Happy Thanksgiving

On this, my first Thanksgiving living in another country, there are oh so many things on my mind. Here are a few of them …

I am filled with gratitude for Costa Rica, the beautiful home we have found here, and the amazing friends and neighbors we’ve collected. Our neighbors text, “three toucans in your tree” or “Squirrel Cuckoo” and then cite the page number of the Costa Rica birds book we both have. We trade plant clippings and recipes and check with each other before we make a trip to Price Smart (Costa Rican Costco) in case we can pick something up for each other. We have established our lovely little corner in this serene mountain town in this ridiculously beautiful country.

In our first year(ish) here, we have made/are making improvements to our home, and I am grateful for all those who have put in so much work for us. Our kitchen is finally taking shape. The casita, my writing studio, is an amazing little “she shed” where I can work on my writing and sometimes just wait for inspiration to visit. The yard is amazing, of course, and anybody who knows Melanie knows that she is the reason why. We’ve learned so many new birds and flowers. Communing with the hummingbirds over coffee on the side porch is my favorite way to start the day.

Despite undergoing complicated ankle surgery in my first year here, my overall health has improved markedly in the first year of my retirement and move. I have cut down significantly on every medication I take, even when I add in the anti-inflammatories and pain pills after the surgery. I am very grateful for my ankle surgeons - Dr. Francisco Soto and Dr. Jimmy Chavez, (and of course, the anesthesiologist dressed as Batman) who combined to put me back together when I was temporarily broken. I can’t express gratitude enough to and for Diego Alfaro, who started as a highly recommended physical therapist and who has become a valued and trusted friend. My daily physio sessions in the pool have yielded a cherished PT support group - Marby & Sinya, Ronald, Edwin & Gaye, Murieles, Florie, Sali, and Isabel. As we work out together in the pool, we celebrate our ups with each other and lament our downs.

There’s not enough thanks in the world for our dear friend Brooke Bishop, and we celebrate her today. By the same token, we have experienced so much help here, unbidden, from total strangers. People have just appeared when we had car problems - “here’s a generator,” “do you need a battery boost,” or “do you need me to translate for you?”

I am thankful for the most amazing farmer’s market ever, and the incredible coffee that is grown in my neighborhood and brought right to my house. Grateful for U.S. libraries that have international accounts, and for PBS Masterpiece Theater.

I am incredibly grateful for my sweet friend Yesenia, who was so instrumental in helping to make this happen in the first place and of course, for Melanie, who did most of the work preparing to get us here while I was still working and who has been saddled with most of the work in our first year as I recovered from surgery.

Also grateful for these things:

Watching from afar as high school young love blossoms and grows … Staying in touch via WhatsApp calls and texts … Participating in a 90th birthday celebration via video … Melanie’s willingness to embrace another adventure just because she is who she is … My meditation practice, Reiki, and my spiritual teachers … Amazing friends I miss so much … That my friends & family in Florida survived THREE hurricanes this season. Yeeps!

And finally, I will always cherish this phone call I received from a friend one September morning: “Life is short, you are a beautiful person. I just wanted to tell you I love you.”

Thanks, Mike. I love you too. A little more of this in the world, and I think we will all be ok.

I am supremely grateful that the Universe saw fit to allow me all these blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.