December 24th, Christmas Eve we met Jaime 400 meters south of the park to pick up the keys to the Ranchita. It has been raining for the past week and he was concerned about us heading up the mountain on our own and insisted that we follow him. On the way he stopped several times to point out things that we might need to know……like Octavio's casa (he's our gardener) "telefono" he said and then we drove a little further and he pointed out Octavio's daughters casa….."telefono" he said. We finally reached our little farm and released a sigh of relief and pleasure to be there. It's just as beautiful as we remembered. Mama gato has disappeared and left behind two small kittens who are most happy to see us. Jaime set about showing us how to turn on the water and electricity. We started a fire in the outdoor brick oven as it was cold and still very damp from all the rain. He had stacked coffee wood for us which smells wonderful when it burns. There is a large covered patio area off the Ranchita itself….the brick oven on one end and house on the other. The "kitchen" is a sink to one side of the oven with two large blue barrels that collect the rain water. Jaime made sure that I knew to keep a pot of water heating in the oven at all times. The casa is a small two room tico dwelling that you wouldn't really want to spend much time in, but he has bought a set of sheets (one sheet for each bed) and two blankets for us to keep warm. We are getting the picture……he thinks we are going to spend the night here! We wouldn't want to hurt his feelings so we don't say a word except…."muchas gracias" ! He bought us groceries; potatoes, eggs, ham, tamales, tortillas con queso and fruit. And of course organic Costa Rican coffee. There is a small make shift cupboard on wheels that he brings out and puts near the "kitchen" and fire place. I now know this is where it belongs because each time I moved it (It was starting to rain now and the wind was blowing the rain in under the porch covering) he would move it back….rain or no rain. He brought out two saw horses and then with Ray's help brought out a large table top that fits on top of the saw horses. He made coffee for us and kept trying to make us drink Brandy to make us "muy caliente" because it was getting "mucho frio" ! After four hours of making us feel at home he said his goodbye and "hasta luego". We worried about him leaving as his wheels started spinning in the muddy terrain which was getting soggier by the minute. "Ciao……gracias……hasta luego"! Finally……we're alone and we open up a couple of beers (I forgot to mention he had beers in the cooler for us) look out over the mountains and white cliffs in the distance, smile…..hug and wish each other a Merry Christmas. We felt it just couldn't get a better than this. The rain began really picking up….it was four o'clock and it gets dark at 5:30 so we decided we better get off the mountain before nightfall. We put everything away and said our goodbyes to the kittens with promises of returning the next day with food for them. We ran to the car laughing, buckled in and started the trek down the mountain. Ray backed up the car to get a good run at the hill and as he did the ass end of the car started sliding and the more we tried to pull out the more the ass end slid further out and DOWN. He remained really calm….got out of the car to assess the situation……had me get behind the wheel (big mistake)…….we were so into the trees now that you couldn't even get in our out of the car on the drivers side. He was getting soaked and covered in mud. I guess the final straw was when I gave the gas pedal one big push and it kicked up mud so high that it was sliding off his head and face. We decided we would have to spend the night and try again in the morning when the rain stopped and things started to dry out. Darkness had fallen at the Ranchita, it was cold and Ray was muy soaked! We got the fire roaring again, we found an old sweater of Jaime's for Ray and started settling in for a long winter's night. I made potatoes and onions in a cast iron pan in the oven……rico! We had tortilla's too and lots of hot coffee. Ray was finally drying out and took a little Christmas Eve siesta in front of the oven with our two little gatos huddled together on his feet. I named them Feliz and Tigger. It really was a peaceful, loving Christmas Eve!
The rain fell in buckets all through the night…..and the next morning when we woke the covered patio was slick and very wet from the wind whipping the rain in one side and out the other. Ray started a fire for us and I put the coffee on. Merry Christmas, Ray…….Merry Christmas, Mikie! Ray had a plan that as soon as the rain stopped or slowed down he would go out and start to work getting the car out. We didn't really want to spend another night in the Ranchita. I made breakfast while he set about seeing what he could find to help in the rescue effort. He found a tarp to put over him, shovels and scouted out bricks and cinder blocks to put under the car when he jacked it up. By 10 o'clock it was still raining like crazy and he decided he might just as well bite the bullet and get started. I can't really go into detail of all his efforts (being a girl and all) but I saw him slip-sliding and rolling around in the mud doing his level best to put the car in a position to back out of the hole. I kept the fire going and the coffee hot and he would come under the shelter from time to time to get warm. He hauled the bricks which crumbled under the weight of the car and after four hours of effort and getting the car up on one side it only started to slip again. Ray never gives up…….this is what I love about him. But this time he did! He decided to walk down the mountain to get help. He had one last cup of coffee, put the plastic tarp over his head and with my walking stick in hand started down the mountain. I repeated the prayer for protection over and over again……asking and seeing his sure footedness as he descended down through the clouds and rain. My hero! Over the past 24 hours we had talked about how if something serious had happened to us who would even know to come looking for us……we really need to get an International cell phone! Due to Jaime's foresight Ray knew where to go to find a "telefono"….he went to Octavio's mija first, but no one was home. When he reached Octovio's house everyone was there enjoying Christmas together as a family. Of course they wanted him to come in out of the rain but he said he would stay on the porch….he was one big wet, muddy mess. You know, when we have love in our heart and we truly care about your fellow man……there really are no language barriers. Ray called Manuel….Jaime's friend who spoke English (again Jaime's forethought) to let him know what had happened to us and that we needed help. When Manuel called back he said that Jaime was on his way to help and that he was "very impressed" that he "Ray" had walked down the mountain. While Ray waited for our guardian angel to arrived he was given hot coffee and sugar cookies on the front porch. The grandchildren stood and smiled at Ray….never saying word…..just smiling.
When Jaime arrived an hour later he started barking orders at Octavio, to bring his boots and "vamos". They all piled into Jaime's white charge and headed to the mountain. When they arrived not a word was spoken but they set to work….the fire was stoked, Octavio started chopping more coffee wood, Jaime brought everything back out onto the patio. He set out the plates and put before us fresh roasted pork and tortilla's he had brought from home. He had fruit cake and made us hot chocolate with Brandy…….everything was rico! He brought a warm change of clothes for Ray and insisted that he change and stand in front of the now roaring fire. He and Octavio put on their boots and hats and headed out to assess the situation. Jaime got down on his knees in the mud and checked under the car and the work that Ray had already accomplished. He tied a big strap from the back our bumper to the back of his car. He told Ray to keep his wheel straight and give it the gas when he told him to……..I could tell Ray didn't have a clue what Jaime had said to him even though he was shaking his head "yes". I hollered out to him and asked if he understood what he had said……NO…..I gave him the instructions…….Jaime hollered NOW and they both tromped on the gas. After much mud slinging and nashing of tires we were out. Yeehaw echoed through the valley below as I resounded in pure joy!
Now you'd think we could all hug and go home. No…..more hot water was put on, another pot of coffee made and tamale's for everyone. Oh yes……and more warm, dry clothes. I suppose there are a few friends out there that wonder if maybe these first two days test or question our decision to adopt this beautiful country and its life style. We think the Universe spoke loud and clear the night she opened the earth and sucked us in…..you belong here she said….come, stay the night…..be still and just be.