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| View from our Balcony |
Every now and then a shadow of a doubt
will creep into my head about whether I was crazy to embark on the retirement
plan of the winter months down here in Panama. Then I get to spend a few days
down here at our condo and all those doubts are sucked away in the warm surf of
Las Lajas. The photo above shows my view each morning. As I look out this
morning there’s a thunderstorm out in the bay which stayed off shore but
provided a vibrant rainbow for about ten minutes.
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| First Friday |
We came down on Friday and spent a couple
hours on clean up detail as a beachfront condo is a little like a boat in the requisite
upkeep. Combine that with the height of Panamanian rainy season and there was
scrubbing to do after the condo sat vacant for a couple months. It was nothing
a couple of Atlas beers on the balcony couldn’t solve after the work was
completed. I felt it important to insure the sanctity of honoring the First Friday
of the week was maintained.
I followed my usual routine here on Saturday
morning of an early morning body surfing session followed by a few laps in the
pool. Panamanians are not the earliest risers in the world so I had the beach
and the pool completely to myself. My Favorite Panamanian has always been
concerned that my body surfing would get me into trouble and warns me about the
rainy season surf being too dangerous. I always nod my head and then directly
head for a confrontation with said waves. Yesterday I met my match as for the first
time as I realized these waves were bigger (15-20’) and more powerful than I
had ever experienced before. I guess the fact I could feel their impact on the third
floor should have clued me in. There were also massive currents between sets
that knocked me over a few times. At any rate after a couple wild rides that
were more survival mode than enjoyable I admitted I was fighting above my
weight and retired to the pool. The wife took the news that I finally admitted
she was right with the expected equanimity. I’ll anxiously await the calmer
waters of the dry season.
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| FBR is Becoming a Puzzle Master Put this New Puzzle Together All by Herself |
The power went out for a few hours yesterday
as they claimed to be working on the grid but that worked out okay because my mother
in law forgot some important medication so we journeyed back to David to pick
that up before returning to the beach. We also picked up seven batteries because
Friday night was spent listening to the constant chirping of the smoke
detectors that required new batteries – another beach front living lesson
learned – note to self – bring plenty of batteries next time. We just found an
eighth one as well. Who puts a smoke detector in a storage closet!?
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RECURRING CHARACTERS
BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR
- First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA –
Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law, formerly known both as MEF – Most Excellent Fiancé
& MEG – Most Excellent Girlfriend; Wingman – my son
in law; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school
from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great
Aunt = my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since
grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to
attract women; Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school
friend, also a “minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla
– our backyard deck which
grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got invole din planning; Maine and
Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters,
my wife is the 3rdmusquetera (musketeer); Buddy – AKA
the Wonder Pooch – family dog, a black lab – hates squirrels, died
in 2017; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy,
son's dog, surrogate grandchild while awaiting arrival of the BRS; PanaGals –
female relatives/friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia –
inevitable group of Latin friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived
& their spouses; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close
friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife
(of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday
of the Week; Excellent Boss – my former direct boss at
work; Voices of Inappropriate Worth - members of public who
come to every Worcester public meeting to complain, all are on public
assistance along with demeanor issues
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