The Yellow Fever Blessing

I bet there might be a lot of people with Yellow Fever that might get quite mad at the title of this blog, and perhaps I'm being insensitive, but yellow fever has actually, seemingly, blessed me.  Here's how...

I'm on my way to Colombia.  I decide to delay a three day trip down to check out a job prospect in order to spend time with Pepper on her last week in Costa Rica.  I decide to fly out on the same day she flies out, so we can hang out as much as she can stand.  

Pepper is going to move to Australia to meet up with her boyfriend, Oz.  Ozzie's mother, Lee, lives in Atenas, between Esterillos Oeste and the airport in Alejuela.  Pepper wants to spend a night at Lee's before heading out, and Pepper, Pat, and I went to Lee's last night for some wonderful food and incredible company.  Late last night, Lee mentioned Yellow Fever. 

As it turns out, Costa Rica will not let me back in if I have not received a Yellow Fever vaccine.  And I will have had to receive it ten days prior to returning to Costa.  Oops!  That sucks.

Or DOES it?  Instead of only three days in Colombia, I get to spend ten!  And Lee's mom lives in Bogota, and would love it if I stopped by!  And why the hell stop there?  There's a lot of Colombia out there, they tell me.  And Ecuador is right next door with a really cool place I can't spell.  And Peru; haven't I always wanted to go to Peru?  Well, no.  But still!  Brazil, the Guays, Argentina, Chile, and some countries up on the Northeast Coast that I either a) won't visit; or b) have never heard of really.  

Well, Pepper, Pat, Lee and Lee's boyfriend all did a damn fine job of convincing me that this is a blessing.  It's a sign.  It's an OPPORTUNITY.  And it's too good to pass up.  

Oddly, I guess I had this opportunity without yellow fever.  It just too the virus to make me realize it.  And so, with very little money (a bit more thanks to a very generous gift from Pat and Sheila helping out with my exit taxes), clothes meant for staying in a luxury house for three days, and a damn fine attitude, I'm heading to Colombia.  And I don't know how long I will  stay.  Perhaps two weeks?  Perhaps three?  In any event, it will be an adventure.  But then again, isn't it all?