One of the single most exciting aspects to our Panamanian home is the prospect of hosting visitors in the future; once all this pandemic silliness is eradicated. That was the plan for this year but, as with most of the rest of the world, plans had to change. Yesterday we had the good fortune to test drive the concept though. One of the Panamanian Mafia and her husband visited for the day. This was her second visit as she earlier conspired with my wife on the new condo color scheme which she came to see implemented. I consider her husband a good friend and one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. This was his initial visit this year and I finally got to speak some English for the first time in over a month outside of work.
My
wife had prepared a huge hunk of dead animal flesh on the balcony grill. I was
out there was well for most of the morning as we had air conditioner repair
guys in and I had a couple zoom calls to participate in for work. While the scenery
was awesome, I found it hard to hear some of the call because of sound from the
nearby pounding surf. Yeah, I know, we all have crosses to bear. I also caught
the final act on the bohio roof repair on the beach. I was amazed that the
entire trimming was done by hand by a guy with a pair of large garden shears. I
would have reached muscle failure before I completed one and he did all six in
succession. 
The Evening Lineup in front of Our Condo
Fully Trimmed Bohios 
Lunch with Friends
After
lunch my friend and I headed out into the surf for some boogie boarding. I’m not
sure beaches are ranked for quality of boogie boarding; but if they are, Las Lajas
would have to be near the top. My friend owns a beach place himself further
down the coast and said he never gets surf like this. The waves were really
large yesterday and I found myself fighting through some very energetic rides.
As always, it was a great workout just making our way back out into the waves
after each ride. I was completely exhausted by the time we finished but it was
a very good tired, especially since I got to share it with a friend; something
I hope portends for the future with other friends.
Tia Loca and Her son at Little Kids Table
Friend and I Returning from Surf
After
our friends departed, the resident group set up shop on the beach to celebrate the
rest of what turned out to be the best day we’ve had since our arrival, no rain
threatened all day. We took up station in the shade while Tia Loca took up the boogie
boarding. You can see from the photo how active the waves were. Her son captured
a great picture of her finishing a ride. He’s a lot more adventurous with his
camera than I am. Meanwhile I remained back in the shade where my afternoon
caught up with me which the photo demonstrates. My Favorite Panamanian was so
pleased to capture me asleep, but it was well earned. The sunset wasn’t one of the
most spectacular but the company more than made up for that. Tia Loca and my Mother
in Law broke into a poolside dance party at one point. When you get a group of
Panamanians together, dancing will inevitably break out.
Tia Loca Heading Out
Loca Finishing a Ride 
Meanwhile, Back on the Beach 
Sunset Crew Assembled
We
vectored in FaceTime calls with both of my “kids” during the evening. The FBR
has become increasingly fascinated with Tia Loca and sternly warned me that I should
refer to her by her real name instead of “Loca”. I’m not sure I’m capable of
that. The BRS and BR3 had a rough week at Day Care school. The BRS sustained black
eye when she was accidently kneed in the eye by another kid. As with most black
eyes, the following day the effects are more pronounced and my son confessed to
being shocked when he picked her up at school. Likewise, BR3 was scratched in the
face by another baby at the day care center. I accused my son of raising a
couple of gangsters.
Dance Party Breaks Out
My Gangster Granddaughter 
Tough as Nails
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| Sunset Last Night |
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| Beach This Morning |
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| A Little Crowded |
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RECURRING CHARACTERS
BR3 – 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; Kindergarten
Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; 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 3rd 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
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