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My grandpa loves bacon. However, recently he had an ulcer and the doctors gave us a list of foods for him to avoid. Which included bacon. Every day at breakfast, he would look at his plate, look up at us, and ask, “Bacon?”
I skipped the last two weeks of blog posts thinking that the only real thing that captures my mind is not the beautiful surroundings of Costa Rica but the antics of my dysfunctional grandparents. Every morning my grandpa will ask me if I am finished with my book yet (I have given up explaining that it’s a blog). One morning he told me I should write about my time with the elderly.
We had a late Thanksgiving this year, as we were waiting on my mom and aunt Lisa to come to Costa Rica. I am so used to all the work I would do before Black Friday that on Thanksgiving Day I had to be reminded and when we celebrated Thanksgiving last Sunday it just felt like a big meal. I would never have realized how much work tied into making the holidays seem special to me, but there it is.
Earlier today my Grandpa was telling me that he made it to 93. When I asked him what year he was born he told me, “1930. Why, what year are we in?” After telling him we were in 2021, he was frustrated and said people were always taking years away from him. I told him that with the Lunar year the Chinese would start with 1 when you were born, so that would get him to at least 92.
The last week was really emotional for my little family unit. Delilah and I would look at each other constantly and comment on how weird things were or even “What the heck are we doing?” I’m sure most people already have a place to move into when they sell their house.
Yesterday I got back from visiting my family in Costa Rica. My mom and I were going to go together last year, but the trip was canceled when everything was locked down due to COVID.
When she told me she bought a plane ticket, I figured I would go before we get locked down again.
Reflecting back on all that I have learned in Costa Rica. First off is that I have the coolest boss in the world for allowing my family and me to do this. I also have the most wonderful wife for facing her fears to shake up her life and leave her comfort zone for an extended period of time. Without further ado here is a quick list of things I learn or relearned on this trip
Recently I had the amazing opportunity to visit a sloth rescue center on our way to Puerto Viejo. First, we saw the famous sloth Buttercup and she was scratching herself at a normal speed. Not in the molasses-slow way you think a sloth would move at all. That was the start of all my preconceived notions of sloths being wrong.
I realized something about myself (not for the first time) that the people I like the most are usually those that laugh at my jokes. What is even better is when you find people that can joke along.
“Is there anything you miss from Texas?” my wife asked.
“Hmmm. Maybe Central Market. Pink Lady Apples. Cider from BJ’s.”
“So… just food.”
“Well, I would like to see my mom and brother… once again. Before I die.”
Our first month here has been amazing. I have so much more hope for the future. Getting out of your daily routines is the best thing you can do for yourself. A week does not cut it. It was almost two weeks before I could just breathe. Maybe I am wound tighter than some, I don’t know.