Reunification Operations Underway

This is one of the most difficult posts I’ve ever written for the very simple reason is that I have so much better things to do than write but Frail Deeds summoned me back. To truly understand the difficulty involved please take a look at the picture below which shows what my view is right now. I just took that picture from my seat as I typed this. I came in from the beach about a half hour ago after a couple hours of boogie boarding followed by a swim in the pool. I should hasten to add that the best part is that I am now accompanied by my Favorite Panamanian. The absolute best part.

The Best Part

My View as I Write This!

The flight down here was flawless. Keene Friend dropped me off at the airport and a few hours later I took off the sweater I was wearing as I walked out into tropical heat in Panama City. My flight to David was delayed a couple hours but I still made it there before sunset. I was greeted by my wife’s entire family and I had a real sense of coming home. They are special people. We immediately adjourned to a nearby steakhouse where the laughter didn’t stop for two solid hours. We spent the night at my mother in law’s house.

With my Wife's Family Upon Arrival

The First Atlas (of many)

Yesterday morning we were up early to hit the grocery store before driving south to the condo. I surprised myself by how much less we had to buy now that I’ve given up diet coke and am ketoing hard again. We arrived at the condo to find we would have the entire building to ourselves, probably until Friday. After wrestling with the couch for an hour (explained below) we spent the rest of the remaining daylight on the beach. We made the obligatory Facetime calls back to our family in the much colder climes. My Favorite Son related he’d spent an entire day dealing with sleet and freezing rain. That somehow made the sun and surf just a little more poignant. The sunset was Las Lajas supreme.

Heading to Beach Trying to Hold Elevator Door
While My Wife Takes Picture

To the Surf!

Great February Afternoon

Tuesday Night Sunset

Finally, that damned couch. The tropical clime has not been kind to the condo couch. I love the couch, it is incredibly comfortable and perfect for the living room. Unfortunately the salt air caused the upholstery to start dissolving after only three years. Before my wife left she found a Chinese company selling custom fit sofa covers that’s she immediately ordered and I ferried down with me. The instructions said they were dummy proof. We sure gave it a try. After an hour of attempts we finally got the covers on and they looked okay, all while the surf was calling within earshot. We’re getting the thing completely re-upholstered after I leave. But the couch is once again presentable and the surf waited for me, at least it was still there when I finally got out there.

The Newly Covered Couch

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – inbound granddaughter #3, BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law; 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 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; 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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn