JEEZ…

I just got a call from the Boquete Library. They said they received a call from the police department saying that they have my packet of credit cards, which also included my library card. The police asked the library to track me down and let me know that they are leaving my cards at the courthouse. I didn’t even discover yet that the packet was missing. Not sure where I dropped it, but it happened either ON the bus last night, or before I got into the taxi. This is what happened:

The road I live on is basically shaped like a horseshoe. The base of the shoe is on the highway and then it leans back about 45 degrees. So it goes uphill on both sides with the peak at the top. The loop is about 10 miles. I live on the right side of the shoe, about two miles up. Picture the bus at the base of the horseshoe. The driver can choose to go left or right and then up either side. I asked once how they decide and was told that it depends on who is on the bus. Last night after dinner, I told my friends I was going to take a taxi because I didn’t want anyone trying to drive up my road in the dark. It is extremely steep, narrow and dangerous.

So, after dinner, I walked over to the taxi stand. There were none there, so I continued on to the bus stop. My bus was there, full and ready to go, so I got on. I was immediately dismayed when the driver turned left. It was quickly getting dark. I knew by taking this route, it was going to take a lot longer, and I would not be able to see my stop when it came up. It is hard enough to see in broad daylight. I asked the driver to stop and let me out.

He pulled over, and when I started to move to get off the bus, my boots (which I was carrying) and my money belt with phone fell to the floor. The guys on the bus picked everything up for me. I felt like a crazy, discombobulated old woman: boots, poles, phone, money, all out of control. I clutched everything haphazardly as I walked back to the taxi stand just a short distance away. There was a taxi there, and once in the taxi, I put “everything” back in order. What I didn’t realize is that the little rubber-band-bound packet with my credit cards and things was not there. So, now I have to get myself to the courthouse to pick it up. Not bad. It’s not too far away. It will be my walk tomorrow.

So, yesterday turned out to be a great day. I say “turned out” because it started out a bit hectic. I thought I was going to have the whole day to write and get my pages in by the end of the day, which is my deadline. I usually don’t put it off this long, but the auction has been challenging. The challenges continued Wednesday morning, so I had to push off my writing. But it turned out okay. I finished writing and submitted my pages by four o’clock, just enough time to get geared up and walk into town to meet friends for drumming and dinner, well at least dinner; drumming was over by five o’clock, which is when I arrived.

The walk in was fabulous. Not only did I feel great for having finished the writing, but there was a slight mist (bajareque) in the air, which makes for the best rainbows.

And, of course, dinner at the Fish House was fabulous. I had one of my favorites: coconut shrimp.

And here are just a couple of photos from Tuesday Market.

Okay, auction settled…so far, writing done, had a lovely chat with Kathleen and Diane on Zoom this morning. So now I can play. I still don’t have my 100-lb. paper. I order some from Amazon, so I can’t work on making cards yet. However, there is always calligraphy. 🙂