Incarcerated Sep 8, 2011

I saw something today that you don’t see everyday. Allow me to begin by explaining: we live an estimated 7 km from Montezuma (this translates to approximately 4 miles. Why America doesn’t use the metric system? I don’t know!). As a result, our walks to Montezuma have become a more routine occurrence which ultimately results in higher endurance, good conversation, and an increasing appreciation for nature’s beauty.

Today, upon entering Montezuma, I noticed something that hadn’t previously called my attention. Near the bus stop lies the local police shelter. Nothing too strange here, right? Well, as an additional compartment to the police shelter rests the Montezuma jail, and there, what "called my attention" was a deranged man behind bars staring at people as they pass. At this time, I began to ask myself, “why”?

Did the police lack appropriate funding to seclude these unhinged individuals? After all, what housed these kind officers was more of a shack than an adequate police station. Additionally, I wondered, is this man placed as an intentional reminder to the public of what happens to those who disturb the peace? or moreover, did he represent the civil repercussions by failing to say no to drugs like those anti-smoking campaign billboards? After all, in Costa Rica, not smoking weed illegally seems to be an impossible task for most people here.

After pondering these things for a bit, an unexpected thought came to my mind..... I realized that I TRULY wanted to take a picture of this man. After all, these uncanny moments don’t come often. The man looked snaggle-toothed, unkept, and mildly crazy, and better yet, he was behind bars! As I wrestled with myself, I couldn’t bring myself to take the picture. Having said that, I wish I could say my reasons for not taking the picture rested on respect and courtesy towards him as a person, but nay... instead I admit, I was weak and too afraid...

In retrospect, I ponder... what’s the worst that could’ve happened? I suppose he could have snarled at me. Who knows? maybe if I had gotten too close, he could have spit as well. Worst case, he could have thrown human excrement because I certainly could not see a toilet within the cell confinement space. Regretfully, I now realize; I would have survived, and I would have a priceless treasure of a picture posted in this blog. Moral of the story, if you ever encounter something invaluable requiring only moderate risk, don’t think...

Just do it!!!!

2 Things I dislike about facebooker's facebooking -August 4, 2011

Firstly, constant complainers are depressing. Sure bad stuff happens to all of us, and sometimes searching for uplifting assurance or sympathy is sometimes appropriate, but please understand. Friends don't like to subject themselves to another friend's realm of festering negativity.

Secondly, the reoccurring, sappy, dreamy, adolescent love messages drive me nuts lol. (I had to remove some of my sister's friends for that reason) If I wanted to read a sappy love novel, I would have read the Twilight series long ago. There's more to life than that one boy who, in the embodiment of ubiquitous reality, will most likely never carry any real meaning to that dreamer's milieu.

This isn't directed towards anyone, it's only a mere observation from experience in facebooking.

Cold Inspiration

As I entered the shower this morning, I was quickly reminded that our “calentador” (engrish for water heater) hadn’t been working for the last couple days. Mind you, only in Costa Rica and Guatemala will you ever have such a fine cold shower. The experience is nearly always the same every time: an even, running flow of water falls from 7 ft. and splashes the tiled shower below. The lack of steam brings about a sensation of unwanted anticipation. The knowing that the infelicitous experience is undoubtably inescapable. Additionally, unlike tip-towing into a cold swimming pool at one’s desired pace, one must submerge him/herself into the arctic pits of unpleasantness. One step forward, and that’s it! Might as well have your friends push you into the pool because here it’s all or nothing!

Today, upon entering the glacial splash, I yelp and quiver in embarrassment; even so, despite the iciclely, razor-sharp nips and what feels like marble sized testies, I’m shortly prompted of how nice a cold shower feels. Enduring the first 10-20 seconds feels like the opposite of hell, but afterwards, it feels light, refreshing and almost crystal clean. This week, I’ve had to unwillingly participate in this ritual at least once a day, but today is a different day.

As I showered today I began to ponder life and how we experience it. Allow me to elucidate. Often humans are forced to undergo ill-disposed consequences or situations. Some people call these hard knocks; I like to call them life’s bitch slap. Sure enough, this occurs more routinely than we’d like. Really, it’s these cold, overwhelming avalanche-like experiences that becomes life’s way of saying, “this is the only way, so get used to it!” Sometimes we see it coming, and sometimes we don’t; nonetheless, upon submersing yourself into the bitch-slap of life, we’re reminded that the aftermath isn’t so severe, or ofttimes, it’s pleasant.

Maybe we get used to it. As natural selection dictates, all creatures will adapt and survive; furthermore, as humans we’ve had to adapt to our injurious environments for thousands of years which has led us to our existence here. Maybe it’s the way our minds react to cognitive dissonance. If we’re forced to undertake an adverse task, we convince ourselves that life is in fact good rather than submitting to guilt, sorrow, or anxiety. Or maybe, we learn from our mistakes and accept the hard times as consequential lessons for our actions. Either way, or which ever way, life isn’t so bad. In fact, life’s great! I try to be reminded that someone else always has it worse than us, and there’s always much to be grateful for. It’s the tough times when we learn the most and are forced to grow. Ultimately, may we anticipate our cold showers with ease knowing that the calm comes not just before the storm, but the calm comes after too.