KHS ’73 is in the House!

One of the highlights of our time in Panama occurred earlier this week with the arrival of Keene Friends 1 and 2 as well as the Cantankerous Friend. This amounts to a serious effort at creating a quorum for the unmatched Class of Keene High 1973. They had the typically arduous day-long travel experience to reach David and Keene Friend 1 is still dealing with the impact of that. We met them at the airport and quickly adjourned to our go to option, El Fogon. My Favorite Panamanian’s family had planned to join us but with Keene Friend 1’s persistent cough we decided not to expose my mother-in-law to the potential cold.

(from the left) Cantankerous, Myself, Keene Friend 1 and 2 at the Airport

It was fun gathered around the table at El Fogon welcoming these longest tenured of my friends. My favorite waiter, Everardo, who usually takes Tuesday off once on duty for our table, obviously informed of the auspicious nature of these guests. After a quick supermarket stop, we made our way through the dark to Las Lajas. I’m not sure what any of them will remember from that drive because they were all exhausted, 20+ hours of travel will do that to you. Upon arrival we quickly adjourned for the rest needed.

Greeting the Weary Travelers

With two in the guest bedroom, Keene Friend 1 slept on a couple mattresses in the living room with all the curtains drawn. When I came out Wednesday morning, he was stirring so I asked him if he was ready for the reveal. He looked quizzical until I pulled the curtains back to reveal Playa Las Lajas in all its morning glory. Keene Friend 2 was also amazed when he emerged from the bedroom. It is a stunning view, when first seen (still stunning for me after almost ten years). The Cantankerous One has been here before so it wasn’t new for him.

Wife Modeling Traditional Panamanian Garb on our Beach

Wednesday was a beach day where I introduced Keene Friend 2 and the Cantankerous Friend to the joys of boogie boarding. Las Lajas cooperated with fantastic waves. Keene Friend 2 quickly got the hang of boogie boarding, especially after I told him to put the slippery side of the board on the water side. Keene Friend 1 continued to recover with the stern and very strict nursing of my Favorite Panamanian. We ended the day, as required, with a sunset social hour on the beach with a typical stupendous color showcase. Keene Friend 2 was able to share the experience with his wife back home. I believe she was suitably impressed.

El Fogon Welcome

We were planning a day trip to the mountains today but postponed that until tomorrow to give Keene Friend 1 additional time to recover. The other two guests feigned frustration for having to spend another day on the beach. For lunch we journeyed down the beach to Plinio’s. Keene Friend 1 was feeling better after being administered a green vegetable smoothie by his nurse. He admitted it was probably the worst tasting thing he had ever partaken of, but he proudly pointed out that he had downed the entire concoction. I am humbled by the valor involved in that act.

Boys are in the House!

Wednesday Dinner at Show Pony

Sunset Social Crew

Plinio’s is also the site of where we used to stay over the years when we came to Las Lajas before the condo was built, so a lot of memories (and great dogs). It is also on the verge of achieving designation as a world heritage site as one of the very few places on earth where we have verified testimony that Keene Friend 1 actually danced. It happened in 2008 and he didn’t seem overly impressed that I remembered. It’s so much fun having these lifelong friends on board.

Historical Site where Keene Freind Danced

Lunch at Plinio's

One Very Happy Camper

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Day of Birth Observing

My geographic bachelorhood was significantly energized by, predictability, the Upstairs Neighbors. After a lively series of FaceTime calls with first my soon to be visiting buddies and then the First Friday Family call we convened on the beach for a typically superb sunset social hour. Since I was without transportation, the Upstairs Neighbors provided a ride to Sunset Pizza for the weekly immersion in what is definitively the best pizza in Panama. The Sunset Pizza owner learned that today was the Upstairs Neighbor’s birthday so he was treated to a special dessert, even before the signature Sunset Pizza gelato.

Birthday Boy with his Sunset Pizza Treat

The gelato marked a special moment. The usual gelato serving guy, a very quiet young Panamanian, knows how much I covet the Oreo flavored gelato. He saw me come in for pizza and as the Oreo flavor was almost gone, he secreted it. The host told me that I had a treat waiting for me and revealed that, unasked, the gelato guy had saved me a serving of the Oreo. This was so cool and I profusely thanked the guy when he sheepishly provided the hidden gelato. So, my Friday reputation finally resulted in a positive outcome.

