The Pink Cloud

There are actual pink clouds, like the ones in the following post and imagined ones. I am sure you have heard that expression many times. Someone is walking around in a pink cloud. The first few months of marriage are like being on a pink cloud. Getting a new car or house or anything you want can create a pink cloud for awhile. Losing weight or overcoming an addiction can create pink clouds. Once I won a three thousand dollar jackpot on a penny slot machine. I was on a pink cloud for about a month after that.

I remember when I was a young girl and in the hospital after having my appendix removed. I would stare out the window and I promised myself that I would never be unhappy again if I could just get out of that awful hospital bed. I got well and was on a pink cloud for a few days but then went back to being myself again.

The pink cloud happened to me here too. Every day was great. I was so excited and happy to be living here in this beautiful place. I have been here two years off and on and now the pink cloud is fading. I am finally willing to admit that I have bad days here just as I had bad days in the States. Like today, just as an example. I broke my landlord's lawn chair and had to go to Walmart to look for another one. I couldn't find anything appropriate. Everything was overpriced and of poor quality. I left, disappointed and empty handed.

I was hungry so I went to breakfast in one of my favorite breakfast places in San Antonio. I don't know what happened to it. Maybe it had new owners but my omelet was missing the bacon, ham, cheese, and spinach. I usually don't complain about the food to the waiters but this was a bit too much. The price had doubled. The waitress was surly and there was nothing but tomatoes and red peppers in my omelet. When I pointed to the menu and the missing ingredients she acted as if I was being unreasonable. Just another ugly American. I left hungry and angry.

Then I took the bus to West Ajijic. I asked the bus driver if he was going there and he said yes but he dumped me off before he reached West Ajijic and I had to walk an extra few blocks. As I was walking along the hot highway I saw the same bus rushing past me..... And to top it all off, as I was going to take a photo of a cute little dog, he jumped up and tried to bite me. That was a first for me since I started taking photos of cute little dogs. It was not a good day for me.

A few months ago, when I was still in the pink cloud stage I never would have thought about a day like this. I would have just sailed on through it with no complaints. Now, I am more reality oriented. This isn't paradise. I have daily problems but I would rather have my problems here than anywhere else in the world, pink cloud or no pink cloud.