It’s s busy couple of weeks with the choir. We have our Spring concerts next week, May 2, 3, and 4. So we had our usual practices on Monday and Thursday and an additional one on Friday.

I screwed up on Friday. Our practice was at an arts high school in Torrenta, just outside of Valencia. I was supposed to meet one of the guys to ride with him. But I miscalculated how long it would take to get to the meeting point and arrived 20 minutes late. He (rightly) went on without me. So I took a taxi there (20€). Anyone who knows me, knows how much I hate to be late. I don’t ever want someone to feel that I disrespected them or their time because I planned badly. I was mortified. He graciously let me ride back to Valencia with him. And offered again to take me to practice when we go back there on Monday. Hopefully, I’ll get it right this time!

The orchestra is made up of high school students with this school’s orchestra. To be honest, things sounded really rough on Friday. Hopefully, by next week, we’ll pull it all together. Fingers crossed!

Saturday, after other plans got canceled (more on that later), I met my friend Omar to go to lunch in Pinedo, a short bus ride south of Valencia. It wasn’t what I had planned. But it was fun and fascinating. He took me to this secret, remote, country building, with no signs, and we had authentic Latin American food.

The owner of this restaurant is from Bolivia. His wife is from Equador.

The food was delicious. We started with peanut soup.

The authenticity took me back to my missionary trips in Mexico. As I ate, I discovered just how authentic this was!

Nope. Not a hair in my soup. It’s a real, dead, chicken foot!

Then the plate came with four meats: sausage, chicken, pork, and beef.

Served with a side of maize (hominy).

Afterwards, we walked off the heavy lunch, along the beach.

Sunday afternoon, I met Daniel and friends at Atic Alameda, a rooftop bar overlooking the Turia Gardens. We laughed, drank cocktails, danced, and met fun and delightful people.

…like a couple from the Netherlands. He owns a Toyota dealership. And Mauri, whom I describe as “a party in a woman’s body.”

Mauri would go up to people and introduce herself and then introduce you to these new best friends. It was fascinating to watch.

Daniel, meanwhile, is also a roving party. When he pulls out his selfie stick and starts recording, people gather and start dancing and cheering.

https://videopress.com/v/MJMWhH1T?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

My weekend wasn’t at all that i hoped. But I’m grateful for friends and options when other plans fall through.

Now, you’ve read this far. So, I think I owe you the rest of the story and some honesty with this post. I’m feeling sad. I’m processing disappointment, anger, frustration and some shame for feeling this way.

A couple weeks ago, a friend who is very busy and I committed to spending Saturday and Sunday together this weekend.

But he decided on Friday that he needed to work on Saturday. He said we could meet at 8 Saturday evening. I was disappointed. But I want him to succeed in his business. So I agreed.

Almost at the same time, Omar invited me to a cool lunch. It wasn’t what I was planning. But I was glad to be able to go. Unfortunately, I was also invited by some American friends to a home cocktail party Saturday night. But told them I had other plans that evening.

Saturday evening, 8:00, my friend (intentionally nameless here) says he’ll be 20 minutes late. No problem. Forty minutes later, he says he’ll be here in twenty minutes. Forty minutes later again, he can’t lock his office door and is looking for another set of keys. He finally arrived at 9:45.

You may not know this about me. But if I feel disrespected, it hurts more than a punch in the gut. I would rather someone hit me than treat me as if I have no life and as if my time and plans don’t matter.

The thing is, this has been a pattern with this person. We’ve talked about it. He knows how much this hurts me. And if I’m honest, he has done this more times than not.

Once or twice, no problem. Life happens. Plans change. But when it’s a pattern, it’s hurtful. It becomes personal.

The problem is, I really care about this guy. He’s kind, funny, helpful and wonderful. I delight in his company.

So, I get in his car and I tell him how I feel. He listens. I’m grateful that I could be honest without ruining the friendship. And we go on to have a wonderful evening. Dinner, walking, talking, laughing. We make plans to meet on Sunday at 12:30. We’ll go to a local attraction, and have lunch there and explore one of Valencia’s treasures.

Sunday morning, he texts me. He’s throwing up. His stomach hurts. Maybe we can meet later. Of course. I told him, rest, get well.

He said that if I wanted to make other plans, I should, and he would let me know if he felt better later.

By now, you know that he never felt better and I joined Daniel and friends for a fun few hours.

While I had a great time, the truth is, I still wanted to meet this friend. I’m sad. I hope this friend feels better quickly. I’ve asked him to go to the doctor. I’m worried about him. And very selfishly, I’m angry, frustrated and disappointed that the weekend I had been anticipating was not a priority for him.

Now, please don’t feel like you need to give me advice. I’m a big boy. I’ll be fine. I’ll figure all this out. But if I only tell you about the good things in my life, you’ll only get part of the picture. Sometimes, even in a city that is better than I could dream, sometimes life sucks and disappointments happen.

In the scheme of things, I feel silly talking about it. But maybe it speaks to how much I care about this guy. Maybe it speaks to how spoiled I’m beginning to be living this blessed, enchanted life. Whatever it is, I’m grateful to have people I care about and people who care about me.

Thanks for reading another long post. You are appreciated.

And please send us your blessings and good wishes as we prepare for these concerts next weekend. I’ll be sure to let you know how they go.