READ THIS RIGHT NOW!

let me tell you guys a little story....about 4....5 years ago (wow, how time has flown by) i lived in mexico. Well, i had been waiting for a repair guy to come fix my cable (yeah, really important, huh) and at every phone conversation he would tell me "mañana." After about three weeks of "mañanas" (as you could imagine) i was well, let´s ust say, a little mad. "How could this guy not come?" "Why would he say tomorrow, when he clearly doesn´t mean it?" "Who is this guy´s mother and why would she raise someone this way?" I was ticked. Well, one day whilst being frustrated and mad at the world because this man could´t put in MY cable, i walked down to a restaurant that i usually frequented to grab a bite to eat. as i walk down the stairs down to the shore, the breeze brushing against my body. a beautiful view of the ocean. the sound of waves crashing against the shore. the smell of fresh grilled red snapper....I WAS FURIOUS. The anger on my face showed and i didn´t care who saw me that way because i was mad, why shouldn´t i be! Right???

I sat down at me usual spot. i said the old "buenos dias" "como estas?", not really thinking it was a good day. This older gentleman that i always saw there greeted me with a smile. As he sat eating at the table next to me, he asked me "Que tienes?" Direct translation "What do you have?" What´s wrong with me? "Well, this guy was suppose to come put in my cable and blah blah blah blah blah," i go on. He looks at me. Deeply. his eyes compassionate to what i had to say (no matter how silly it was). He looks at me......long pause.....and says "Why don´t you find something else to do?" "Huh? What? well, yeeeeaaaah, i guess i could find something else to do" i thought. "Yeah, i could find somethng else to do, but...." he stops me "Find something else to do" he says again and smiles. Pause..... somehow the subject was changed. We ate.

Living in a foreign country, especially a latin american country. the importance of time is well, not the most important thing on people´s lists. with the word "ahora" taking on a variety of meanings such as "now" "right now" "today" or "sometime in the next couple days," having learned this after many times people told "ahora," me getting myself ready to leave or for a meeting to start etc having to find myself waiting even more or being told "oh, no, not right right now (ahorita) but... sometime today we will do it." one can see that time is well, just time.

never did i realize, until now, how important that one little line would forever put a dent in my brain "find something else to do" Things don´t go the way you want. . . find something else to do. meeting doesn´t start on time. . . find something else to do. are in a situation that doesn´t make you feel comfortable. . . find something else to do.

don´t get me wrong, being punctual is a quality i like about myself and a quality i like of other people. (so tania, my dear, you are still not exempt from this rule) but, time...time... i remind myself everyday, especially here, time does not have dominian over our lives. i was tested of this the other day when i went to visit my kids in San Juan de Opoa (youth group who i tried to instill in them that they own the responsibilty of starting their meetings, directing activities, being an example for their peers, etc, etc). the meeting was to start at 5.00p.m. well, 5.15, 5.30, 5.45. I was warned of this before hand by numerous volunteers in different parts of the country that meetings NEVER, i mean NEVER start on time. always one hour later or more. I wait, not wanting to be the mean adult (Wow, am i an adult already?) the meeting well, started at 5.45 and i made it. i am alive. the world didn´t end and the meeting went on as planned. So, what´s my point after this long winded story about an old guy, time etc. well, screw time, being puctual, i´m going to arrive late at every meeting and function i have to go to for the rest of my years!!! why do we make appointments anyway, go to work on time. Rubbish. i´ve had it, people!!!

ha ha!! just kidding!!!!!