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It’s a week of “lasts.” My last Tuesday Market, my last Trivia Tuesday, my last knitting group, my last cooking. Time to start thinking about packing and coming home. It was wonderful, but I’m ready.

I did my last shopping for anything that will have to be cooked. I will miss the fresh produce and hum of the Tuesday Market.

Trivia was very underwhelming this week, at least in regard to the questions. I’m not even going to bother posting them here for you. Some were very arcane; no one got them right. Nancy and Betty were fit to be tied. I still enjoyed it. I love the ambience.

After Trivia we went to Tre Scalini for dinner. My first and last time there this year. It’s one of my favorites. I had the fettuccine with smoked salmon and chorizo. I’ve had it before, and I loved it. And then of course, there is always dessert!

I had an interesting “Boquete moment” this week. The other day, I was going out for my hike, and realized that my hiking pole was not where I usually leave it. I looked everywhere to no avail. I scanned my memory and guessed that I likely left it in a taxi when I was coming home with groceries.

I posted my dilemma on the Boquete Community Group Facebook page. Within minutes, a taxi drive answered that he would put out the word to his fellow drivers. Very shortly afterward, I received the message that my pole was located in George’s taxi. I was given George’s number, connected with him and made plans to meet in town the next day. I got the pole back safe and sound.

Cathy Doig stopped by today with the lease contract for the Glass Casita. All set for next year! Perhaps I will have fewer of this type of visitor who stopped by yesterday morning. He had the body of a Buick. Ugh!! But I managed to scoop him up and let him outside…where he belongs.

Today is Dan’s 65^th birthday.  Yay Medicare!!  I spoke with him for just a short time this morning, and then I lost my Internet connection.  He had dinner last night with our neighbors, Jay and Ann Lecher. Ann surprised him with a birthday tiramisu.  Sweet.

A few days ago, I was talking to Dan about how I wanted to celebrate my 70^th birthday.  I told him that in addition to walking the Camino, I was planning to do the Intuitive Painting retreat at the Christine Center during the first week in July.  I said that that should do it, unless there was something he wanted to do with me to celebrate.  “No,” he said, “I’m good.” 

And today’s play time was all about dandelions.  I started with the one on the top left and ended with the one on the bottom right. 

I have looked a couple of times, but walking has limited my searching. Today, I finally committed to finding Don Quike’s bakery. I knew the general area, but I kept getting it wrong. Today I even asked people nearby who didn’t know where it was. But I finally found him!

Don Quike has quickly built a reputation as the very best baker in Boquete, especially for his bagels. He was trained by Mort of Mort’s Kosher Bakery in Alto Boquete. I believe Mort is no longer with us (although the bakery is still there), and Don Quike has started a place of his own. The issue with many is that his hours seem to be sporadic. I asked him today, as I was buying my bagels, what his schedule is. He told me Tuesday through Saturday, 9 am to 3 pm. So, we’ll see.

My days are numbered here, but I am already looking forward to visiting his bakery next year.

This was my favorite email yesterday from Cathy Doig:

Hi Christine, 
The owner of Finca Wild Orchid, Mark Velci, has approved a 4 month lease (Dec through March, 2023) of the fully furnished Glass Casita at a rental rate of $825 monthly. 
The rent will include high speed internet & electricity. You will be responsible for refills on the propane gas tanks, as needed, which are $5.37 each. In a 4 month period I estimate you will need to refill 2 tanks. 
I will confirm the weekly cleaning and hopefully it will be no more than $25.
If these terms are acceptable I will draft a short term lease to secure the reservation for you. 
Cheers! 
Cathy

I am, as they say, “stoked. ” I didn’t mention in the initial blog about this place that it has a great kitchen with a six-burner stove and oven. I might even bring my copper pot down with me.

I just finished listening to this podcast with Soren Gordhamer of Wisdom 2.0 and Jon Kabat-Zinn. I choose to believe with my entire being in this perspective on what is happening in Ukraine.

Gloria’s sister, Angel, is here visiting from Cleveland. This evening we went to the Fishhouse for dinner. Never a disappointment. Angel and I both had the grouper with papaya/jalapeño salsa. Gloria had a fish sandwich.

