One of those days yesterday where everything just felt a little bit off. I’ve struggled with bouts of depression throughout my life, and thankfully, my black thoughts have not reached that level yet. Still, another night of little sleep set the tone for the day. My f’n brain just won’t shut up and let me rest sometimes. The transition to my elderly seventies continues to be a struggle, the hardest part being acceptance that the end is coming, ready or not. That, coupled with the realization that dreams of the future are a thing of the past, enhances the reality that, like it or not, what I have is what it will be until it is gone. I do take some comfort in knowing it could be a hell of a lot worse.
My driver, Danny, who has been with me since I first moved to the Philippines, told me on the way to the grocery store that he was resigning. That was more than a little surprising. We stopped at the ATM, and when I got back in the car, Danny and Swan were arguing loudly in Tagalog. I told them I didn’t want to hear it. Later, I tried to get Danny to explain to me why he was quitting, but all he would say was that he didn’t get along with my girlfriend. Later, I got a message from Danny’s son, reiterating that the problem was his relationship with Swan. Yeah, Swan has been interjecting herself in the price negotiations over what Danny charges me. Danny asked for 20,000 pesos to drive us to La Union and back. Swan said that was too much, and she did the car rental route with driver, gas, and tolls, and it cost us 16,500 pesos. Apparently, that was the final straw for Danny. Oh, well. I don’t need the drama, and if he isn’t happy, by all means, he should find a new client to overcharge.
My legs were stiff in the lower calf area, which is unusual for me. Must have been stress from those ups and downs on Monday’s Hash. It made walking painful, but I forced myself to go out and hike the neighborhood after grocery shopping. It was good to ease my mind with music from my Spotify playlist filling my earbuds. My legs felt better when I was done, too.
Swan needed to go to the drugstore to refill my prescriptions, so we skipped Baloy Beach and did our evening out in Barretto. I took my usual perch at Sloppy Joe’s and watched the world pass by outside. Swan did her shopping and, when she returned, said she wasn’t hungry. I was, and ordered a pulled pork sandwich, which was pretty good for pub fare. Next, we paid a rare visit to the Alaska Club and enjoyed the music and company of our waitress, Alex. She got two lady drinks, and the five dancers each received a 50-peso tip in appreciation of their efforts. We did our nightcap at Cloud 69, and also had a nice time there.
And the sands in the hourglass of life finished with another day.
The dollar continues to grow stronger against the peso. It’s actually over 59 pesos to the dollar this morning, about the highest I’ve seen it. Conversely, I noted in buying my imported foods at Royal yesterday that the prices have gone up considerably. For example, Betty Crocker brownie mix is $5.90 a box, up from $5.30. I guess it all evens out.
From the December 2014 LTG archives, this post commemorates the tenth anniversary of Long Time Gone. Time flies, and I enjoyed reading my reflections on my life since moving to Korea. More changes were on the horizon — painful ones — but I survived and here I am. I also quoted one of my favorite Sara Teasdale poems:
It was a night of early spring,
The winter-sleep was scarcely broken;
Around us shadows and the wind
Listened for what was never spoken.
Though half a score of years are gone,
Spring comes as sharply now as then—
But if we had it all to do
It would be done the same again.
It was a spring that never came;
But we have lived enough to know
That what we never have, remains;
It is the things we have that go.
Truer words were never spoken.
Today’s YouTube video says the science is settled on these twelve myths. I don’t believe it.
Smile for me:
On and on it goes. Today’s hike with the Wednesday Walkers was an ass-kicker, I’ll tell you about that tomorrow. Now it’s time to find out what Wednesday evening has in mind for me.
Surely Swan has a family member or friend who can replace Danny? In this situation you want to keep your worries and stress about finding a new driver to a minimum.
Today’s hike with the Wednesday Walkers was an ass-kicker, I’ll tell you about that tomorrow.
Same error I always see. What’s the problem, and how should you correct it?
re: black thoughts and brain not shutting up
It’s not too late to try Zen meditation.
re: retiring driver
Sorry to hear it. Was he really that much of a grifter?
Re: Driver
Is he reliable and drives safely? If so, is it worth telling Swan that you know you are overpaying him and are okay with that and to let you handle all interactions with him going forward? I know that in a place like the PI, finding a driver is easy. Finding a good driver is difficult. Don’t know if Danny is the former or the latter.
Re: Myths video
Which myths do you still believe are correct? I think the only one I was unsure was the mice and cheese. Kind of assumed that was their favorite food. (I should know better, as my place in the states is out in the country and alot of field mice around. I found that peanut butter is the best bait.)
Brian, I’m used to Danny’s driving. If I encountered him on the highway while driving, some of his tactics might provoke road rage, but he seems skilled. He’s driving the same car he was when we met over seven years ago, and it has no dents, so there’s that. There have been occasions when I wondered, Is this the day? Like passing on blind corners on a mountain road. That said, he was reliable, always arrived on time, and even sent a replacement if he was unavailable. He’ll be missed, but he can be replaced. I appreciate Swan intervening to prevent price-gouging.
I have no reason not to believe any of the “truths” presented, although swallowing spiders when sleeping seems unlikely to me. Maybe I think that to help me sleep. I saw in the comments that someone else uses peanut butter as mouse bait. Sounds like a trend!
Kevin, I *think* the error is joining two independent clauses inappropriately. I could have put a period after ass kicker, or added an “and” after the comma.
Hmm, I’m overdue for my moment of Zen?
No, I don’t consider Danny a grifter. I tend to overpay my help here, but that’s on me. Lately, Danny has been asking for amounts that make even me cringe, so saying “no, thanks” wasn’t a problem. I suspect he’ll miss the 1200 easy pesos he made driving me to Olongapo for grocery shopping every week.
Dan, yes, Swan has already arranged for a friend to drive to the grocery store next week. My plan B is to make arrangements with a taxi. They actually charge less than what I was paying Danny.
I trust Danny’s loss of face doesn’t result in any retaliation – sometimes dished out in the P.I. by an assialant hopping off the back of a motorbike with a handgun when the transgressor’s (perceived or real) back is turned, and when they least expect it. Life can be cheap in the P.I. “Let’s be careful out there” as the sergeant used to advise during roll call on Hill Street Blues.
Aloysius, naw, we didn’t part on bad terms. He told me to call him if I get a new girlfriend.