CHALLENGES…

I’ve had a couple of challenges over the past week. It started with the visits from the realtors. I knew that this was going to be happening, but I wasn’t exactly sure how. The realtors came, had a look around and told me that the photographer was going to be coming in a few days. I was told that this would take a number of hours and that eventually I should expect a “flurry” of interested buyers.

The owner of the property, who is in Thailand, sent me an email stating that there would be showings scheduled three days a week, and he said I should leave the property. He kindly made suggestions of what I might do: go to the library, go to the market, visit with friends.

I explained to him that I rarely leave the casita since i am so far from town and that I do not have a car, so this was not going to happen. I said I wanted to be cooperative, but I also said it would be nice to be somehow compensated for this. Nothing.

When the photographer came, he asked me to leave. I sat outside. It didn’t take him long. The realtor sent me an email saying that I did not, in fact, have to leave the house for the showings and that I didn’t need to remove my things, just have the place “tidy.”

i still felt that some sort of compensation was in order. I sent the owner another email this morning explaining that i would be withholding $200/month from the February and March rent. If that didn’t work for him, I said that it would be best if he waited until I was gone on 4/1. No answer. So, my rent is due on 2/1. We’ll see how this goes.

Second issue. And I’m going to make this as short and sweet as possible without mentioning any names. A friend performed a service for me using their professional skills. Every time I asked about the price, I was told not to worry about it. I assumed (always a huge mistake) that my bill was going to be about $1500, of which I had already paid $1000. I received an invoice yesterday for $4200. To say I was shocked is an understatement.

I have felt pretty creepy for a couple of days now, so much so that I thought, after Jolene’s visit, I may just go home. Bot of these issues feel like abuse, but in the second instance, I also feel really stupid for not insisting on seeing a bill and not even thinking about a contract. Shame on me. This one is the most challenging.

I am eternally grateful for Dan. He couldn’t talk to me the first night, but then the next night he said, “It’s only money. We have each other. We’re on the right side of the grass.” What more can I ask for? He was already stewing about some financial issues we’re dealing with, so this put the icing on the cake. He handled it admirably. Love that man.

I have found a huge respite in returning to the Zentangle. While doing this, I cannot think of anything else. I am focused on what I am doing. I also listen to podcasts while doing the Zentangle, so my brain has very little opportunity to be angry. Today, I started listening to one with Andrew Huberman interviewing Rick Rubin. What an amazing mind.

This one is much harder than it looks. It is a very good exercise in drawing smooth, equidistant lines.

In any event, my hope to respond to challenges with kindness is being tested. I have really had to pause and come back and continually repeat, “Be kind, be kind.”

I went on a hike with Barb and Deb on Monday. We did the Tree Trek hike. Wow! Has that road changed. The last time I went up there was for dinner one evening with Ted and Pam Bonner about seven years ago. The road was dirt and boulders. The only way we made it is because Ted had a four-wheel drive vehicle. Now, it’s all paved.

This is where people in Boquete go to try out zip lining. Not for me.

I had a lovely dinner with Betty last night. We watched In and Of Itself. It was her first time, my fifth. She loved it. I knew she would. She called me this morning to tell me that she heard from Gloria that she finally went to see a doctor about her shortness of breath. She was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. She is now being stabilized with care at home and is going to be medic-vac’d to the U.S. in five days. I feel very bad for her. She is a healthy 75-year-old woman, who works hard to take care of herself. We think this is due to Covid. Betty and I are going to go over to her house on Monday to get her packed up for her return to the U.S. and to clean out her apartment.

My neighbor, Cheryl, stopped by today to tell me that they had Sophia put down. That’s the dog that bit Barb. Apparently, Sophia contracted an ear infection and then started having seizures. I could see Cheryl was shaken. They took Sophia in as a stray eight years ago.

So, kind of a downer day, but…that’s life.