Angel wanted to go out to listen to music, but the band at Boquete Brewhouse said they did not start playing until 9 pm (it was about 6:30). I don’t think so. Night-night.

The 13th/14th Century German theologian, Eckhart von Hochheim, aka Meister Eckhart, is quoted as saying, “If the only prayer you ever say in your life is ‘thank you,’ it’s enough.”

Picture these mounted on a pink card stock and then on a cream-colored card.

This morning Betty took me up Volcancito Road to Arco Iris, where she rented in years past. There are two casitas: a smaller one, which she rented, and then a larger one where Cathy and Larry (the managers) live now and have rented for eight years. The smaller one is already booked for next season, but it turns out that Cathy and Larry are going to move to another house across the street, so this larger casita is available.

I fell in love with it immediately and told Cathy, on the spot, that I wanted to rent it for four months next year. Not sure of the price yet, but she said it will likely be about $700 a month. That is only $200 more than what I’m paying now. It is so worth it. It doesn’t have an outside patio, but as you can see in the video, it is like being outside all the time. I can use that round table in the middle for my play station.

Also, they clean and treat for pests every week. Hallelujah!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Thank you again to my friend, Kathy Rutz, for suggesting these beads to me while we were at the Foundation for knitting the other day. She thought that I could use them on my cards, and she was right. I think they are very cute.

Not much else today. Although I listened to a very informative YouTube video today with two of my favorite thinkers, Russell Brand and Yuval Noah Harari. Harari addresses a group of college kids discussing the future of technology and the hacking of the human mind.

Technology and social medial are not going away, but we can be very conscious of how we use them and not let them use us. This will take a very heightened level of self-awareness.

Here is a shocking bit of information: The Internet will know a kid’s sexual orientation even before they do, based on how their eye movements respond to the screen. I’ve said it many times, I am so happy I don’t have kids. Such a huge job.

I’ve had a challenging couple of days dealing with the “wildlife” in my apartment. Night before last I noticed a very large cockroach flying above the window across from my bed. I was both creeped out and pissed off. I thought I had them under control with the Combat gel that Murray recommended. I was so upset that yesterday I posted somewhat of a tirade on my blog and then eventually took it down.

I went on the Boquete Community Group looking for another place. I was almost laughed back to Wisconsin when I said I wanted a place with no cockroaches. After digging a little deeper into the information on Combat, I discovered that it is indeed one of the best treatments, but it is not an overnight sensation. It takes a little while for the nest to be eliminated. But then it is effective for up to a year.

AND THEN!!!! (and this is the “Sorry” part) I made another move and put glue paper down outside one of my doors, thinking this would stop the huge spiders and cockroaches from creeping in under the door. What I did not think through was birds. I opened the door this afternoon to see how the paper was working, and there was a bird stuck to the paper. I felt so horrible. As I frantically tried to trim the glue strip from its claws, I soon realized that it was hopeless. I had to drown it. So, the bird kingdom is not happy with this gringa today.

I have now moved the glue strip to the inside of the door base.

Yesterday, in my emotional turmoil, I talked to Gloria about the possibility that I might not come back here next year because of the cockroaches and my needing to have a happier space to live in. I told her not to make any changes right now on my account. She was immediately responsive. She said that she has no problem with my treating the apartment for cockroaches in any way I want. She just doesn’t want to do it in her own space. I did not realize that. Gloria has agreed to have the entire place painted and put in the shelving that we had already planned.

She said she just wants me to be happy. She has a good heart. I feel like I am always walking a fine line of being unreasonable.

We also discussed that when I come down next year, I can fix up the place any way I want and deduct the cost from the rent. This now feels like a win-win. I can enjoy the place and not have to worry about packing things up and lugging them around.

Betty said that she would help me fix it up. I have a list of things I need, which I shared with her, and I will share with the rest of the group before I leave. During the coming months, they can keep an eye out for things as they shop.

I met Sandra Cripe and Laurie Collier at Mail Boxes, Etc. today to submit the final copy of the Being Prepared manual for production. So, that’s done. They would now like me to try producing a flyer for the class on April 20th.

Today’s fun:

I eventually put a blue wash over the two on the top left.

