Thursday, March 25, 2010

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.

17 comments:

  1. I know exactly what you're talking about!! Somedays are just like that. Any other day those things may have just rolled off like no big deal, but today was different. A good nights sleep and a beautiful sunrise you should be good to go. We do have to have bad days so we can appreciate the good.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So, do as we all do...........deal with it..........
    If you were unhappy where you came from, you will be unhappy here............volunteer, learn spanish, help out with the many orphanages..........do something..........don't just take pictues of the sunset and complain!!!! Seems to me you have too much time to sit and feel sorry for yourself!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I don't think I was feeling sorry for myself or complaining. I was just making some observations about my life. You seem to be carrying around a chip on your shoulder. Patricia

    ReplyDelete
  4. HI Kim, Thanks for your comment. I appreciate all feed back, even if it is nasty like the one written by Anonymous below yours. I guess that person just wanted to take a swipe at me and didn't have enough courage to identify him or herself.....Very sad indeed. Patricia

    ReplyDelete
  5. Pat, This may or may not be the case, but I have read on the Chapala Webboard that many bus drivers resent and are surly to foreigners who use the senior discount card. They feel that it wasn't earned and should only be used by mexican citizens who have worked in Mexico. But perhaps the driver was having a bad day too! Tomorrow is another day, Thank God. Sylvie

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looks like this Anonymous is the same as the one that was so curt about the IMSS posting on the 19th.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Kim. Maybe so. Thanks for that feed back. I shouldn't let people like that get to me. There will always be people who want to attack others. I have had so many kind and wonderful people contact me. I need to just focus on them and let this negative stuff go.... Thanks again. Patricia

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Sylvie. I have not used the senior discount card. I had no intention of using it on in town buses. I just wanted it for the long distance buses. So, the problem with the bus driver had nothing to do with me using a senior card. I have also heard the same comment from others about local bus drivers not liking us using that card. Thank you for writing. I just think today was an off day for me. Those come along sometimes. Patricia

    ReplyDelete
  9. One more comment to you Anonymous. If you think I am wasting my time by taking photos of sunsets and writing about my feelings then I suggest that you just don't read my blog. That is a simple solution to your obvious irritation at me! No one forced you to look up my blog. Both of us would be much better off if you just ignore it. This blog has become extremely important to me. I put myself out in the world and therefore that makes me extremely vulnerable. I have decided that I don't need to deal with your remarks and if you write to me again I am not going to post them. I have a choice here and I have chosen to not let you into my life again. Patricia

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi, Patricia. Seems the internet allows people to be ignorant & hide behind anonymity. Your solution is simple - just don't read this blog.

    Be glad you just have an occasional bad day. That poster seems to have a bad life. :)
    Ginger

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Ginger, Thank you so much for your encouragement. I appreciate it. I don't know why two upsetting comments in over a year would bother me. I have met many wonderful people with this blog. Thank you. Patricia

    ReplyDelete
  12. Pat

    Please don't let these stupid mean spirited individuals dictate to you how you should feel or act. I personally look forward to your daily blogs. I am a male age 40 something living in the Chicago land area. If the person who had so much negativity to share on your blog would just take a minute to reflect on how immature & ignorant she or he sounded they would think twice about doing it again. The next time they write please just hit delete and forget about them & thank God you are living in a beautiful place & you have the talent to express your self in such a beautiful way & can share your personal life experiences with all of us. You have many more friends here in this blog & we Love to hear & see all the pictures you post...please never stop sharing your paradise with the world....PEACE LOVE & UNDERSTANDING...

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you so much for your beautiful and encouraging e mail. I have gotten some very loving e mails from people and that means a lot to me....Thank you, thank you, thank you, Patricia

    ReplyDelete
  14. to Anonymous, you need to take a break. It sounds to me like your are reading Pat's blog because you envy her life. Why do you feel one has to volunteer or even learn spanish? The Ajijic area has many english speaking Mexicans. Perhaps people retired there because they needed a rest from volunteering all their lives. Some people just don't know how to stop and smell the roses and since they can't well you know the saying misery loves company. Pat is minding her own business and sharing The Lake Chapala area with all of us. She is not hurting anyone, if she has a down day, well her blog is her outlet. I use mine as an outlet. Maybe you need one. I pray whatever it is that caused you to attack Pat will soften and you learn to relax, enjoy you are in paradise.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Brenda, Thank you for your comment..... I really appreciate that..... Patricia

    ReplyDelete
  16. everybody has an off day, and the comment from anonymous was probaly because there jealous. I know i am because i wish i was back there!!! It was really good to meet you and i had a great time, hope to be living there soon.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Trevor, Thank you for writing. It was a lot of fun meeting you and the rest of the family. I hope you guys decide to move here sooner rather than later. Your Friend, Patricia

    ReplyDelete