Exhausted but Deployed

You will notice from some of the accompanying photos that my Favorite Panamanian and I are no longer in the People’s Republic of Taxxachusetts. We completed our annual dive south to our Las Lajas beach condo on Thursday. That meant a undecorating the house from Christmas, closing up the house, coordinating with the house sitter, cleaning the house (a wifely priority), getting to the airport (thank you Keene Friend), flying to Panama City, flying to David, driving to the condo. All this done with the added requirement of recovering both emotionally and physically from the rigors of Christmas. This would have been a tall order for a team of two but my wife was sidelined starting on Monday by a stomach bug that kept her in bed until our actual deployment.

With the Fam at El Fogon

That meant the cleaning fell to me, never my strongest suit. My Favorite Panamanian didn’t think anything should be shelved because of her illness (I tried) and she felt well enough to provide what she knew was needed supervision. I was given crash courses in floor maintenance and delicate material washing. It meant a couple really late nights but we left the house in its usual pristine shape. The best medicine my wife could have taken was seeing her family again. To make that happen, Keene Friend came down Wednesday night to make the early morning drive to the airport with us. Copa once again has direct flights to Panama from Boston which makes life so much easier.

First Atlas of the Winter

There were a couple of surprises, but in a good way. They have opened a new domestic flight terminal, where we catch the flight to David, in Panama City. That meant there was no sardine packed bus trip to an awaiting plane as in prior years. That’s always a lot of fun with a bunch of people getting off long flights dressed for colder weather first experiencing the joy of Panamanian heat jammed together for a bus ride. Our luggage arrived with only one minor casualty which is fine since we always need less luggage for the return home. My wife’s entire family was waiting for us at the airport and I had a real feeling of coming home (2d home, but a home nonetheless).

Back Home Again

My brother-in-law had the needed pick-up truck to handle the six suitcases (we never travel light because, well, who I travel with). After the obligatory first Atlas beer of the deployment, I treated the entire family to dinner at my favorite David eatery, El Fogon where my favorite waiter treated me like a returning hero (generous tipping will do that for you). We returned to my mother in law’s house and the day, which had started at 4am and the busy week caught up with me. I was in bed by 9pm and slept like the proverbial dead.

Our First Las Lajas Sunset of the Winter

Yesterday was another day, much like the past week, of non-stop chores. We had to lay in our supplies for the upcoming condo stay which meant a couple of very expensive grocery store runs. After that soul rending experience, we returned to home and rallied with my brother-in-law who had volunteered to once again shepherd our suitcases to the beach for us, which is good because there was no way we could have managed the suitcases and the accumulated booty from the morning’s grocery store depredations. In the early afternoon we set out for Las Lajas and after clearing the abysmal Friday traffic around David were free and clear all the way to the beach.

Back in N.J. the FBR and Her Mom Got the LOL House Together

This is where I had a real sense of returning home as we walked into the condo and saw the beach through the balcony doors. There was a lot of work to do of course, the place having laid empty for seven months. My brother-in-law and a nephew helped lug all the supplies and luggage up to the condo. Thank God the elevator was working. We set to work getting everything stored and unpacked. We took a quick break for an abbreviated First Friday call with the fam back in the suddenly balmy Northeast US. I didn’t make it down to the beach yesterday and had to catch the first of Las Lajas’ signature sunsets from the balcony but we did yeoman work getting everything set up. I got the Super Streamer functioning which was task one if I want to watch football this weekend.

"My" Beach This Morning

This morning was a return to my morning beach routine. I walked out shortly after waking up and had the entire beach to myself for my morning workout. It felt as if no time had passed since I last walked out of the surf. I think my body is trying to tell me I’m getting too old to boogie board but I will continue to ignore it. My wife’s family is coming down late today to celebrate New Years with us. I’m looking forward to that as it means a period of sustained laughter. I’m also looking forward to next week and hopefully some rest.

Saying Hi to old Friends During Morning Beach Walk

Keene Friend is one of the only people brave enough to try and buy me movies for Christmas. I say this because I have a fairly complete collection of every movie I think I’d ever want to see but, as usual, he succeeded admirably again this year. I had to watch both of the movies he gifted before we came down. The first was Zero Hour which was a complete hoot. I never realized the classic comedy movie, Airplane, was actually taken almost word for word from a much more serious 1950s film but it was. The unintentional comedy level is through the roof as Ted Stryker tries to overcome his wartime experiences and pilot a suddenly pilotless airliner through the Rockies. It isn’t a bad movie but it’s impossible to watch without harkening back to Airplane, even to the seemingly inexplicable (but enjoyable) side plot of the well-endowed pilot’s wife being roused to come to the airport. So much fun.

The second movie was a more serious flick. The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp has been heralded by some as the finest British film ever made which surprised me because I had never heard of it. It’s a fascinating look at the life of a British serving officer from the Boer War through World War 2 and the impossible march of history through that time. It has a fascinating back story as it was made during the height of World War 2 and Churchill wanted it suppressed because he thought it was about him. I was reminded, once again, what a vision the young Deborah Kerr was. It’s a very long but supremely enjoyable movie as two good military men, one British and the other German, navigate and rebound through those most turbulent of years. Great movie.

