Setbacks of the past week long forgotten… It’s all relative…

We noticed these bead-like strands in trees in Hawaii during our eight-month stint in 2014/2015 on four islands; Oahu, Maui, Big Island, and Kauai.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

Tom captured this unique cloud formation. The progression continues below.
Cloud formation is evolving before our eyes.
Finally, it wafts away, losing its shape.

We’re over it; the plumbing problems in the three kitchen sinks, the power and Wi-Fi outage; the car rental fiasco in San Jose; the lack of availability of necessary prescriptions in Costa Rica. It’s all relative.

When we watch news stories of the loss of lives, injuries, loss of homes, and livelihood, our minor issues are but a blip on the radar, hardly worth mentioning compared to what has transpired in Texas and the other US gulf states as a result of Hurricane Harvey.  

Peacock was strutting along the grass.

For many, it will be months, if not years, until they recover from the loss of their homes and businesses and a lifetime of sorrow for losing their loved ones and from suffering severe injury.  How sad this is.

In a perfect world, the inconveniences of our lives, free from such horrors as Hurricane Harvey, would remain paltry and inconsequential in how we see the world. 

Unusual blooming flower.

But we’re human. And, although most of us possess varying degrees of empathy and compassion for the losses of others, we tend to stay stuck in our little worlds. 

Today, tears will be shed worldwide for losses that in no way compare to Hurricane Harvey’s rage across the gulf coast of the US or other disasters that strike people’s lives throughout the world.

Houses close to the road as we drove along the highway.

In today’s world, one may cry over a lost set of keys, a wine stain on a favorite article of clothing, or a sad scene in a TV show or a movie. We were thinking about the losses of others at such times does little to put an end to our whimpering and momentary sensation of failure for even the most insignificant of things. It’s all relative.

We always say, “If we’re safe and healthy, we don’t have a complaint in the world,” as we live this life of world travel. But, we’re not exempt, no matter how hard we try, from getting ruffled by the most meaningless of scenarios.

A popular garden store near the Zoo Ave rehab center.

Who cares if, for some reason, eggs are hard to peel in Costa Rica? Are they hard to peel because they’re so darned fresh from the farm? Who cares if the whole cream we finally found won’t whip due to a lack of emulsifiers added to make it possible?  Is it possible Costa Rica puts less “junk” in many of its products?

Who cares if we can’t find decent imported cheeses or smoky-tasting bacon? Costa Rica is not known for either of these products. They use their queso (cheese) for their meals. They don’t need a fine quality Dutch Gouda to line their deli cases and fill their refrigerators. 

Pretty blooming plants for sale.

Who cares if at night we spot cucarachas (cockroaches) running along with the kitchen counters, which all but disappear during the day? After all, we are living in the rainforest.

Who cares that we find gecko poop on the floors, counters, and furniture. With a quick flick, it’s gone.  Who cares that we can hardly find an English-speaking person in a local shop or market with whom we can have a conversation? It’s their country, not ours. They don’t need to learn our language. We need to discover theirs. (We’re trying).

Pineapple for sale at a farm stand.

Who cares about the loud music wafting through the air at night when we’re trying to sleep? It’s their culture, not ours, that inspires them to celebrate life. Above all, who cares that it rains each day without exception, giving us a reprieve and sunlight for a few hours most mornings when every day the temperature is comfortable with no air-con needed?  We came here in the rainy season based on our schedule, not for some pre-planned sunny vacation.

Who cares about a less than half-day power outage, a temporary plumbing problem, or a ripoff car rental? In the realm of things, these are merely inconveniences that are easily forgotten in no time at all. 

These hedges were trimmed into letters.

Sure, I cringed when a cucaracha ran up my arm when I slipped my hand into a kitchen oven mitt. I got over it. Now, I shake the glove before slipping my hand inside. It’s all relative.

Remain well and safe, dear readers.

Photo from one year ago today, August 31, 2016:

Colorful shrine in front of a property in Phuket, Thailand. It was on this date one year ago that we posted the final expenses for Thailand. For more details, please click here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *