I know it is been quite some time since I have "blogged". I have been thinking about writing something for quite awhile.
For example:
I was on the stationary bicycle at the gym the other day, it was raining, and I watched someone take a water meter reading outside. They were using a hand held electronic device to record the reading. This started me to thinking about all the technilogical advances in this "backwoods" country. I remembered when they began using these same devices in San Marcos for recording water meter readings. Next would be the meters that are used to record electicity use here. They are all digital, no longer the analog. which involved the rotating wheel. Cell phone use here is probably as extensive here as it is in the US, along with the same texting while driving problems. Last year fiber optic cables were installed in the country for telephone and internet use. We have a router that is a combination, lan and wifi. For a "third world" country we seem to be keeping up with the rest of the world, fairly well.
I moved here for many reasons, the primary reason being to spend the rest of my life with Fabiana Ponzoni. Before I moved here I had the same impression that most people have of South America. I imagined it as being jungle infested with all kinds of tropical animals and flora. It is almost identical to Texas, just a lot smaller. We don't have mountains here, like in West Texas. We have rolling hills, plains and a coastal region. It has still been the adventure I had imagined. My adventurous life took a different turn with the birth of Agustina, our daughter. I am 64 years old and parenthood has taken on an entire different meaning for me. I cherish each and every moment that I am given to spend with my family here. Do not misunderstand what I am saying. I have a son living in San Marcos, and I love him very much, but I do have a hard time remembering him growing up. I remember bits and pieces. I believe that has a lot to do with the fact that I spent most of my time during the day being at work, so a lot was missed. I am retired now and I spend most of my time with my family and I have the joy of spending a lot of time with them. There are still things I miss but it doesn't have anything to do with me not being here with them. I am living a new adventure, being a "senior" with a baby in the house.
I still find myself being amazed at times that I am living in South America. Living here is not really all that much different that the life I lived in North America. The only true difference is the language, and I think I am getting better at understanding and speaking the language here. I was thinking the other day, and I hope this doesn't upset too many people, but Americans have a kind of arrogance about english. When the people began coming to America, colonization, their primary language may or may not have been english. We were all descendants of immigrants. If you ever have the privilege of visiting a foreign country you may understand what I am saying.
I am rambling but I wanted to write down some of the things I have been thinking about while living here.
I still wake up every morning being more thankful than before the God has given me one more day to enjoy life. I am thankful for my family and friends, my true friends.
I want to add something I was thinking this morning. I have lived through various stages of life. I have struggled for a dollar, I have been comfortable with an income. I now depend on Social Security and another annuity and because of things that happen unexpectedly in life, some months have been a struggle but we have never gone hungry. If we run out of money before the end of the month there is always a way to survive. The fruteria where we shop regularly doesn't have a problem extending credit for us to get things and pay for them at the beginning of the next month. I was thinking this morning that almost every person in the world is dependent of the economy. If another big war should occur, and it will happen, the economies of every country involved will be affected. There are going to be a lot of people that will be doing without, food being on of the things that will be a struggle to have. Jobs will be lost, retirement annuities will not be paid, even people that have invested in the stock market will be counted amoung the struggling population. You will only be worth the money you have in your pocket. I am not trying to paint a negative picture, but it is something everyone needs to think about. I pray that it doesn't happen my lifetime or the lifetimes of my family and friends, but it is going to happen if the world doesn't wake up and figure out a way to reach a worldwide solution to peace.
