Sunsetless

As a gift to all my frozen friends and family in the frigid north, I’ve taken a two-day vacation from inflicting our nightly sunsets here in paradise on them. That is not because I’ve suddenly acquired any altruistic tendencies. The simple fact is that I ignored Sunday’s sunset and was in David for Monday’s. I hope you’ve enjoyed your respite because I’m back on station for today’s and I have newly acquired allies as well for the crew. That’s the reason I missed yesterday’s sunset. We were at the David airport welcoming our RI friends who arrived for an extended visit with us.

Dinner Last Night

Arriving

My Favorite Panamanian’s family gathered at the airport to welcome them as well and we all trooped over to El Fogon for an arrival dinner. After a grocery store run we returned to Las Lajas a little before 11pm, so no sunset. This morning, they underwent what every guest goes through if they arrive at night. At night there’s nothing to see out our windows. They walked out this morning to be greeted with this spectacular view of the beach. The pictures don’t really do it justice. The words, awe inspiring, seem appropriate.

Sunday’s sunset was missed because they inappropriately scheduled it during the Super Bowl which kicked off shortly before the sun submerged into the Pacific. My angst at missing the sunset was assuaged by the fantastic group of friends that gathered to watch the game with us. The Upstairs Neighbors, their guest, and the Canadians from down the beach formed a very fun group to hang with. That was fortunate because the game wasn’t close, with a total domination by the Eagles. The half time show was the worst I’ve ever seen. I kept waiting for it to take off but, terrible, just terrible. I’m not a fan of rap music but this guy was even remotely entertaining. My Favorite Panamanian prepared an epic spread and each guest also brought along a delicacy.

Super Bowl Gang

The commercials were hard to hear because we had two Panamanian ladies in residence who had little interest in the game and carried on a lively conversation, which was part of the fun. I’m still trying to figure out what the message was with the guy whose head was shaped like a cowboy hat was. The Matt Damon/Beckham commercial was clearly the best/funniest.

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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 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