The Long Sunset

I find myself here on Carnivale Tuesday in serious recovery mode after the longest sunset ceremony on record. My Panamanian counterpart in the Seis Amigos was leaving for Panama City today and didn’t want to transport the beer back that he brought. I considered it my sacred duty to assist him with the effort. The only problem this presented was the beer was of higher quality and potency than the lite swill I usually consume. We started about an hour before the sunset gathering and were in full swing by the time the other four members of the Seis Amigos showed up. What followed was one of the best times I’ve had this year in Panama. It wasn’t just the beer but the six friends getting together again after a way too long delay.

The Seis Amigos at the Farewell Breakfast with mom-in-law and Tia Loca as Well

My buddy is one of the few guys that hang with me beer for beer which was problematic as he kept dipping into his cooler for another one as the evening progressed. My Favorite Panamanian and Tia Loca were once again in search of clams (Tia Loca’s acknowledged obsession) and returned in the middle of the actual sunset with a child’s pail full of the little critters. My wife had borrowed the pail from one of the families next to us and when they learned what she was doing the whole family descended on the shoreline and began their own search. My friend and I offered cogent critiques of all this activity from afar.

The Sunset Crew Monday

Tia Loca and Wife Returning from Clam Hunt

Wife with New Hat (Gift from Daughter) 
It Needs to be Staked Down if the Wind is Up

Monday Sunset

It was literally a perfect night after the sunset. The clouds finally receded and we had one of those nights where the stars seemed close enough to touch. The sun had long set and we were still socializing. The ladies snuck back to the condos and returned with dinner. At some point in the night, I decided I would attempt to capture one of the elusive Halloween crabs that made the mistake of passing by as we talked. I’m told it was a fairly comic effort. I probably should have put my beer down while attempting this. When I turned back to see why they were all laughing, the crab made his escape into the dark. As stated above, it was pretty potent beer. The sunset ceremony finally broke up a few minutes before midnight and my friend and I accomplished the mission, but there were casualties.

4 of the Seis Including my Beer Provider

My Epic Crab Hunt
He's The Little Black Object I'm Reaching For

Through the miracle of Alka Seltzer before bed, I woke up without a hangover (thanks Mom!) and was able to knock out my usual morning workout. My friend was not as lucky and he had the long drive back to Panama City, with three yapping chihuahuas as passengers, ahead of him. The Upstairs Neighbors treated us all to a superb breakfast at the Beach Resort this morning which was just what the doctor ordered. The Seis Amigos had only a few days together but we made the most of them and look forward to the next time we’re all together, maybe in Panama City before we leave.

I had to cut the Sunday sunset ceremony short because the 2025 Academy Awards were scheduled to start before the colors had truly faded. I really enjoyed the show. It was smart to get rid of performing every nominated song and Conan O’Brien, with his offbeat humor, was a great host. In a shocking development, I tied my daughter with the number of correct predictions. After I finally beat her last year, for the first time, I expected her to come after me loaded for bear. I made the obligatory Facetime call as soon as the show as over. She had hosted her usual Oscar party for friends and that was the usual roaring success. The FBR dressed up for the event was allowed to stay up until 9pm. Zoe Saldana had the best speech of the night and I was happy to see the small, independent film, Anora, take all the big prizes. I watched it a couple weeks ago and it’s hilarious.

Daughter and FBR on the Red Carpet

Daughter's Oscar Bash

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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