The first years I arrived in Costa Rica, I got involved in the Women’s Club. It’s an English speaking professional and social network of women. I went to meetings and got involved in volunteering and projects the group supported. (This was B.C. - before children of course.) I volunteered to hand out hot dogs at the fourth of July picnic. Years ago, they held the celebration at the U.S. Ambassader’s residence in Escazu. Any U.S. citizen can get in with a passport and a lot of Ticos get invited.

The hot dogs were free. I handed them out on a napkin and people squirted their desired condiment on top. Then, I’d notice a few people coming back for more - ninety five percent of them Costa Rican women that looked like they could have stepped out of a Ruben’s painting if you’d just stick a pair of wings on their back. The plum little women would ask for two. I’d watch them stuff the dogs in their bag and ask for another one. This wasn’t not an anomoly. It happened over and over again.

To be honest, I didn’t quite know what to do. Scold them? It became hilarious until we ran out of hot dogs. Over the years, I’ve discovered this is a time honored tradition. You always get to take a plate home from a gathering of free food. Usually it’s offered and given quite happily. For example, at birthday parties the host will serve up a plate and wrap it with tin foil for anyone in your family who didn’t make the party. Goes double for cake or desserts. Little wrapped up pieces of cake travel hours just to make it to the campo for someone’s niece to taste a bite.

At a birthday party last week for one of Addison’s friends, I had double the nannies. One came to work and the one who’d just finished a shift was on her way home and suggested I dropped her off after the party. Hmmm…I thought.

It was a grand party at a big gym. Cakes and desserts and coffee are always served. I dropped the nannies off and figured it was safe to run down the road and pay a few bills at the pharmacy and pick up some things I needed at the grocery store.

When I returned the two nannies were finishing up getting their sparkly tattoos while they held Addison and a plate of cakes and cups of coffee sat in front of them. I grabbed Addy and took him to the gym so the ladies could finish their cups of joe. They whispered and eyed the plate of brownies and empanadas as the clown finished up the tattoos.

We left before the rain and the pinata hit. When we got home, I unpacked my purse and found a smashed baggie full of desserts. I put them in the refrigerator, smiling. It’s just double the fun in paradise.