Dueling Jetways

This will be my last post in 2025 and will chronicle our Sunday deployment to Panama. Based on the recent New England weather and having successfully celebrated Christmas in most excellent fashion, I was more than ready. We had a 2:30 am wakeup call to be ready for the airport van. I was getting a little nervous when the usually very punctual van service didn’t show up on time, I was wondering who to call at 3am on a Sunday. The van showed up very apologetically having driven to the second stop instead of ours. Leaving home in December traveling to the tropics always calls for some important decisions when it comes to attire. This time was a stark example. The temperature was 10 as we set out. The light jacket I was wearing struggled even in the hearted van.

Heading South

The rest of the trip went according to plan. I thought I was being sexually harassed while we waited for our flight to be called. Someone was tickling my shoulder from behind. When I turned around there was a guy facing away who had obviously done it. He couldn’t stop laughing when he turned to face me revealing a close friend from the Panamanian Mafia. He and his wife were on the same flights we were. I got one last dose of the frigid weather as we made our way down the jetway.

Panama City Appearing through the Clouds

Wife can get Her Fruit Smoothies Again

Lunch with Mafia Friends

We arrived in Panama after an unexpected go around when wind shear greeted the first attempt to land. I experienced the exact opposite in the jetway leaving the plane as the Panamanian heat grabbed me before making it to the air-conditioned terminal. We grabbed lunch with our mafia friends in the terminal waiting for the connecting flight to David. In David my Favorite Panamanian’s family turned out in force to greet and escort us to her mother’s home, where we would spend the night.  There was a light rain falling but a fantastic sunset was visible as we drove away from the airport, a symbol of sunsets to come.

Skimming Clouds into David

While it had already been a very long day, we had to honor yet another deployment ritual - family dinner at El Fogon. I scored my first Panamanian beer there served by my friend/waiter, Everardo. The fatigue drifted away as I was once again immersed in the embrace of my wife’s close and lively family. We spent the night at my mother-in-law’s house after the 19-hour day getting there. We had no problem falling asleep.

First Panamanian Beer of the Deployment

El Fogon Dinner

Monday morning was filled with trips to two grocery stores to stock the condo larders upon arrival. Tia Loca and my mother-in-law volunteered to drive down with us since we needed an extra car for all the groceries. Our car was bursting at the seams with our luggage. Some people (I’m not saying who) need an incredible amount of clothes for four months. We arrived at the condo and it certainly felt like returning home. Those good feelings were somewhat dashed when we learned the condo elevator was not operating, victimized by a lightning strike a while ago. It was supposed to be fixed today but that didn’t help carry all that luggage and groceries up the three flights of stairs yesterday.

Despite Heavy Lifting Good to be Back

To thank our assistants, we treated them to Sunset Pizza in the village. The owner was present and happy to see her returning regular customers. She reported that Chow Mein, the feral cat that had become the resident mascot of our visits there, hasn’t been seen recently. The pizza was every bit as good as remembered and we topped off the visit with their incomparable gelato. This certainly felt like coming home. Our Upstairs Neighbors are scheduled to arrive tomorrow so our weekly Friday Sunset Pizza date is hopefully a go.

Sunset Pizza Dinner

View from Condo This Morning

When my Favorite Panamanian and I returned to the condo after pizza and gelato we still faced the inevitable unpacking. Those suitcases required the entire length of the Monday Night football game playing in the background. We eventually got everything out of the suitcase but getting organized will be a longer process. This morning I was out on the beach for my workout ritual and obligatory boogie boarding session. I take it as a good sign that the first wave I chose provided a great ride (still not too old for that). I received a dirty look from the Favorite Panamanian as I headed out because she felt cleaning the condo should have taken priority.

The Very Crowded Beach This Morning

I earned her good graces again when I came in early and threw myself in to the effort. I’m still amazed that we’re completely unpacked and condo cleaned less than 24 hours after arriving. All credit to the amazing, yet exacting when it comes to cleaning, woman I’m married to. We finished in time for a late afternoon boogie boarding session and the first official sunset ceremony of our arrival. The sun did not disappoint, providing a spectacular welcome to our return including a special secondary. It’s great to be home again, even if tis a second home.

-

Meanwhile Granddaughters are Skiing

Today's Secondary Sunset

Parasailor Swing by to Say Hi

Sunset Crew

Wow

Just Wow

Partner in Crime

The A-Z watch ends for 2025 and will finally be killed off when I return in April as I am in the W’s now, but I had to leave the library behind. That’s okay, I’ll probably figure out something to do around here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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 her single days in Brooklyn; Czech Connection – Czech couple who’ve become good friends along with their daughter (the Czech Shadow); 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 3^rd 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; Seis Amigos - two couples from our condo complex and my wife and I; Soxfather – my brother-in-law (whom I miss more than I can ever explain); Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course