Today is movie day at Nancy’s, and everyone gets to choose a flower card made on the card stock that Kathy gave me.

I loved making this one. I think I need to make a few more. Mums the word.

That’s it for today!

Today at knitting, Kathy Rutz surprised me with a packet of card stock and envelopes. It is beautiful card stock. The texture is lovely. I decided to try a new flower: the anemone. The photo doesn’t do the paper justice; wish you could feel it. I’m trying to decide if I want to put a watercolor wash over the image. Just realized, I’m drawing my leaves upside-down.

I treated Gloria to a lentil curry for dinner this evening.

One of my favorite Panamanian treats – papaya.

I listened to this conversation this morning with Yuval Noah Harari, Anne Applebaum and Timothy Snyder discussing the current movements in Ukraine and the need to declare a no-fly zone over Ukraine. I find this both a frightening and exhilarating time in human evolution. The entire world is responding to Putin’s egotistical, maniacal behavior. It feels pivotal. Love is moving forward.

As an aside, I find it very compelling that Harari plans his busy schedule around his meditation practice. He plans meditation retreats and molds the remainder of his life around that. For him it is a priority. I’m looking forward to reading his books Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, and Sapiens: A Graphic History: The Birth of Humankind. I almost ordered it on Audible. That is what I call “duh” moment.

Because we watched and loved After Life, Dan suggested I watch this video with Diane Morgan who plays Kath in the series. As Dan said, it is terrific.

I just returned from the attorney’s (Enrique Quintero) office where I signed the Living Will. So, that’s all taken care of. Now all I need to do is get some sturdy bins that can hold any of my things that might need to be shipped back to the U.S. Some say I’m silly for bothering with this paperwork, but I am not comfortable with the thought of any family member having to travel here to deal with a dead or dying body. And now having worked with hospice, I know that the legal system here is a nightmare. It feels too irresponsible to leave this undone.

I tried to catch this little guy in mid-pee on my walk to the attorney’s office this morning, but his big sister spun him around. Too cute.

Last night, I watched the documentary Winter on Fire. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend it to get a sense of the fierce love of country and passion of the Ukrainian people. This documentary covers the revolution of 2013-14 against their then president, and Putin collaborator, Yanukovych. I vaguely remember hearing about it at the time, but I had no idea of the intensity. It is shocking to me that Putin would even attempt the present invasion.

I copied the following from a wall hanging I saw in Gloria’s house. I love reading it.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble. It is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. 

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.  But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. 

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.  Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. 

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. 

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. 

Therefore, be at peace with God, and whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. 

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

 – FOUND IN OLD SAINT PAUL’S CHURCH, BALTIMORE; DATED 1692

Today’s joy. I worked on these while listening to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Life is good.

Schools have been closed here since February 2020. No education at all since then. Everyone is relieved that the schools have finally opened again. These kids have some catching up to do.

This “little” guy was on my blouse this morning. I didn’t notice it until I bent my head down to hook my necklace and then freaked out. I brushed it off, and in the process I broke the glass pendant of a necklace that my friend, Dianne Caliva, gave me. Bastards!

Gloria just finished making this beautiful rug. It is braided with wool strips. Gorgeous!

Another Trivia Tuesday:

How about a little trivia? Answers at the bottom of the gallery.

Q2 – Cheers

Q3 – Frankie Avalon

Q4 – I Will Always Love You

Q5 – Happy Birthday

Q6 – Ed Sullivan

Q7 – Imagine

Q8 – Queen

Q9 – Willie Nelson

Bonus 1 – The Coasters, The Monkees, Three Dog Night, Madonna

Q1-2 – Kit-Kat

Q2-2 – Danny Elfman

Q3-2 – Thriller

Q4-2 – Sex Pistols

Q5-2 – Walk This Way

Q6-2 – Shania Twain

Q7-2 – Yesterday

Q8-2 – Julie Andrews

Q9-2 – Trying

Bonus 2 – Buddy Holly, Ricky Valenz, Big Bopper

Our Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer training group:

Played Scrabble today with Nancy, Herta and Betty. Nancy killed us. Betty’s apartment is so beautiful. I felt like I was in a magazine.