Into Each Life

I know my frozen fellow New Englanders were expecting me to launch eloquently into how much luckier I am in the tropics while they suffered through the first blizzard of 2022. While I’ll probably get around to that, doubtlessly, I once again proclaim that life is not without its challenges her in paradise. Yesterday was a great example of that. While friends back home were digging out of more than two feet of snow I was officially banned from both boogie boarding and swimming in the pool for five days. Shocking. I know. Let me explain.

Our Sunset Walk Last Night

About a week and a half ago I noticed my left ear was itching deep inside. I went with my default response which was to insert first my little finger and then a series of q-tips to address the itch. I learned yesterday that wasn’t the smartest response. I learned that from a very cute Panamanian doctor but in reality my Favorite Panamanian has been telling me that for years but, well, you know. I kept waiting for the ear to feel better but it was taking the opposite tact. I didn’t tell my wife about the condition because her default response to even the mildest of maladies is a doctor visit.

We Watched the Weather Coverage Yesterday

The FBR was Ready to Play in Snow

I’m a victim of my upbringing in the Army where, especially if you were an officer, you were expected to ignore sickness and injury. It is the ultimate “rub a little dirt on it” organization. You were expected to grin and bear it and God forbid you go see the readily available doctor and get issued the dreaded physical profile. I’m guessing that attitude doesn’t work as well with a 66-year-old body as it did forty years ago. I’ve always been pretty good with pain but the ear was getting steadily worse. On Friday my jaw started hurting on that side while I was chewing and I thought by Monday maybe, just maybe, I would need to see a doctor.

Friday Sunset

Saturday Morning on Beach

Yesterday morning during our morning walk on the beach my wife noticed the ear was swelled almost shut and I then mentioned the jaw pain. This stopped her in her tracks and she said we had to go to a doctor. She was even more shocked when I agreed (see above comment about my Army instilled attitude and our forty years together). She realized at that point that it was probably worse than I was admitting. She turned us around immediately and was soon on the phone back to her mother and sister who secured an appointment with the aforementioned attractive doctor.

Wife During First Friday

I was truly impressed with the medical facility after a mad dash from Las Lajas to make appointment time. It was immaculately clean and professionally run. The doctor examined the ear while hearing a recitation of my malfeasance in regard to ear care from my Favorite Panamanian. She told me the only way you should clean your inner ear is with your elbow. I, of course, fell for it and told her that was impossible and she said, “Exactamente!”. She said the ear was seeping pus and had spread to my throat. She said if I waited until Monday, it could have been serious. I thought it sounded fairly serious on Saturday.

Sunset Last Night

I was prescribed an anti-biotic injection as well as a series of other drugs. We have also arrived at the point where I received my five-day ban from swimming. She said this type ear infection is typical at this time of year in Panama and can be traced to swimming pools. Oh, and to my wife’s delight I will not be able to drink beer during the five days due to the anti-biotics I’m taking. While my wife settled up the prodigious bill (less than $30), I was sent to get my shot. I was greeted by an even more attractive young nurse who shepherded me to a bed as she drew the curtains. She then launched into a set of instructions spoken very quickly in Spanish.

I’m fairly proud of my ability to speak and understand Spanish but I was a bit confused. I thought I was going to get a shot in my arm but I could swear she told me to lay face down and drop my pants and underwear below the butt cheek I wanted the shot in. She had departed before I could confirm her instructions. I figured I was getting the shot in the butt but I was also concerned my Spanish had failed me and she’d come back to find me with my pants down while she was going to give me a shot in the arm. Nothing ventured, northing gained at this point, so I followed the instructions I thought I was given and was rewarded with the butt injection which took longer than I expected. I think I set a personal record for having a needle stuck in my nether regions.

Beach This Morning

We followed up the medical visit with a stop by my mother in law’s house to thank her and my sister in law for their help with the appointment. We secured the prescribed medications and then secured a meal of chicken wings to share with them before returning to Las Lajas. Over lunch as my wife waxed happily about my beer ban, I remarked I was lucky the ban would be lifted in time for First Friday. My Favorite Panamanian disagreed and said it was for a longer period of time before I assured her, I had completely understood the doctor and she specifically mentioned “Thursday” as the end. My wife is nothing if not dedicated. We also noticed the swelling was already going down thanks to the shot. Las Lajas greeted our return with a truly spectacular sunset as my Favorite Panamanian and I completed the walk we started that morning.

Last night, at the urging of my daughter, we watched a movie I truly hopes wins the upcoming Academy Award for best picture. If you haven’t seen Coda yet, do yourself a true favor and do so. This movie is all about family and heart. It surrounds the story of a high school girl who is the only member of her family who can hear. They cast deaf actors to play the family and they were awesome. I really appreciated that they didn’t subtitle the many conversations conducted strictly through sign language and the actors involved truly rose to the occasion by telling the story eloquently if silently. The movie was set and filmed in Gloucester which I visited earlier this year. I defy anyone to watch the last ten minutes of this movie and not get teary eyed. After the movie we took a picture of my wife attempting the last sign language used in the movie which means, I really love you, and sent it to my daughter to thank her for recommending this special movie.

Photo We Sent to Our Daughter

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – 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; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course; 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 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