How to Create Your Own Insanity

Step One.  Set an expectation.

Step Two.  Actually try to make it happen.

Step Three.  Make up plenty of interpretations explaining not getting what you want.

Step Four.  Repeat Step One through Step Three liberally. Until you are totally crazy.

Last Monday, I asked my builder to go with me to the electric department to get a contract to install the power poles to my property.  He said, this being the fatal flaw, call me and we will go.

After three or four calls a day, with no answer or call back, all week, I was furious.   I decided: he's avoiding me; he is fed up with me; he has make a terrible mistake and doesn't want to tell me; Panamanians use avoidance when they simply don't want to deal with you;  I will never get electricity to my house;  the entire move to Panama was a mistake; he has procrastinated dealing with the electric service for some unknown reason; and so on...

In desperation, I went to his house late Friday afternoon.  I really didn't want to be the pushy American and show up at his house, but I was totally insane at this point and would have traveled on foot to China if necessary.  He is leisurely shoeing his horse and appears a little annoyed that I invaded his private domain.  Too bad!  Grrrr!  

He then tells me he submitted all necessary paper work and permits for the electric installation a while back.  He explained the details of the process and what would happen next.  He also told me all that he had done last week and it was impressive.  In short, he had been doing his job.

Now for the ambiguous part.  

He claims his cell phone is broken and gives me a new phone number.  I have no way of knowing if this is indeed the truth or if I am being played.  Locals laugh at me when I tell them the story.  And, his old phone is still supposed to be working...a little.

I may never know.  People tell me, you get used to it.  Hmmm...