Got Milk?

The "old me" totally would have freaked out today.

That's what I told Miriam upon my late arrival to the Villa yesterday. I arrived at 4pm...the orignal plan was for me to arrive before noon.

What's my excuse?...I got stuck in traffic?
To say I got stuck in traffic would be an understatement. But I think we're most upset about the milk.

But let's start at the beginning.

8 pm Monday night: As Elvia drops me off at home after bible study, she mentions that I will have to leave Tegus at 5 am the next morning. "There is going to be a paro" she says. Paro = stop, aka the unions and maybe the transportation is refusing to work until the government changes minimim wage. This may or may not be an empty threat, but if it happens, the police will close off the exits and entrances to the city. Better if I leave early and beat the police to the exits. Normally this wouldn't be a problem since I'm already up at 5 am, but we are out of milk at the Villa. If I leave at 5am, there will be no place to buy milk and I will return empty-handed.

9:30 pm: Betsy calls me. The attendant at the gas-station says there won't be a paro tomorrow. I don't have to leave at 5 am. I am confused as to why we are relying on the information from a stranger at the gas station, but I am thankful that I can go to the grocery store and get milk.

10:30 am Monday morning: After running errands and picking up 4 gallons of milk for the Villa, I head out of town. About 2 songs into my journey, I realize that the police are redirecting traffic. But I don't see anyone on the road protesting. It must be an accident or something. Instead of turning around, I follow the taxi driver in front of me (taxi drivers know EVERYTHING in this city).

10:45 am: After discovering a ton of new little side streets, I pass another taxi driver who tells me to turn around. There's no way out of town. Great. Now I am on some street that doesn't have a name and I don't know where I'm going. I turn around and keep going straight. I know I'm parallel to the highway, so eventually I have to run into something I know...right?

11 am: The next thing I know, I can see the mall again. Praise the Lord! I find my way back to Jerico, we put the four gallons of milk in the fridge and laugh about the ridiculousness of all of this,

2:00 pm:Since most of the kids didn't come to school today (because of the paro), we decide to head home early. Saira (our office administrator) is pretty sure that I'll be able to make it out of town if I get on the highway near her house. I load up the milk, drive her home and recieve directions back to the highway.

2:15 pm:I can see the exit...I just don't know yet if I can get through. Turns out I can, Praise the Lord (again)!! Stop at the gasolinera for a Diet Coke and I'm on my way.

3:45 pm: I arrive at the Villa. It's good to be home and back to the calmness of life. The milk is returned to a cool environment. Refridgerators stocked with food, we have internet, cell phones are recharged, the staff is all together...the paro won't affect us here!

9:30 pm: Miriam and I decide to have a late-night snack of cereal and milk. We both agree that the milk does not taste right...perhaps the side-effect of spending the day in a car without air conditioning?