Only one movie fell in my A-Z effort, a definite keeper. I will probably have to pause the A-Z effort until I return to the States as I am geographically separated from my film collection. I took pictures of the upcoming shelves and will try to continue through Netflix and the super streamer but will probably end up pausing. The last movie I saw – Dawn of the Dead. I think we can trace the resurgence of the zombie craze in movies to this film. It was the first I can remember where the zombies could run which scared the hell out of me. The next post will be my annual top ten movies of 2022.

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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 him her single days in Brooklyn; 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; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Enlightenment Road

I’m not sure how most people would define Nirvana but I think, for me at least, the last few days could serve as a perfect example. I was already in Christmas mode which friends and family knows means a serious amount of good spirits. When you add consecutive days surrounded by friends and family swirling around the environment then we’re talking serious illumination. It all started on Thursday night when we were summoned across the street to hang out with the Neighborhood Mafioso and another couple from the Panamanian Mafia. After a week of heavy Christmas prep in the house, it was a perfect way to tie up the week. We’ll be so busy leading up to the Panamanian deployment, this was also probably our last chance to hang with these good friends.

The Three That Made The Weekend Extra Special

Thursday Night Mafia Hangs

Friday brought the promise of the New Jersey bunch. They got an early start on what was supposed to be a storm laden day but breezed in shortly after noon on a fairly balmy day. That warm weather was due to abandon us, in decisive terms over night. We went from temps in the 50s to wind chills of negative 17 degrees on Saturday morning. Upon arrival, the FBR’s one and persistent question was what time the BRS was going to show. Since my son’s family wasn’t arriving until Saturday, the question wasn’t adequately answered until that point. She made due with her grandparents until that point.

Abuela Administered Living Room Baths

Christmas Eve Dinner

We had a very fun and anticipatory First Friday celebration as we were all gaming towards the holiday. My daughter actually asked to watch a John Wayne movie Friday night in the Man Cave (talk about an early Christmas present). She’s a film aficionado and recently became interested in John Ford classics. Enter the Quiet Man. It certainly pales in today’s woke world with the treatment of women but from a different age and still a bona fide classic. It was a fun night in the Cave with my daughter, Wingman, and Wingmom.

Trying to Get the Pose

BR3 and BRS

FBR & BRS Composing Letter to Santa

Saturday, Christmas Eve, dawned with the promise of my son’s family’s arrival. That event was counted down by a very interested granddaughter. They pulled in and granddad was forgotten about as the FBR dove into the expanded pool of three granddaughters. The tree was stocked to its breaking point with the addition of the newest arrival’s presents and we settled in for a text book Christmas Eve. I accompanied the Favorite Panamanian to mass in order to cover all my bases.

BR3 Wasn't a Fan

Panamanian Fam Joins the Fun

The Christmas Cookie Depository

My Favorite Panamanian was placed in charge of silly games at the same time she prepared a traditional Panamanian Christmas Eve dinner of a huge pork shoulder. While that was cooking, she was also administering simulated bathes in the living room for BR3. She found the old bassinette from earlier days and decided a fully clothed bathing was in order. Her abuela was more than happy to oblige. The ABFA bought matching pajama sets for the granddaughters which became the uniform for that crew for the rest of the weekend.

Tree Fully Stocked

Christmas Morning Anticipation

Rady for the Onslaught

As we approached bedtime the BRS and FBR wrote their message to Santa Claus on a plate which they liberally festooned with the overabundance of Christmas cookies we had on hand, each family having brought a bunch. My wife’s Panamanian family joined the festivities via video call. The FBR is really assuming a leadership role as she has gotten older but it’s fun to see that run up against the very independent BRS and especially BR3. It’s so fun to have Christmas Eve again with all the childhood pent up excitement involved in preparing for Saint Nick. Then again is the requirement to perform that function once they were finally, blessedly asleep.

The Great Opening

After dinner and granddaughter sleep activities were concluded, the ABFA convinced us to start the annual watching of Love Actually earlier than usual. That turned out to be a great idea as we finished this beloved classic early enough to have both the ABFA and my Favorite Panamanian watch the entire movie with us. It also allowed my son and I an earlier start on preparing the Christmas turkey for the next day’s dinner. In a sign I am really in the torch passing phase of my life, my son did most of the work getting the turkey ready. It was prepped and in the fridge much earlier than usual. I got up at 4am to get it in the oven so we awoke to the smell of roasting turkey, a true sign of Christmas morning.

FBR With LOL House

Daughter Preparing the Traditional Mimosas

Mimosa Ladies

The granddaughters slept in until almost 630am and waited more patiently than I would at their age to descend on their grandparents’ bed and declare Christmas officially open. BR3 was retrieved from “her room” (our closet) and I was sent downstairs to turn on the Christmas lights and music. I retuned to the front of the house to see three huge smiles lighting up the stairwell. To say they were a bit anticipatory would be a mild understatement.

