January 11, 2012
It’s a comforting feeling
to be able to catch several buses in another country and not be bothered with intense
anxiety about treking my way back home, searching for a battery for my stopped
watch (R$15) and discovering the new Post Office downtown, rummaging around for
a flea comb for Pipo (R$12) and a daytimer for the new year. Additionally the
story of the stamps happens to be correct, not all of the Correios carry stamps
and since I failed to take a number when entering the site, I lost my place not
once but twice…don’t have the Brasilian self-assurance to insist I was waiting in
line and strut in front of the efficient and bad-mannered customers. Gave up
sending Taelor a 6” by 6” by 1” bag with a lightweight item because it amounted
to R$44! Sorry Taelor, I will hand deliver it in March.
Walked one long and one
lagged step at a time, darting between racing cars (pedestrians never have
right of way and I forever feel as though I am taking my life in my hands even
on a lazy neighborhood road) and crossing from one side to the other of the
wide avenue to peer into shop windows and check out prices of items of
interest. R$49.99 x 2 or 10% discount on school items draw my attention. When I
see the daytimer I want, I will know it. Leather bound, purse-size and enough
space on a page to make several entries, an interesting print now and again or
inspirational saying. Have yet to find the one that will make me cluck in
delight each time I pry it from my purse despite the efforts of many a sales
clerk. One slight and intense woman with large brown pink lidded eyes asked if
it was for a man or a woman. Told her it was for me and let her guess! Feeling
sassy I suppose!
The young slumped smartly
dressed woman sitting directly in front of me on the bus was gasping for
breath, coughing into a cloth larger than a napkin and floral printed to
disguise the hideous contents, throwing her head back to collect more fresh air.
The unassuming teen wide-eyed disenchanted turned up nose and clipped haired girl
who slid in next to her kept looking back at me as though to say, “I desperately
want to relocate to another seat but I am too embarrassed and don’t want to
hurt this one-foot-in-the-grave woman’s feelings!” Most people were
partnered-up chatting comfortably and emphatically. Brasilians always appear to be having a good
time kissing one another resoundingly on the cheek and heading exuberantly for
a cheerful and sweet life. Of course, it is only like that in the movies!
Did end up going the long
way around on the sandy rutted road to the house after swinging off the bus near
the padaria because I was keeping track of the reedy beady- eyed gent swaying back
and forth ‘cross the street on his battered blue dented bike with several
plastic sacks full of tins, leering a bit too sinisterly for my reassurance.
His slick parted shiny hair reminded me of the bad guy in a “B” film that
creeps everyone out and the audience detests him for his sorry untrustworthy looks
from the start without really knowing the character. Turns out to be a harmless
cara (dude.)
Sneezing, chilled and my
tooth is beginning to bother me again…argh!
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