Stir-Crazy: Learning Patients
I may be one of these, soon. That is, a patient (in a mental asylum), learning how to reintegrate into society. Because for now, all I can do is go loco en el coco, trying to be Zen and learn patience… What doesn’t kill you just makes you loopier. Likely what I need is a good dose of what they pray for in AA: “the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.” Serenity has never been my forte.
Waiting isn’t fun for anyone. (Actually, I’m a little suspicious that perhaps it is fun for those who are making you wait, like they’re playing some malicious mind-game. Though this is likely just my paranoia that goes hand-in-hand with the insanity.) If you know precisely when what you’re waiting for will happen, it’s not so bad, because then it’s not waiting but anticipation. The torturous/pleasurable excitement of the inevitable. Like a kid, trying to get to sleep on the night before Christmas. Or a miserable office drone in the dead of winter, counting the days until his (free?) Caribbean vacation. In these cases, we say: “I just can’t wait.”
I can wait. I have to. It turns out I’m pretty good at it, which is just as well, because my residence visa application is now past its six-month anniversary (supposed to take three). A maddening situation, because I have absolutely no control over the process, and no way of knowing how long it will take. (I try to pressure a bit, but it doesn’t pay to get overly upset with the people who hold your fate in their hands. The person I speak to at the consulate claims he has no influence over the decision, anyhow. Seems he’s just waiting, too.)
To add time-killing insult to thumb-twiddling injury, there’s the tale of UPS (pronounced “Oops!”). I ordered a camera thingy a week before Christmas from a U.S. shop. I opted for the priciest, “Worldwide Express” delivery (UPS was the only option), supposedly next-day. Well, the thing miraculously crossed the border and cleared customs within a day. But then a huge fiasco ensued, and I couldn’t get them to explain what was going on. Every day the tracking info claimed it was on the truck, “out for delivery”, but they never made their first delivery attempt until a week later (Murphy’s Law dictated that I had stepped out of the house for a very brief and essential trip to the grocery store at that moment). More mixups ensued, then Christmas interrupted (humbug!), and I finally got my precious thingy almost to two weeks after it was shipped. And no, UPS wasn’t interested in reimbursing my money or anything. On top of all that, I had a guest visiting me, and the airline lost her luggage, so yet another day of waiting ensued…
I know my problems are not not life-and-death, but these feel like the worst cases: when you have no control, you can find out no information and have no idea how long you’ll be waiting…you truly do feel trapped.
Well, it’s a new year. My friend’s luggage arrived, with its two bubble-wrapped wine bottles still intact. UPS finally came through and I received my package (also intact, hurray!). After complaining to the store (these were the truly wonderful folks at Katz Eye Optics — thank you!), they convinced the American UPS folks to reimburse me for the shipping (even though, as far as I can tell, it was the Canadian side that blew it). So, is all well that ends well?
Almost. Now all I need is that visa… Stay tuned; I still am, receiving on all frequencies. And no, Mom, don’t worry. I’m not actually going crazy.
Whoop-whoop-nyucka-nyucka-DING!
UPDATE: Just read the latest from the Barcelona World Race (see my earlier post), and a relevant quote popped up, from one of the sailors, Andrew Cape on the Hugo Boss boat: “You can’t worry about the things you can’t control, you can’t let it drive you nuts. You just look for the next opportunity and the cards you’ve been dealt and work it to the best advantage. Over time – which I’ve got! – you get used to taking the rough with the smooth.” (seen here)