Friday Sunset Crew

And the Sunset

Pizza Time!

Saturday was the day of the Upstairs Neighbor’s actual birthday and, as luck would have it, also included a scheduled beach event. I wrote last year about Johnny Fiesta’s, a hole in the wall type bar down the beach that hosted a memorable expat gathering last year where my Favorite Panamanian’s church boyfriend was disabused of hopes in that arena. Unfortunately, upon our return this year, we learned Johnny Fiesta’s had closed with manager returning to California.

Singer at Coco Loco

Our Fun Table

Earlier this week we received an invitation to come to Coco Loco which was the new name of the same location, now being managed by a German expat. That invitation announced an expat (and friend) as going to be singing at Coco Loco. We arrived this afternoon to find the bar had been moved to another location within the establishment and the place was much cleaner than pervious experiences. The new bar location allowed the beach breeze to flow through making it much more comfortable. Since we had a birthday boy in our group, I didn’t allow him to buy a single beer. In a major departure from usual circumstances, he made a gallant effort to stay with me beer for beer.

With his Woody

The Coco Loco Crowd

After the third iteration of this, he passed the car keys to his wife. Although I snuck a couple extra beers in, he made valiant attempt to keep up with me. It was a very fun afternoon listening to the music and reconnecting with the gathering group of expats. They mostly came from the other end of the beach where the bar was located and were significantly Canadian. Given that, Americans weren’t highly esteemed but we rangered on. The singer proclaimed there would be a trivia contest later where the winner had to name the movie that the song he sung came from. The Upstairs Neighbors, aware of my movie addiction, immediately enlisted me as their designated ringer. The song came up and I recognized it as coming from Toy Story but in a major surprise, that turned out to be one of the three movies the birthday boy had seen in the last twenty years, so he had the answer and was declared the winner. He won a Woody doll which led to lovely crowd to kid him about being gifted a “woody” for his birthday. You have to be our age to understand just how funny that was.

Our Designated Driver Getting us Home After Coco Loco

So, while the absence of my Favorite Panamanian has dimmed my lights to a certain extent, the Upstairs Neighbors and a bunch of Canadians have done their best to fill the void. I was impressed with Coco Loco and decided while there that it would be a perfect stop in a Las Lajas pub crawl. In a bit of fateful timing, I have veteran pub crawlers arriving on Tuesday and have worked up a tentative itinerary for the first ever Las Lajas pub crawl while they are here. I really shouldn’t be left to my own devices like this.

Today's Sunset

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

44 and Counting

I am a geographic bachelor again as my Favorite Panamanian escorted the visiting Rhode Island friends to the airport on Wednesday and remained in David to spend some time with her mom. She’ll return on Monday so we can prep for our next group of visitors. We both realized yesterday that meant that we would be apart today, which just so happens to be our 44^th wedding anniversary. There were several times while I was in the Army that I was deployed during this date, so it isn’t a new experience. I told her that I think of it as giving her a valuable anniversary gift by having her there with her beloved mom. There’s always time to properly celebrate which we plan on when we’re together again.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 44 years since I stood in that David church with a few of my Army buddies and all of my Favorite Panamanian’s family waiting for her to walk down the aisle with a hairdo she still complains about. I still haven’t lived down the stigma within my own family of not telling anyone in time for them to travel to Panama for the wedding, but things were much more difficult then to travel. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. It’s been a fast 44 years as we’ve crisscrossed the world together both in the Army and after. My Army career meant she was spent long periods of time, some stretching to just short of a year, being a single mother in a culture where she spoke a second language. Yes, as I look back, I can now properly appreciate how much courage that required of her.

She would deny that, but it’s one of those pesky self-evident truths. The greatest testimony to her success is our children, both of whom have grown into highly successful adults, parents, and just flat nice people. I don’t think many of the people attending that wedding 44 years ago gave us much of a chance. I had proposed 3 days after we met and she had foolishly accepted. Four months after that she walked down that aisle. It’s not a scenario that I would recommend for anyone in their right mind, but it seems to be working out. I’ve never been the husband she deserves but it’s been fun trying.

