Belize Part 26 (May 17 to 21)

May 17
Life in the jungle: Because of how I felt last night before bed I didn’t set my alarm. While I don’t feel sick my allergies are really bad and it feels like I have a cold when I sneeze but I don’t think I do.

When I finally got moving about, I painted the extra frame pieces for the watermelon greenhouse. After that I headed to the hardware and grocery store for a few supplies. Upon my return I chilled in my hammock for a nap as to not exasperate my allergies further. I was informed in the village that they are calling for heavy rain this weekend. This will mean that the wet season has started. I am so screwed. The road will be destroyed with little hope of repair and my main greenhouse that I desperately need for growing my seedlings and to start aquaponics will probably never get started. I have no idea how to get ahead here in Belize.

When I got back to work in the afternoon, I went back to digging my garbage pit. I had to take a break from that job a while back after the last surprise rainfall dumped a fair bit of rain in the pit. It only finally dried up yesterday. This is my last chance to dig the pit deeper. When the rain comes this weekend that will likely be the end of any more digging in that pit. I dug the pit deeper until after 6 PM. My allergies are pretty bad and sort of feel like crap.

A Yucatan Banded gecko found on May 21st

May 18
Life in the jungle: Today I turned 49 years old.

Not the most productive day in regards to getting work done. I ended up having a productive conversation with both my aunt Henny and my parents. I am inspired to start writing about my personal challenges that keep exposing themselves since arriving in Belize.

I painted a coat of paint on some framing lumber for my watermelon greenhouse and later in the afternoon I continued to dig my garbage pit deeper. I am pretty sure that I am officially sick.

My best birthday wish today was:

Happy Birthday Arie,
You are a most amazing man traveling down a most amazing life-path. May all your birthdays be filled with joy, friends, laughter and health.

“I do not choose to be a common man [or woman]. It is my right to be uncommon — if I can. I seek opportunity — not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence, the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations, and to face the world boldly and say, this I have done.” Dean Alfange (1899-1989)

By your choices, you will become an “uncommon man” of the world. Enjoy the journey, enjoy your family, enjoy and appreciate your friends. They support you and you support them.
Happy Birthday, Sandi and Frosty Wooldridge

I researched Dean Alfange and the quote Frosty sent to me. Dean was an American politician who was remembered for writing “An American Creed” or simply “My Creed.” For some reason Frosty edited the word God out of the creed. I prefer the word God to remain in “my” creed.

MY CREED
“I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon. I seek to develop whatever talents God gave me—not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any earthly master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say – ‘This, with God’s help, I have done.’ All this is what it means to be an American.”

Tonight, I found a scorpion in the sink.

May 19
Life in the jungle: I was sweating at 7 AM just standing and waiting for the bus. And it was even hotter in the city. Today I bought a lawnmower, empty coconut oil bottles (for my oil) and a second cast iron pot for frying the coconut oil.

Even though they are calling for a lot of rain this weekend Derrick is determined to put my cement footings for my greenhouse in. This was a very pleasant surprise. I quickly ran up to the hardware store and arranged for 3 yards of cement mix and 6 bags of cement for delivery which arrived this evening.

I sent over 160 thank yous from yesterday’s birthday wishes today. As far as how I feel. I feel mostly good but with a constant cough. I am not settling my alarm tomorrow morning.

May 20
Life in the jungle: With no alarm set it was a slow start to the day. I did a laundry, fixed a plumbing problem, designed some future shelves for inside the house and painted some last pieces of framing lumber for my watermelon greenhouse. My main project for the day was to complete my garbage pit and fill it, which I did right until it got dark. A lot of rain is coming sometime this weekend. This was my last chance to finish this job. The pit ended up being a good 5ft deep and basically ended up just big enough to handle all the garbage. Derrick was in the city so he was able to pick up and deliver my lawnmower this afternoon.

I dug this pit perfectly

May 21
Life in the jungle: I did not sleep great last night but I still got up early to work at the ponds, put together my new lawnmower, found a Yucatan banded gecko, went to the gas station for gas, purchased my 4×4 main greenhouse posts at the hardware store and then cut grass with my new lawnmower. A very full day and I am exhausted.