I’m
a little distracted today despite some very positive developments around here.
BR3 had a health crisis yesterday involving a very high fever, including a
visit to the emergency room, that can be very scary. My mother went through it
with me and my Favorite Panamanian and I did likewise with BR3’s dad when he
was only eight months old. Her fever spiked in the afternoon and she was rushed
to the hospital. My son was just going into a dentist appointment when he was
informed and left immediately (so, silver lining). BR3’s usually so full of
life, including a call with us the night before, that it was shocking to hear.
This is the downside of being so far from family at times like this. She went
home last night and our son FaceTimed us this morning so we could see her. I
was poolside with my ab workout when my wife called down that BR3 wanted to see
“Grampy” (her newest nickname for me). That was the fastest I’ve mounted those
stairs in the entire time we’ve been here. She looked a little wan but had the
same devilish twinkle in her eyes. We’re all praying she gets through this,
diagnosed as a bad case of flu, without any setbacks. She informed me during
the call that she was going to swim underwater when she visits us here in a month.
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| The Seis Amigos Yesterday |
Now
to those positive developments; the last two of what we’ve taken to calling the
“Seis Amigos” (six friends) arrived at the condo yesterday. We had the annual
condo association meeting the night before which was every bit as exciting as
it sounds. The couple that comprise the Panamanian element of “the seis” combined
with the upstairs neighbors and us for a sunset reunion. We were last all together
at the sunset of the day my wife and I left the condo in April of last year. As
is the case with good friends, we picked up right where we left off and the
sunset ceremony lasted until well after 9pm. It was so good to all be together
again.
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| Son and BR3 Last Night |
Earlier
in the day, my Favorite Panamanian’s latest home redecorating project took
place. Note – I blame Pinterest for all of this. She decided the wall behind
the living room television needed a face lift. Pinterest gave her some ideas
and she landed on a composite wall covering. During the time she spent in David
this week she met with our handyman and bought the necessary materials. He
showed up yesterday with his assistant to install. The first thing they did was
start banging on the wall with hammers which caught my attention. They carved
out a trench into which they installed a PVC pipe where all the USB cables
connected to the TV will pass. After that they systematically went about gluing
the material to the wall. I have to admit it looks gorgeous and is definitely
an upgrade. They also installed a new swivel mount for the tv so we can tilt it
towards the table where we usually eat. I’m amazed at talented craftsmen at
work. When it came time to install the new tv mount they didn’t even look at
the instructions, they just figured it out looking at all the parts. It would
have taken me an hour and they did it in five minutes. We’re going to have to
buy longer USB cables if we want to take full advantage of the new mobility. My
Favorite Panamanian has scheduled a meeting with another craftsman who will
hopefully build a new set of cabinets to go under the tv. Damn Pinterest!
 |
| Sizing up Where the Trench will Go |
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| First Piece of Material Goes Up |
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| Final Result - Awesome! |
Of
course, the biggest positive development was the return of my Favorite Panamanian
from that David stay. She came back a little tried from squiring her mother around
but with a certain sense of having done the right thing. I passed her initial
inspection of the stage of cleanliness of the condo (it was a close run thang).
To stay out of trouble, I completed a puzzle that I found in storage. It had
all the pieces which was major surprise. So, all positive here on the beach but
I can’t help my thoughts swimming north to my son and his family.
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| Completed Puzzle |
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| Beach Yesterday Morning |
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| Last Couple of Sunsets |
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| Father in Law Stopping By |
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RECURRING CHARACTERS:
ABFA – Amazing Best Family
Athlete - my daughter
in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter
#3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel -
second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue
about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut
Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor
of the big river; Curbside Girls – close
friends of my daughter acquired during him her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which
grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of
course); FBR - First Blog Reader -
first granddaughter; First Friday –
celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene
Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene,
NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend
since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife –
her US sisters, my wife is the 3rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew –
son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia
member; 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; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high
school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the
Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather -
my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course
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