Thursday, February 13, 2014

My Big Mistake

Today after our morning coffee I headed back to the local police station to see if my lost wallet had been turned in. No such luck. So, I continued on to the national police station to begin the process of replacing my residency card.

NEWLY PLANTED PALMS LINING THE PLAZA OF "MEDITERRANEA."

It's about 2.5 km there and today was summer-like. So I walked along the beach most of the way before turning into the center of town. The walk in the sun was pure bliss and I remained relaxed all the way there.

A GLORIOUS "WINTER" DAY.
(CLICK EITHER PHOTO TO GLORIFY.)

Debit and credit cards have all been stopped and new ones ordered (all thanks to San Geraldo). A new insurance card is on its way. The only way to replace my California driver's license is to go back to California. So, I guess I'll look into getting my Spanish license.

At the national police station, I learned that I need to go into Málaga to replace my residency card. I had hoped it would be easier than that. After all, I have to renew the card again anyway in just a few months. So, I left the national police very disappointed (although the guy at the desk couldn't have been more pleasant and empathetic).

I had been doing really well until then. Finally, the self-recriminations kicked in. How could I be so stupid? How could I be so careless? I should have... If I'd only...  Every step of the 35-minute walk was worse than the step before. By the time I got home I was flat out miserable and all I could do was crawl back into bed.




But, San Geraldo knew exactly what I would be thinking. After allowing me my hour to mope, he bucked me up and got me back on track. (I am so grateful to him for not once saying something along the lines of, "You should have been more careful.")

Losing my wallet was an accident. I didn't set out to do it and I can't change the fact that it's done. People lose wallets and purses, and phones, and laptops, and a host of other things all the time. Besides, as San Geraldo pointed out, if these things didn't happen, I'd run out of topics to blog about.

Then I came across this 1973 photo of me "dressed" for a cousin's wedding. Talk about a mistake!!!

IF I CAN FORGIVE MYSELF FOR THIS,
I SHOULD BE ABLE TO FORGIVE MYSELF FOR ANYTHING.

18 comments:

  1. Is THAT a plaid bow-tie with an argyle sweater!??? Why didn't we know these things back then? LOL! Could have been me for sure too!!
    Now listen Mitchell.....you perfectionists have to take it easy on yourselves. You are human like the rest of us. yes it IS a royal pain in the butt for this to happen but we can't just wish it away and pretend otherwise........would be nice though!
    Big hugs coming your way from a very COLD Atlantic shore.

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    1. Jim:
      Yes, a plaid bow-tie with an argyle sweater. I can't believe I did that. Definitely not my style. I suppose I was feeling daring that day. But I see that combination regularly now (not at me, however)! Sorry about that cold Atlantic shore. We've had three days of summer here. Given that I've had to walk at least 5km each day to deal with my residency card, at least I'm getting out in the sun!

      Delete
  2. Exactly....gees are sure that Jim and you aren't twins lost at birth or somethin'!?!

    Happy Belated Birthday to San Geraldo and thank him for allowing you to mope and then making you feel a little bit better. Jim is my saviour all the time Mitch.....I really love him!

    Hugs!
    Ron

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    Replies
    1. Ron:
      Jim is my much older twin. More than 5 years older. Our poor mother! Thanks for the birthday wishes for San Geraldo. He's a keeper!

      Delete
  3. I have left my purse in my grocery cart MANY times at the grocery store while I wander away to peruse fruit, etc. It is amazing that it has not been stolen. I once left my purse in the booth of a restaurant and a very kind waitress ran screaming after me with it. So, I have been extremely lucky. And yes, that outfit was um...unfortunate.

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    1. Maria:
      Thanks for the moral support... except about the outfit. Do you believe that?!?

      Delete
  4. This is so frustrating; we have all done similar and everyone does what you did. It is a nuisance but in time means nothing. Keep in mind your track record up to today of surviving things is 100%; not a bad feat!

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    1. Spo:
      I love your statement about my track record. I WILL remember that. Thanks!

      Delete
  5. I'm loving your hair in the picture! Why is it that men seem to have the most beautiful long tresses, while women like me have thin, fine, straight hair that never behaves?

    I, too, am so hard on myself sometimes. Then, I try to remember: would I say those things to another person? Definitely NOT. So why say them to myself? ((Hugs))

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    1. Jo:
      That hair. Sure would be nice to have some of it left. (But it must have been humid that day!)

      Do unto yourself as you would do to others... at least sometimes!

      Delete
  6. The clothes are tolerable. The hair isn't. We all have scary photos from that period of time.

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    1. Andrew:
      You mean you don't like my flowing locks? (This may be the scariest of my old photos.)

      Delete
  7. Mitchell, in re: the clothes. It could have been worse...it could have been a polyestre leisure suit.
    Methinks San Geraldo pointed you in the right direction, be a little easy on yourself. I know, easier said than done...not that I've eveeer done anything like that, which is why I also never threaten to chain my purse to my arm.

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    1. Jacquelineand....
      I am proud to say I never owned a polyester leisure suit.

      Remember those clips we had for our mittens? Not such a bad idea.

      Delete
  8. Well it was 1973 and it seems no one was thinking clearly back then fashion wise.

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  9. I dunno, I don't think that was a mistake for the 70s. And don't feel bad. Remember, I'm the one who laundered a pretty much brand-new passport last month!

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    Replies
    1. Knatolee:
      Those colors and that pattern combination were very out of character for me. But I must admit, the more I look at the photo, the less I dislike the outfit. (But maybe it's just that the shock is wearing off.) I completely forgot about your laundered passport! I haven't done THAT... yet.

      Delete

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