TICO TALES
The Sweet Face of Pura Vida
What “Pure Life” means to me
Whatever you feel when you look at the face of this beautiful, sweet cow, that’s how I feel whenever I interact with Ticos. I feel safe, loved, and welcomed into this space, feeling hugged even when there’s no contact.
So, what brought THIS on, I asked myself, tears welling up and my nose dripping.
Today, my favorite Ticos, Geiner and Cheito, are working outside to cut grass, trim trees, powerwash the invernadero and the concrete steps that wander down this weird topography to the bottom of the garden, and whatever other chores I can find to fill their day.
They work hard. Maintaining property in Costa Rica, where the jungle threatens (or promises) to encroach, ants and mosquitos can be vicious, and other threats lurk to make working conditions challenging. Trust me, but it’s not the kind of work a lily-white gringa can tackle without HazMat gear. The work is physically demanding too, especially when the equatorial sun beats down.
For nearly two years now, both these men have been regular workers here, and Geiner’s Wife, Mauren, also comes twice monthly to clean my house—not just clean, but spotless!
