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

Aftermath

I’m sitting here late on Saturday night marveling at how quiet the condo is. For the first time in a while I don’t have granddaughters flitting about making life interesting and, if nothing else, noisy. We drove back to Daivd to escort both my son’s and daughter’s family to the airport for their return home after an epic nine day stay with us. I’ve already covered their arrival and the massively successful 70th birthday party for my Favorite Panamanian. As with that earlier post, I’ll do most of the explaining through the accompanying photos because I am incapable of capturing the sheer joy and exhaustion that was injected into my life over those nine days.

Airport Goodbye Hugs Today

My daughter’s family is currently awaiting their final flight home after a ten hour airport sojourn. Their flight from David to Panama City was delayed enough that they missed their scheduled connecting flight home. That is something of a theme for the party guests, as they emptied the condo complex. The most egregious example were the Czech Friends. The Blizzard of 2026 canceled their flight to Boston and the next one they could get on would have been this coming Monday. They opted to fly to Orlando (the farthest north they could get) and then drove home over two days from there. Likewise, the Maine Musquetera took a full four days to make her way home because the same blizzard. I think, despite all the travel issues, all would agree the trip was more than worth it. Anyone suffering through the winter of 2026 in the northeast had to enjoy time spent on the tropical paradise that is Playa Las Lajas. Many are already talking about a return trip next year.

Czechs Arriving Home After 18 hour on the Road

The Shadow Realizing There's More Snow There Than Here

Wife, Sisters and Their Mom

BR3 With a Little Bedtime Reading

Granddaughters Became Shadow's New Target

BRS and ABFA Castle Building

Son Surrounded

After the party vibe died down, we followed our standard operating procedure of idyllic beach days interspersed with a day trip to mountains. The granddaughters were so much fun to have around. They quickly established themselves as accomplished boogie boarders but invented a new game they enjoyed much more. They stationed themselves in the waves halfway between the shore and the boogie board launching point. They then made it their objective to jump on whomever was trying to dodge through them on a boogie board. That was usually me and they were damnably efficient at interception operations. Once they jumped on me, the boogie board ride came to an abrupt halt with both of us laughing in excess of what was smart, given the surf still rolling in. The BRS is so light that she jumped onto my back once and I didn’t slow down at all, completing the run with her on my back. Again, way too funny.

I'm Approaching the Target Area

The Ambushers Strike

Another Successful Strike

I'm Under The Middle Granddaughter

Sunset Gymnastics

Our trip to the mountains started with a bang when a veritable troop of coatimundis showed up to greet the granddaughters above Boquete. All three are ardent animal lovers and we had to issue stern warnings that the curious and obviously hungry beasts should not be touched. It helped that they smelled so bad (the coatimundis not the granddaughters). They also proved once again their abuela’s shopping gene skipped a generation as they descended on the souvenir booths with an ardor completely reminiscent of my Favorite Panamanian. We had fun meals (as well as gelato) in Boquete and in David on our way back to the beach.

Boquete Lunch Place

Grampa and the Girls at the Waterfall

Son and His Family

Daughter and Hers

River Exploring with Grampa

Daughter Surrounded

Coatimundi Time

Above Boquete

BRS and ABFA With Adventure Drinks

Boquete Lunch

Shopping!

Son and ABFA at Fairgrounds

The Granddaughters

Gelato Time

On Thursday night we abducted the granddaughters to allow their parents to have a date night out together. While they went down the beach to the resort for dinner and drinks, we took the young ones to the village to get a non-pizza meal at Sunset Pizza. We learned their non-pizza offerings are every bit as good as their legendary pizza. The girls toasted us with their Shirley Temples before devouring some more gelato and sampling the village central playground. It was a great night for all.

Hunting Mini-Crabs

Sunset Wanderers

Heading Back to Condo

Surf Bunnies

BRS and ABFA

Planning their Next Attack

Spotting Something Out the Window of Our Condo

FBR Helping BR3 with Homework

Date Night at the Resort

Wingman has infected all of us with his ardor for games. He, my daughter, son, and the ABFA played different games well into each night in their condo. On Wednesday they spent some time in our condo after we put the granddaughters to sleep and we played a lively game of Flip 7 where the ABFA failed to dominate. While my own losing streak remained intact, I loved the joking and almost non-stop laughter that permeated the time around the table. I’m extremely blessed in the family department.

Wingman, Daughter, Son and ABFA

BRS and BR3

FBR with Parental Units

FBR and BR3 Exhausted From Attacking Grandpa

FBR Launched by Wingman

First Friday Sunset Gowns

With my Daughter

Volleyball in Front of Condo

BR3 Explaining Life to Me

Wife, Daughter and ABFA

Daughter and Wingman

Sunset Frolics

The First Friday of the Week also saw their last night in Panama so there was some emotion to seemingly everything that took place that day. Last boogie boarding sessions as well as the last sunset social hour had special significance for all involved. The granddaughters donned flowing dresses that Tia Loca provided and added a touch of elegance to the hour, at least until they broke away for a last chance to stick their toes in the Pacific. We ended the night, very predictably, back at Sunset Pizza for a momentous last night together. We had an early wakeup this morning. That is, early for the adults, but about the same time the granddaughters had been waking up to demand breakfast all week before escorting me to the beach each day. It’s, again, so quiet now. I miss the boundless energy the granddaughters provide and the steadfast love their parents deliver that brightens every room they inhabit. While I’m still “stuck” here in paradise, it’s lost a little luster with the departure of that special bunch. Those were tough hugs at the airport today. There must have been some excess dust in the air for the effect they had on my eyes.

Dinner at Terra's with Wife's Family

Beach Walk to the River with Their Moms

BRS at Sunset

ME, BR3 and Wife

Shirley Temple Time at Sunset Pizza

ABFA's Comment on Flip 7 Game

Sunset Non-Pizza Dinner

Friday Night Back at Same Table

Girls Had Their Own, Of Course

Great Sendoff

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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