One of her Favorite Roles - Abuela

Reaching for the Moon after Going Away Dinner for Rhode Island Friends

It’s weird not to have visitors. This is the first time since January that we’ve been without. I’ve spent some of my alone time preparing the condo for the next set of visitors. None other than Keene Friends 1 and 2 as well as the Cantankerous One arrive next Tuesday and I’m really excited to show them life at Playa Las Lajas. I’m feeling a lot less sentimental about the granddaughter hand prints I referenced in a recent post. Based on the height I think it was BR3 who placed complete handprints laced with sun block on the balcony door windows. The tropical sun then baked it each day until I finally got around to cleaning it today. Yep, a lot less sentimental. Next year, it comes off the day they leave.

Yesterday's Sunset

With the Stalwart Upstairs Neighbors

I’ve knocked out a couple of movies recently. The first was Marty Supreme which isn’t in my usual viewing parameters. It was nominated for a bunch of Oscars, so I decided to check it out. It’s a strange movie in that Chalamet plays a character that is truly unlikable, but you end up rooting for him as he bumbles through the 1950s as a great ping pong player. The hijinks he encounters and generates are at times both cringeworthy and hilarious. All credit to Chalamet who, chameleonlike, submerges himself into the persona of the title character. It’s all credit to him and his undeniable charisma that this movie works with such an offensive lead character.

Shelter is another in the continuing line of Jason Statham vehicles where he plays a loner working up a serious body count of people stupid enough to cross him. He’s a retired assassin living on a remote Scottish island when events require him to protect a young girl, cue the explosions. Statham is a better actor than he is usually required to be and here he’s allowed some time to flesh out his character. The action isn’t as non-stop as we usually get but it makes for a better movie. I really liked it.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Adjustments and Overdue Justice

I believe I’ve finally recovered from the departure of my “kids” and the granddaughters. It was not easy. There are constant reminders. I walked down to the beach on Sunday and found three sets of pink flip flops they were supposed to take home with them. Gathering their wide flung assortment of accoutrement was a major task for their parents so it is understandable they missed some. We’ll bring them home with us as they probably won’t have much use for them back in the snowy Northeast until that time anyways. I also found a toothpaste encrusted sink in the guest bathroom that had me misty eyed, remembering the chaos of bedtime when all three had to brush teeth while being herded towards bed. The biggest reminder, however, is the door to the balcony which is liberally festooned with finger marks (at granddaughter levels). I’ll have to clean them off soon but I’m reluctant because, well, you understand.

Beloved Handprints on the Doors

The biggest adjustment I’ve faced is regaining a normal level of energy. I haven’t worked out each morning as I usually do since their arrival, you would think that would give me extra energy to spend. That is without knowing my granddaughters. I’ve called them “energy vampires” in the past because they somehow sap my energy while increasing their own to achieve a completely unfair imbalance of energy levels. I never fully recovered from the energy drain getting ready for my Favorite Panamanian’s birthday party and the granddaughters were not going to allow me any leeway in that regard. I would still trade my recovered vigor for a few more minutes with any of the departed family.

Forgotten Flip Flops

On the Beach This Morning
While I was Reading

It’s rare that I agree with our commander in chief, for obvious reasons. I also must admit to a huge blind spot when it comes to Iran. That was born out of the humiliation of the hostage crisis which the worst president of my lifetime allowed to happen (he should have stuck to growing peanuts or building houses). I had just joined the Army when that happened, and it has always stuck in my craw that this third-rate country felt empowered to hold our hostages. Subsequent presidents absorbed the almost continuous baiting, allowing Iranian UN diplomats to perform reconnaissance in the US for future terrorist attacks. So, I was more than a little pleased to see the bombs finally dropping on Tehran and taking out the medieval wickedness of the ayatollah. I always felt Iran would make a great parking lot.

Ayatollah's Scene of Final Justice

Iran created a death cult over the years since the hostage crisis where “Death to America” chants were part of the “culture”. They’ve exported radical Islam to all corners of the globe, empowering the likes of Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. They’ve killed thousands of Americans over the years in Lebanon, Iraq, and Afghanistan. They’ve oppressed their own citizenry, killing tens of thousands of Iranians that put the excesses of the shah in proper perspective. That’s all come home to roost now. They have sown the seeds of their own destruction. I genuinely hope the Iranian people can regain their status as one of the bright lights of an enlightened Islamic Middle East as they were for thousands of years instead of the quagmire of dark ages level repression. I only wish I was still wearing the uniform so I could contribute. I’m sure any member of the military from my generation would agree, Iran was the one target we all wanted.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course