My Favorite Panamanian and I are
settling in beach life having unpacked almost everything. Yesterday our
dedicated handyman arrived to address the locked closet door. I was a little
mollified that his burglary attempts were as unsuccessful as my own blighted
attempts the day before. He ended up drilling out the lock and replacing the
entire handle. I assisted him re-installing the balcony blinds. These curtains block
out the afternoon sun which really pelts that side of the condo during this
time of year. The added benefit, I got to lean out over the three stories of
height to assist; that is always fun. The brackets that hold the shades up are
being worn away by the salt laden air, so I have to find replacements online as
they won’t last beyond this year. Our handyman stands ready to create a homemade
version but recommends we try to find factory made replacements.
 |
| Teased the Family with This Photo of Last Night's Sunset |
I’ve also re-established my long-held
title as the whitest man in Panama. Since the whole skin cancer situation started
to manifest a few years ago I’ve taken great pains to maintain the pasty
complexion I’ve been “blessed” with thanks to my English, Irish, Scottish, and Norwegian
(I know weird) ancestors. I know my semi-annual skin screens with the dermatologist
are now alerted to my annual Panamanian sojourns because I accidently mentioned
it last year (she was very cute so my common sense predictably fled). I lather
on the highest sun block I can find as well as wearing swim shirts and wide
brimmed hats. I already stood out in Panama due to my height but now I gleam
like a beached fish when compared with the beautiful skin tones the Panamanians
boast.
 |
| It Was Pretty Spectacular |
I have re-started my early morning
workout routine where I have the entire beach to myself for miles in each
direction. My only companions are dozens of low flying pelicans who cruise along
the surf in long lines trying to score fish, I assume. I’ve always thought the
last pelican in line must be hungry. Anyways, I do my ab workout beside the
pool, then move to the beach for strength exercises, then boogie boarding (at
least five rides all the way to the beach), and end with a swim workout in the
pool. For that last part, since the pool is fairly small, I use my bungee cord
invention strapped to my left leg to allow a true workout. Since I have to fight
back through the surf, I count the boogie boarding as exercise. By the time I
finish all this my Favorite Panamanian descends to join me for a couple mile
walk on the beach. This gets us to around 10am and the sun is really starting
to assert itself and we head inside for breakfast. Beach life, got to love it.
 |
| Beach This Morning |
 |
| My Early Morning Workout Partners |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RECURRING CHARACTERS
BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3, BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first
granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best
Family Athlete = my daughter in law; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course; 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; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten
whom I reunited with after many years; 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 involved in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two
close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3rd musquetera
(musketeer); Riggins - also known as
the Grandpuppy, son's dog; 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; 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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her
single days in Brooklyn
No comments:
Post a Comment