Shopping Therapy

This afternoon, though the weather was brisk and cool, I discovered the very best of all the therapies this hospital has to offer, and found it to be exceptional: shopping therapy! Though I started the morning dragging about as usual (not always a lot to look forward to around here), after our day, I am now feeling energized and refreshed. This feeling will most likely stay with me another day or two, until it's time to head for home.

See, each Saturday in the hospital, they load up vans full of as many of us that want to go, and head to a place 30 minutes away called Rosarito Beach. We signed up last week when the weather was so beautiful but missed the trip on account of a treatment I was taking in my room at the time they decided to leave, which was 30 minutes before the designated time. I was really bummed, so that was the day we found our way around Tijuana and visited the beach here, which was nice but didn't include the "shopping" part of the therapy. Today we made the trip, and I have had a fantastic time!

We really didn't even see any kind of a beach. What we saw was a meandering open-air marketplace crammed full of all kinds of the junk you don't really need but have fun looking at and buying anyway. They had everything you could imagine, such as jewelry, clothes, bags, knives and brass knuckles, pottery, hair pieces, hats, beads, just about everything. We tried to pick up a little something for the kids and those who helped us with the kids during our absence.
The fun part for me was not only looking at all the merchandise, but spending pesos instead of American money and talking the vendors down to much lower prices than they wanted to sell. It was like a reverse auction. If you didn't like the price, you can walk away, and often times they will meet your price just to make the sale. I know some of you have been to markets like this in other areas. It was lots of fun. I bought myself a pink, woven, calf-length poncho with a collar and buttons down the front, It's soft and warm, and I think I will actually use it at home. I also bought a little of the silver jewelery. I won't let on what else in case someone reading this is expecting a gift. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.

Unbelieveably, I could have kept going for hours! We were only given 2 hours to shop, and we got hungry and tried a local mexican steakhouse for our dinner. It was wonderful, and very well priced. The only problem with that was that it cut into my shopping time. If I'd had more time, I probably would have would up with a gift for every person I know. Mike had to encourage me to show a little restraint. I honestly completely forgot about any health discomforts for the entire afternoon.

I found, when we got back, that I felt great! The last few days I've felt a bit weak and not up to my best, which many of you know who have been reading my blog. I was a little concerned that I would have trouble staying on my feet the whole time, but once I was out there looking around, I forgot I had any such problems and the time zipped by. See, shopping really can be therapy! I will definitely have to remember that, because it is not something I do very much.

I am concerned tonight about some of you at home. Sounds like a pretty nasty storm has hit the area. I hope not many of you have lost your power. I know things are good at our house, in fact I think several family members from Springfield who lost their power are camping out at our place to keep warm. Just in case you think we are too fortunate, it was very cold and windy here today. The stalls of the shopping area blocked the wind, but the temperature was very chilly--mcuh colder than Mexico normally gets this time of year. I think the high today might have reached 45. We really didn't bring clothes for that--we needed scarves and gloves, and all. Mike ended up purchasing a stocking cap to keep warm. Lovely souvenir. He didn't even get a stylish one. It looks just like the black bank-robber style stocking cap he left at home.

Only 2 more days to go here. Tomorrow we have a worship service to look forward to with Dr. Contreras, who runs the hospital, and Monday I have another round of treatments before leaving. Time has passed quickly, though not quickly enough. I'm anxious to get home and see you all. I hope our flight into Springfield isn't delayed on account of weather. If so, I might have to resort to some more shopping therapy to get me though the wait. The Dallas airport has some nice little shops. That, I suppose, remains to be seen. Until then, hang on, and keep warm! Lots of love--Sandi