I was in line with jeeps and trucks on the way out of town to examine kids in public schools and take out abscessed teeth. I was in the back of a jeep with a small plastic top with another dentist talking about life and contemplating the beauty of the rainforest. From the corner of my eye I saw movement from under a patio on the cafe side of the station.
A 20'ish latin male had been sleeping or out of the weather and he looked dirty and tired. He had long hair, had not showered and looked ragged. He had a palsy and looked as if he had a fetal brain injury or had mild cerebral palsy. He walked up to me and said two words, Colonnes Gringo?
I should tell you that I cashed 750.00 American into Costa Rican Colonnes in Houston. I always keep money to assist people who paid bus fare to stand in line for hours to see a foreign dentist who will take them out of pain. I always over prepare for trips and go home with too many souveneirs. Back to the encounter. I pulled out a coin worth 100 Colonnes and gave it to him, he said thank you. As he hurried across the street toward a store, the friend next to me named Dave stated that " that guy will go buy alcohol with that"! I did not think about it as we moved one more vehicle up in line, one government credit card = one gas pump for five trucks.
I saw this young man walk back toward us and he had a banana or a plantain in both pockets and was pushing one in his mouth as if he was very hungry. I looked at Dave and thought. alcohol? I would have said "look" but did not need to,we both saw him, big smile on his face.
He walked over and in Spanish thanked me again. I got an interpreter, got out of the vehicle and talked with him for a minute or so. I pulled out several 1000 Colonnes bills and gave him a few bills. While standing in the mist, he took the money and held my hand and said "Gracias, gracias, gracias"! He then hugged me and then clung to me and fell to his knees and held on for a moment or two. I was in full BDU uniform in a gas station, this must have looked very odd. He stepped up and crawled back under to his space under the patio. I do not know who watched or cared- the only words I heard later were that I was "crazy, foolish and wasting my money'.
We got back in and drove away. I could smell the body odor, it was pungent. I knew I did not have a washing machine but I did have shampoo and a pool at the hotel, at the end of the day. As the day went on I got used to the smell of the nameless man. I could not get him off my mind and two days later had a chance to go back to the gas station in Golfito, I wanted a photo next to this man who taught me a profound lesson. No luck.
I wrote about this experience in depth that night. I washed off the smell and moved on in my life. I came back to plumbing and kids and abundant living. I pondered about the man, the fruit and wondered if I could have done more. I had the cash, I had the intent for spontaneous kindness and I could have cared less what he bought with it. Bananas or food in general OK, but the gift came when my heart and mind made the decision to share. The Colonnes bought him a meal and then several more. I have paid full tuition for several hours of long lost information. I spent well the day I chose to give money to this guy. I learned a profound lesson from him about gratitude. Dollar for dollar- a superb lesson in life. Alcohol or food, the lesson was for me. The best souvenir I brought home was a memory........and a lesson to remind me that the greatest things in life are not things. Trust, charity, non-judgement =skillful living. Blessings wherever you are young man. I hope you are pain free, warm, fed and loved.
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