Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Home Again in Ajijic

No photos yet. I was too exhausted to rummage through my still full suitcase to try to find the camera. I arrived in the middle of the night last night and early this morning I had to go to LCS to renew my FM3. It was wonderful for me to be in the warm sunshine and walking in my neighborhood. I visited with friends along the way. What a great life I have and I appreciate every minute back here. Of course, I miss my family but maybe they will come here next time.

When I got off the plane in Guadalajara there was a portable metal stairway for us to take. Buses were waiting to take us to the airport building.  Every since I broke my ankle I am very careful when I walk down any stairs. So I was taking them slowly and holding on to the rail for dear life. I must have looked like an old woman because when I finally reached the bottom of the stairs a Mexican man asked if I needed a WHEELCHAIR!   Well that felt like a slap in the face. Did I appear THAT OLD?  Everyone else was already boarding the bus... I said, NO. I don't need a wheelchair.  He politely asked me again. Was I sure I didn't need a wheelchair? This time I had an edge to my voice. NO. No wheelchair. I was tired from the trip and here I was being treated like an OLD person.  I glared at him and hobbled onto the bus.

When we got to the terminal, there was a long line to get through Customs. Guess what. That same man wheeled in a woman in the wheelchair and he took her right up front. No waiting in that line. No waiting in any of the lines we had to negotiate in order to finally get out of there. She immediately got her bags and immediately went through the last line.....  I, on the other hand, had to wait through three very long exhausting lines and forty five minutes later I was finally out.

What is the moral to this story? Don't let vanity cheat you out of an opportunity to get first in line.? Or maybe, order a wheelchair when you get into the Guadalajara Airport? Or, accept the advantages of old age?

I am so happy to be HOME again. I have been away a month and four days. That was long enough for me to forget which key went into which lock in my casita. (Maybe I am a forgetful old woman.)  My casita looked pretty shabby after living with my son and daughter-in-law in their beautiful three story home. But after a couple of minutes I was glad to be there and I didn't even notice the down at the heals look. It was like taking off a pair of very expensive shoes and putting on an old worn out pair of slippers. Home again. That is all that matters. And Chico was so excited to see me. My landlord let him out of his house as soon as he heard me open the gate and Chico ran into my arms. He slept with me last night.  Chico, not the landlord.

14 comments:

  1. Very funny Patricia! Glad to hear that you arrived safe and that you were careful about your heels.
    Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Nancy, Thank you. Thanks for commenting. Interesting to see you on this site instead of my e mail address. I will write an e mail to you after I get caught up with all the things I have to do here. Glad you liked that little bit of fluff writing. P

    ReplyDelete
  3. You made me laugh too, Patricia. Glad you are home, and I bet Chico is soooo happy!

    Karen in VA

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Karen, Thank you for writing and for your good wishes. Yes, Chico is so happy to have me home again. He has been hanging out with me all day. P

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's so stinking cold here in Oregon that I am terribly jealous but glad that you made it home safely..

    ReplyDelete
  6. I laughed out loud at the end. :) Happy to hear you're home safe and sound, and will be interested to hear what you find out re what's been going on down there.

    I always book a wheelchair when I travel - sometimes use them, sometimes don't, but do anytime customs is involved. Oh gosh yes you just go to the front of lines and go right on through! Do I need one? No. Do I appreciate the ease and speed of things with one? You bet!

    It's a service, and while I enjoy walking, I don't enjoy hassle, particularly when I'm tired. I don't associate them with being old - rather with being in on the secret to speeding through airports. ;)

    Again, loved your writing of your homecoming! As always, thanks for sharing.

    Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Barbara, Thank you for your good wishes. Glad you enjoyed my little piece of adventure. So we have both discovered a little known secret of getting through the hassles of customs. Wheelchairs. I will put my pride and ego aside and do that from now on. Happy Holidays to you. Patricia

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi NWexican, Thank you for writing and your good wishes. Yes, I too hate cold weather. I was cold for a month. it is wonderful to be warm again. P

    ReplyDelete
  9. Chico, not the landlord, made me laugh out loud, glad you made it back safe and sound !

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's so good to have you back in Ajijic, Patricia. I, too, wish I can be there in that warm weather.
    Merry Christmas and I wish you great health and lots of hapiness throughout the New Year 2012.

    Haidi

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you Haidi. I appreciate your good wishes. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too. Patricia

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am glad my comment about sleeping with Chico and not my landlord got some laughs. I aim to please. Thank you all for writing and welcoming me back to Ajijic. P

    ReplyDelete
  13. Well my goodness ! I've met both Otto & Chico & I have to tell ya ... Chico wins hands down!

    Yes Pat ... pretty funny & it made me laugh aloud as well. (And here you think you don't have a sense of humor?!! You CAN write w/attitude! Believe it!)

    Take care ... Gayle in the still-frigid-NW

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Gayle, Now I am laughing. Quite that job for good and come down here. Weather is beautiful. Your friend, P

    ReplyDelete