As I passed Fany's house she said Laura is sick again. She called Dr. Gustavo and he suggested a urine test first, just to rule that out. She is home alone so I offered to pick up the urine cup. In the midst of our conversation I realized I need to pay my rent for the next two months before I head to the US, and since I will drop my car off for work at the shop tomorrow, I have to go to the bank today.
The line at the bank was tremendous as always. Normally I wait in the regular line. Today I finally got up the nerve to wait in the "Deposits/Premier" line, which I have every right to do. I am depositing my rent. Normally I don't like to wait in that line though because as a North American I prefer not to jump in with the "Premier" patients. Even though I could. I like to wait in the normal folks line with the normal folks. Today I just didn't have time.
The bank only took a half hour, as opposed to an hour or more. Yes! I stopped and grabbed the cup for the urine sample. Still right on track. And then the airport. I have searched everywhere and cannot find a bag to bring my cat back to the US with me for Christmas. I was told they sold them at the airport. Turns out they don't.
At Delta they told me that every pet store sells them. After I had already told them that I have been to every pet store I know and can't find one. They insisted they are everywhere, at every pet store. Then the sent me to customer service, where I learned I can come the day ahead with all of my paperwork and make sure everything is right and get signed in. I was grateful to know that. In the US I just showed my paperwork to the ticket agent, but apparently here it is harder to get out than it is to get back in.
One guy said maybe the souvenir shops have travel bags for cats. I checked upstairs, searched every souvenir shop. Most people thought I was crazy, but there was one man who was really helpful. He didn't have them, but he thought of three places that might. He also walked me out to show me a store nearby, across from the parking lot, that sells bags and might have one. He even told me exactly the right words to say when I ask for then, so people will know what I need. He was a very nice guy.
The place across the parking lot didn't have one. But they said a place nearby did. So I started at the mall, which is closest. I had been told by two people the pet shop there has them. Wrong! They have purses. Not bags to take my cat on the airplane.
Then I drove around searching for the store behind the Pizza Hut. A guard was very happy when I stopped in front of his restaurant to ask directions. He was no help, but was thrilled to talk to a North American female. He would have talked all day, if I weren't in a hurry.
I found the place behind the Pizza Hut. They are small and have a ton of stuff. They had one HUGE bag that I can't imagine will fit under the seat of an airplane and one tiny bag that I can't imagine will fit my cat. In fact now I know it doesn't. But I bought them both. I'll take them both to the airport and if I am not allowed on the plane with the gigantic one, I will shove her into the tiny one and be grateful that now I know to go to the airport the day before, and spend a night in a hotel instead of making the whole trip at once. Sh e can stand to not move for 4 hours at a time. That tiny place might also get disposable litter boxes before I leave. If that actually happens, that shop really hooked me up!
Then off to the vet. Bad news, the only vet I trust here is leaving the practice. Good news, she is doing all of the paperwork and getting everything done so I can go to the US. The best part is, I have had this vet appointment scheduled for three months. Everything just fell into place. Jetty got her anti-parasite meds and the doctor will do all of the documentation for her to travel with me. I will, however, miss my trusted doctor in the future. It's hard to find a good vet in Honduras.
Jetty only puked once in the car. She was calm on the way home and even purred as I was parking the car. That was strange.
I am going to spend Thanksgiving with a bunch of friends at the pastor's house of the North American church. My assignment is to make sweet potatoes, which I am happy to do since I got a delicious recipe from my friend Mary from SLC/now Oregon.
Saturday was my big exam. I finished first, before everyone else. There were two answers I didn't know and one I couldn't remember. I think I did well. Sunday I slept until 11 a.m.! I planned to go to church at 10. I never, ever sleep that late. Usually I am up by 7:30. The strangest part is that I also slept until 11 a.m. today. I think I was pretty stressed out about that exam. It is nice to have it over. I was worried about missing the class. Even thought about dropping out. But when I talked to the instructor, she said that everyone else will be on vacations too. They will take a break from the class while I am gone.
Last night I had dinner with the North America church people. We celebrated Thanksgiving together. I had a lot of good and productive conversations with people. God is guiding me closely in this time. I remain grateful.
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| Laura and her Princesa Sofia piñata |
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| Birthday girl, ready to pray |
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| Santos, Fany y Laura |
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| Isabela sharing "birthday cake" with David |
