washing out our mask collection

We recently discovered that now CR is presumably done with vaccinating the essential folks, they are starting at the 90’s folks and working down. Since it’s rural here, a person brings the vaccine door to door. Especially helpful as many people, especially the elders do no drive, and may be homebound. What a humane and practical approach. And by the way, everyone here wears a mask and washes their hands before entering even the tiniest store. (with no political overtones, or defiance!) What a pleasure. 

The local vegetable truck. Twice a week it comes down from San Vito in the mountains where the climate allows most produce to be grown. Onions, garlic, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, beans, peppers, yuca, potatoes, tomatoes, herbs such as parsley, basil, etc. and local fruit - pineapples, papayas, oranges, bananas, plantains, limes. Not necessarily organic, but every fresh and tasty. They supply the local supermarkets as well.  A few smaller competitors come through with less choices in smaller trucks or out of the trunks of their cars.

Unfortunately, we have to stay vigilant for termites, which create dirt tunnels from the ground up into any wooden material, including our deck. This requires removing their tunnels and spraying the ground where they emerge. I'm the chosen one because I can crawl around inder the deck and get into small tight spaces. Yuck!

March 30, 2021

I’ve been meaning to write for several weeks, but life has gotten in the way. There’s this work ethic/sense of duty type thing that’s imbedded in my psyche….. or something. Anyway, before I get involved in a writing, photo, drawing, or even calling friends, I feel I need to complete projects such as cooking, cleaning, laundry. Not that I’m on any time or work schedule at all, but the self imposed ones creep forward and put me on automatic. I think some of this stems from having worked for most of my life, and needing a sense of purpose and accomplishment. (even from cleaning!) 

Dehydrating our homegrown bananas

We recently converted the swinging couch to one with legs. Much more stable.

We look down from the deck to my lobster claw heliconias every day - beautiful!

Five pinas ripe at the same time. Smoothies, dehydrated, and fresh...

Anyway, I did laundry, some light cleaning and made a big batch of granola. Even used some dried fruit from our dehydrator. The front deck is a little noisy and dusty from the holiday beach traffic. Since the sun is setting making our deck very bright and hot I’ve moved to my woodland retreat - the upper deck of the guest container. Shady, cool, nice view and quieter. It's a whole different environment.

I’m still bragging and marveling that I have wifi. I paired the speaker to my phone, dialed in Spotify and I’m enjoying some music at a hearty volume. Very high 80’s into early 90’s - but a cooling breeze and shade. And in the nearby treetop our howler monkey family just arrived, very noisily I might add. 

Remembering “Mama” Dog

I first want to get to my “memorial writing” for Mama as she died recently.  My second "doggie" memorial in less than a year. Last Friday we took Mama to the vet yet again because she had a very nasty sore that wouldn’t heal. This has been yet another cancer, along with numerous others - some had been removed months before. I had been somewhat preparing for this moment knowing that things would get worse. When the vet said it was pretty hopeless (my interpretation) I asked them to euthanize her. It was very sad,  but I felt that her quality of life has not been very comfortable for her for sometime. She’s had to wear the collar for months, and she hated it. She stopped coming for beach walks because she couldn’t walk well. Plus with cancer there would be no recovering. I was glad I had brought a few slices of ham, which she loves. So after her last snack and nuzzle I let her go. I guess it’s still raw because writing this is bringing on the tears. 

She loved to sleep in the sun, sometimes on Ray's surfboard

Disposing

A humorous moment came when the vet told us we would need to dispose of the body. We had a full plate that day with a number of chores ahead of us in Golfito and then onto the border, so we wouldn’t be home until supper. The thought of a decaying dog body in the steaming car all day, then dealing with the actual burial in the dark yard flashed across my mind with dread.  Eli bailed us out by offering to bury her alongside the many dogs that have resided with him over his entire lifetime in Golfito. I figure she’s got lots of company there. 

Looking at the Past

So I’ve been looking through my photos for shots of Mama, but, of course, sorting through thousands of photos took me down the "nostalgia rabbit hole" for a couple of days looking at every photo on the phone and the computer.  How young we looked when….look how much the plants have grown……… beach looks the same, etc. Ray and I vowed to have a couple of photo evenings soon. 

I was hoping to find some very early photos of Mama when we used to walk or bicycle from Pavones to the property, but no luck. Beginning about ten years ago Ray and I would bring a picnic lunch, and miraculously, Mama would always appear with the most pleading look. This was even before we had the driveway and water put in. As we spent more time at the property, and then finally began construction, she was ours. When we moved in, so did Mama. During construction she bore two puppies, but one died. The survivor still lives a couple of miles away. 

Mama with her son from a previous litter

The following year we had recently moved into to the container and Mama gave birth again. She was quite crafty. She initially spent a lot of time creating a lair under a pile of brush. Then at the last minute she actually delivered in a drainage culvert at the top of the backyard. A few weeks later on Easter Sunday’s night we had a huge downpour in the middle of the night. Above the hammering of the rain I thought I heard a sound. When I got up and walked in the back I found two soaked, wailing puppies wandering aimlessly. The rest is history. I had to bring them up to the container and dry them off. Mama showed up to feed them and they all settled down nicely on the deck. 

Because she had skin cancer we tried to keep the "collar of shame" on her to prevent her nibbling and licking the lesions. She spent her last months like this. Very sad.

The Rest is History

And for the most part that’s where they have stayed. We were able to keep a gate up to prevent the sand and mud on the deck. First Boquette figured out how to squeeze through the gate and sneak up on the deck every night. We pretended not to notice. Then during Ray’s hospitalization I took the gate down because I wanted the company and potential protection, if needed. The gate still resides alongside the container wall taking up space, while Boquette sleeps on a rocking chair, and Zsa Zsa, and formerly, Mama, nestle down in their beds near our door (on the deck, of course).

Mama, the Brava Dog

Now, don’t get too sentimental here, because there was a scrappy, almost aggressive part to our little Mama, and she had many scars to show for it. Certain dogs would set her off and she could be pretty nasty. One time she got in the way of our neighbor's two dogs, one in heat. She either got in the way accidentally, or she was just pissed - but that skirmish resulted in a five day vet’s stay. Then she was bitten by a poisonous snake, and barely survived. So she has had at least a few lives. As most dogs are, she was very patient, loving and loyal with us. And she also mellowed a lot over the years and often stayed very close if we encountered an unknown dog on our walks. She really had a very sweet disposition and stoically put up with numerous cleaning and attending to her wounds at the end.

Bien Viaje

So we miss her, but I feel her passing was a relief from pain and future discomfort, as well as her difficulty walking, which would only get worse. I also feel we gave her a very good life, and maybe even extended it somewhat. 

She will live on through "the girls"