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| Footprints of My Wife, Myself and the Two Granddaughters |
Most, if not all, footprints made in
the sand of a beach quickly fall victim to the tides, washed from existence. I’d
like to think my family made some of a more indelible class this past week on the
incomparable beach of Las Lajas. I’ve assiduously avoided writing here on Frail
Deeds for the past week during the time my entire family was gathered down
here. Writing seemed like such a mundane waste compared with spending any amount
of time with any of the visiting family members.
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| FBR Sprinting Through Airport |
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| To Find her Grampa |
The party started a week ago Sunday
with the morning arrival of the New Jersey bunch, my daughter, Wingman, and of
course, the FBR. My wife’s entire family gathered to welcome the arriving
dignitaries but as predicted as soon as the FBR spotted me she bellowed out a
loud ”GRAMPA!” and charged through the disembarking passengers to deliver one
of her signature hugs. She was initially a little more circumspect about
greeting the other aunts, uncles, grandparents which I was taken to task for,
as if I had any control over her preferences.
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| Later that Day ABFA, Son, and BRS Arrive |
After a quick trip to the grocery
store to lay in supplies for the week we were off to Las Lajas, with the FBR inquiring
every five minutes about the distance remaining. My wife’s mother and sisters
also journeyed down to spend the day with us at the beach. My Favorite Panamanian
and I were back on the road to David late in the afternoon to greet the second
half of the family deployment as my Favorite Son, the ABFA and the BRS arrived.
There was a fair amount of trepidation involved in the trip as this was the BRS’
first long trip and first airplane trip. She handled both like an absolute
champ as had the FBR earlier.
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| Sunset Viewing Array |
The parents were predictably a little gassed
from their day long trip, After running the gauntlet of welcoming family members,
reassembled for their arrival, we stopped by El Fogon for some nutrition before
another grocery store stop and a night drive down to Las Lajas. I felt a
certain feeling of fulfillment when I had everybody under the same roof. The condo
is fairly spacious but hosting eight people, even with two of them of the miniature
variety, would have been a challenge if we weren’t all so close. Family is cool
that way.
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| Wife and FBR at Sunset |
My wife and I gave up the bedrooms to
the visitors since they both arrived with young children who’s bed times had to
be regulated. We had a queen sized inflatable mattress which occupied the
middle of the family room each night after we decided to retire. This turned
out to be handy in the morning when each granddaughter woke up and was released
into our custody so their parents could hopefully grab some extra sleep.
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| Early Morning Abuela Time |
This was predictably a joy for my wife
and I and we settled into a routine for the week where we would anxiously await
the appointed hour when our bed was populated with smiling granddaughters. We also
started a tradition of a morning beach walk to reduce the decibel levels within
the condo and assist the aforementioned extended parental slumber.
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| Party Timer With Invulnerable Pinata |
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| BRS Takes Her Swings |
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| Wife's Family Around Cake |
The big event of the week was a
birthday celebration where a large percentage
of my wife’s very large family assembled to mark the birthdays of my wife, her
twin sister, and of course, the BRS. There was a large mermaid themed piñata
that proved invulnerable to our most dedicated strikes. A large family
contingent stayed in the nearby Show Pony hotel where their large room served
as a party location for two nights running.
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| BRS Constantly Changing Fridge Magnets |
Most of the story of this magical week
will be told through the accompanying pictures. The FBR was initially a little tentative
about the pool requiring assistance even with her floaties capably holding her
above water level. By the end of the week she eschewed any assistance and was confidently
crisscrossing the pool in an always entertaining series of games she created.
At one point I was a bear and she was a shark. The FBR showed no fear at all
when I would launch her into the air for a splash landing with Wingman. The BRS
on the other hand, was overly confident throughout the week, truly relishing her
first ever time in a pool. The girl is going to be something of a daredevil.
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| Launching the FBR |
She even tried crawling into the waves
when we brought her down to the surf line. The FBR would hold court in the
shallow water and greet whichever adult arrived on the boogie board that she
wanted to see another ride. That was one of her easier demands to fill. We gathered
each evening on the beach to watch the sun descend into the Pacific, usually in
spectacular fashion. On two evenings I was called upon to gather some drift
wood and we had bonfires in the condo fire pit. The FBR labeled this as officially
“camping”. Her abuela introduced her to the magic of marshmallow roasting while
I focused on trying not to burn down the grass thatched bohio inexplicably
placed right next to the fire pit.
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| FBR Camping |
While hanging out with my granddaughters
was the predicted delight I think my favorite part of the week for me was the
time we got to spend with their parents. All too often our visits are consumed with
chasing after the aforementioned progeny. This week afforded us the time to
remember how much we actually like each other. The highlight of the week for me
was the final night together where was gathered around the table to play a
spirited game of rummy. My wife would claim too “spirited” as I accidently
broke one of her lampshades over the table by celebrating a winning discard. I
only bled a little and everybody, especially the ABFA for some reason, had a
good laugh at my predicament.
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| Gathered Around Table |
The BRS discovered on her third night
here that she was sleeping in the same room as her parents and this led to some
rough nights for them over their remaining time here. Instead of falling back
to sleep like she does in her own room at home she decided to inform her parents
that it was time to play on repeated occasions throughout the night. The early
morning grandparent beach walk was therefore especially welcome by my son and the
ABFA.
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| Independently Aquatic FBR |
I felt a certain closing of fate with
the passing of this week. For so long my wife and I talked about hosting the
family down here and realizing that long held dream was more than redeemed in
superb fashion. We didn’t try to do too much other than enjoying the beach,
pool, and mostly each other’s company. They usually visit Panama every two
years but they were convinced they’ll be back net year. Las Lajas will do that
to you. They’re all safely back home as I write this and it was a little sad to
return to a very empty condo but I can’t stop smiling thinking about the unmitigated
success the entire week was.
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| Show Pony Party Room |
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| Family Time in Condo Pool |
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| ABFA Taking her Swings |
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| Sunsetting |
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| Sand Dollar Hunt |
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| Wingmnan and FBR |
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| Daughter and FBR |
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| The New Hampshire Bunch |
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| BRS Did Not Like Spiky Grass |
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| But loved the Pool |
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| FBR in Elevator |
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| Cousins! |
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| Airport Welcoming Crew |
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| FBR Meets the Condo Balcony |
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| BRS Meeting her Panamanian Family |
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| Morning Granddaughter Time |
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| FBR Monitoring Offshore Activities |
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| Beach-side Restaurant |
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| Meeting the Birds |
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RECURRING
CHARACTERS
BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR
- First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA –
Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law, formerly known both as MEF – Most Excellent Fiancé
& MEG – Most Excellent Girlfriend; Wingman – my son
in law; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school
from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great
Aunt = my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since
grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to
attract women; Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school
friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla
– our backyard deck which
grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Maine
and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US
sisters, my wife is the 3rdmusquetera (musketeer); Buddy – AKA
the Wonder Pooch – family dog, a black lab – hates squirrels, died
in 2017; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy,
son's dog, surrogate grandchild while awaiting arrival of the BRS; PanaGals –
female relatives/friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia –
inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived
& their spouses; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close
friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife
(of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday
of the Week; Excellent Boss – my former direct boss at
work; Deckzilla Dude – senior
citizen carpenter/contractor; Voices of Inappropriate Worth -
members of public who come to every Worcester public meeting to complain, all
are on public assistance along with demeanor issues
