First of all I’d like to add my thoughts and prayers to
those who remember today isn’t about barbecues and beach frolics only. It’s
about remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice to insure we’re free to
barbecue and frolic. It’s all too easy in Obama’s America to minimize and
marginalize the herculean efforts and sacrifice of these heroes and try to
assign some measure of underserved guilt but that isn’t America. I keep seeing
a video posted by some well-meaning, liberal friends that features Jeff Daniels
bemoaning the state of the USA in a diatribe against patriotism hitting all the
progressive talking points. He points out the USA isn’t the only country with
freedom and then lists a series of countries that while they do have freedom,
they have it in large part due to an American soldier pressing his buttons into
the mud on their behalf. I see the left led by their bannermen of Obama and Hillary
trying to harken back to the heady days of the Carter presidency when we were
forced to not believe in ourselves and the promise of the America that was only
solved by the arrival of Reagan. While at times I’m worried about the insidious
nature of their posturing I’m not worried about America; because we still produce
young people like the 11 year old featured in this video about Omaha Beach. A
friend posted it on Facebook yesterday and I watched in awe. America will never
descend into the morass of false European egalitarianism which is a myth even
in Europe because the West is always going to need its sheepdog.
Of course I’m down in Panama still and they don’t celebrate Memorial
Day but they do like to barbecue. We established residency yesterday at the
home of the cousin with the legendary laugh along with a bevy of the infamous PanaGals.
Wait, Zumba to Start off a Party?!! My Wife in the Middle of It Of Course
As soon as we arrived everyone was summoned for a Zumba workout
with an all too fit instructor my wife’s cousin had contracted for to lead.
This was not my idea of a good way to start a party, especially given the 90
heat and 100% humidity of the Panama’s rainy season. I retreated to a nearby
bohio, a safe distance from this insanity. I was truly impressed as the group
went at it for an hour in the stifling heat and never slowed down. Panamanians
and dancing seem like the natural order of things. I don’t know if I could have
hung with them, even in my youth.Once the workout was completed we commenced with the more
civilized aspect of the party which boasted the typical ingredients of beer and
lots of laughter.
My Safe Haven of the Bohio in the Rear (r)
The Bohio Crowd
My brother in law was manning the charcoal grill which
labored mightily to handle the serious amount of dead animal flesh heaped upon
it. They use a different kind of charcoal which required repeated re-ignition
and support. They were even using a small PVC pipe to blow air into the
charcoal to maintain it.
Brother in Law and his Wife on the Grill
Right on schedule in mid-afternoon Panama reminded me why
they call this the rainy season (winter to the Panamanians). The rain descended
in remarkable amounts, the proverbial bovine urinating on a flat rock. Those of
us in the bohio tried to ride out the storm by retreating to the middle but
this wasn’t the normal short duration storm; it had some legs. A shuttle system
of umbrellas and towels was used to transfer everyone to the front porch where
the party continued unabated.
Then the Rains Came
My brother in law struggled mightily to keep his barbecue lit
in the face of the inundation. This was the Panama I remembered from so many nights
spent in the jungle as a young man with the rain pouring down and trying to
remember what it was like to actually be dry. Fortunately in my dotage I could
watch from a covered porch with an Atlas beer in my hand which is definitely
preferable to my earlier incarnation.
My Sister in Law Defying Rain in Typical PanaGal Fashion
Brother in Law Eying the Steady Encroachment of the Rain
PVC Pipe to the Rescue!
The rain continued for several hours and it would have
flooded any place in the USA but they’re used to it here and shortly after it
stopped there were just a few minor lingering puddles. My wife and I spent the
latter part of the party trying to convince as many people as possible to come
visit us in the coming year. I think we were moderately successful but there
was a lot of Atlas downrange on both sides of the conversations.
My Wife, Serial Hugger that She is, Grabbing her Father
These parties are so much fun because the laughter and joy
of a gathered family continued uninterrupted by almost biblical level weather.
I swear I’d fly down just for a weekend with these people, which is kind of
what I’m doing anyways. I just love these people.
No comments:
Post a Comment