Reversion

The last couple days have been oddly unpleasant because they marked a reversion to the old times when my Favorite Panamanian and I would be the sole residents of the condo complex. This used to be the case for most of our stay here except for the weekends. The upstairs neighbors solved that problem but they are Guatamalalizing for a week so we were left in sole possession. While I used to relish being the only ones here, I find I miss the neighbors and having someone to hang out with. This is most apparent at the sunset ceremony where we usually conduct an after-action review on the day with them. Yesterday I thought I was going to be called upon to handle the escort of the sun into the Pacific Ocean by myself.

Friday Night Pizza with my Date

It started out that way as my Favorite Panamanian had her priorities severely out of whack. She thought drying her hair in preparation for out First Friday pizza date was more important than the sunset. Fortunately, she realized her mistake and finished her hair in time to join me. While the sunset wasn’t up to Las Lajas’ usual standards, it did end up in the Pacific. The First Friday family facetime call was comic in the beginning. My wife and I were lounging in the pool awaiting the sunset when she mentioned a phone call she had received. This set off a bell in my head and I asked what time it was. It turned out to be 4 minutes before I was supposed to start the call. A mad dash upstairs while simultaneously trying to dry off was funny as I look back, not so much at the time.

Ready to Handle Sunset by Myslef

Happier with Late Arriving Wife

We were on our own for pizza as well and received a surprise when we arrived to find the place packed, with no seating available in the dining room. We made do with seats in the front where the owner’s small dog made me feel guilty (as only canines can) for not sharing the pizza with him. It was still a very fun date. The village is gearing up for their annual festival celebrating their patron saint so the main street was packed with booths selling food and souvenirs. Instead of fighting through the crowd I took a couple back streets that my wife didn’t know that I knew about. The importance of map recons cannot be understated. She was upset because she wanted to check out shopping opportunities, yet another win for me in taking the other road.

Subpar Sunset

I May be Spoiled

It was so good seeing the family during the call, especially during this lonelier than usual time. Great Aunt is gearing up to welcome her first grandchild who is on short final approach. My daughter was dealing with the chaos of having two additional kids in the Friday night mix with eh FBR. My son was also gearing up. In his case for a weekend trip to visit the ice castles in northern New Hampshire with forecasted temps below zero. For some reason, he didn’t want me to show him what the beach looked like. Go figure.

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

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; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course