Christmas Morn Breakfast

Then Dinner

The Big Table

From the Other End

They were excited to see the full stockings hung on the fireplace. I was allowed to distribute presents this year. Last year the FBR decided, with her new reading ability, she was going to do it. She must have figured out it was a lot more fun opening presents that trying to read my handwriting. As the gifts were doled out I could see the FBR getting a bit nervous. Her cousins were getting a larger number of gifts and she still hadn’t scored the LOL house that was her most ardent wish. We got near the end when I pushed the biggest prize onto the floor towards my wife. The FBR’s spirits immediately soared when I revealed I had “accidently” mislabeled the gift and it was actually for her. The LOL house was revealed and all was right with the world, as only a very happy FBR can make it. Wingman looked a little pale at the prospect of having the transport this huge box, along with the other gifts, home.

Karaoke Time

Daughter and her Niece

So. Much. Fun.

I was delegated to assist BR3 with gift opening. As with most two-year-olds, she was more interested in playing with the latest gift than moving on to the next. She got into the swing of it but later in the day when additional gifts arrived, she said the only way she wanted to open them was in the same manner we had earlier with her in my lap. Great Aunt arrived with a car vastly overloaded with additional gifts along with her trusty companion Remy, the golden lab. In short order the ABFA’s peerless parents also arrived bringing Riggins with them. It felt more like a Christmas of my childhood with now three dogs circling though the house dodging granddaughters and keeping the kitchen floor immaculate.

Bring on the Dancing Girls

My Favorite Panamanian isn’t a huge fan of having canine party goers, mainly for the shedding issue. That fandom took a further hit when Remy decided to announce his presence in a more pungent manner in the middle of the living room. It was nice to see everybody could still move that fast in reaction.  Great Aunt was, of course, chagrined, but everyone took it in stride and the fantastic day proceeded with the same amount of cheer. I was especially proud of Great Aunt, handling her first Christmas Day without Soxfather (a day he adored). His shadow was with everyone remembering his presence on all prior Christmases but it didn’t bring sadness. It brought a redeeming sense of good memories associated with this finest of men. I know it was supremely tough day, but my big sis was up to the task and then some. She even stayed until after dark which she hadn’t planned on. My son and I launched on final dinner prep once the turkey came out of the oven. The ABFA was called upon for her usual expertise in the placement of min-marshmallows on the sweet potatoes.

Gingerbread House Created on Friday

FBR With her Two Grandmas

The Stars

After the sun set and dinner was effectively consigned to the ages, we engaged in further festivities. This included some impromptu karaoke using some newly gifted FBR microphones. The ABFA demonstrated that she also has a fantastic singing voice to add to her athletic prowess. Since my Favorite Panamanian was involved, dancing eventually started up. A very fun evening in which the granddaughters took full advantage of, when they weren’t sneaking surreptitious cookies off the counter. The ABFA’s dad offered horseback rides around the first floor but did not count on the numerous repeat orders from all three. It was, in short, everything I could have hoped for from a Christmas day, expect for certain absences, that is.

Brother and Sis

Christmas Morn Upstairs' Assembly

First Steps Christmas Morn

Stockings Emptied

BRS Hard at Work

FBR Happy

Son and I With Turkey

The youngest participants had to depart upstairs for bed being, at this point, completely exhausted. Keene Friend chose this moment to make his annual late arrival, coming from another celebration. We had a lively conversation with him late into Christmas night. It was the final act of the day that had more than lived up to even my lofty expectations. The greatest gift Christmas provides is this annual gathering of people I hold most dear and offers the opportunity to laugh and embrace the gift of life bestowed upon us. These people really are beyond my poor ability to describe their worth, especially to me on this most beloved of all days.

BRS Doing my Nails

With the Artiste

Son and BR3

ABFA's Dad's Nails Got Hit as Well

ABFA's Mom at Karaoke Time

Riggins Watching the Silly Humans

BR3 Not up for Grandparent Photo

The Other Two Were Though

Today was spent picking up the pieces of the prolonged celebration. I had it fairly easy compared to my son and Wingman. They had to pack their cars with their Christmas acquisitions and also allow space for three granddaughters and Wingmom, along with Harley, Wingmom’s dog. My son had a deal with a full length mirror in addition to the BRS and BR3. He succeeded with the BRS and BR3 encased and surrounded by bags. Luckily, they both fell asleep immediately upon hitting the road.  Wingman faced an even tougher challenge with the huge LOL house and a drive three times as long. Somehow, he managed to get everything into the car. Harley spent the trip in Wingmom’s lap for the entire drive home. So ends another Christmas with a now very empty house, seemingly more so than possible compared to the very full weekend.

FBR Watching me Counsel her Toys

BRS Encased for her Return Home

Wingman with his Puzzle

Three movies fell in my A-Z effort, two keepers and one, not so much, The Darkest Hour (when they could still make movies in Moscow), Darkest Knight (what the hell was I thinking, no idea how I ended up with this travesty), and The DaVinci Code (Hanks can do anything, even makes this work)

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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 him her single days in Brooklyn; 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; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course