Five Sixths

I’ve had a very active weekend despite the profound absence of my Favorite Panamanian. As usual, I can lay the blame for my entertaining living at the feet of my friends. That includes the usual suspects here in Las Lajas, the Upstairs Neighbors. However, they were joined in that effort with the long absent Panamanian component of the Seis Amigos. They arrived on Friday, in time for the sunset social hour which added a welcome sense of “this is how it’s supposed to be”. Since they are both significantly younger than the other four members of the Seis, they are still gainfully employed, and work has kept them in Panama City for most of our time here this year.

Five of the Seis Amigos at Sunset Pizza Friday Night

Before their arrival, we had the week-long delayed afternoon at the Coco Loco. You’ll remember (maybe you won’t) that we showed up at the down-the-beach bar last Friday thinking there would be a singer. We hadn’t bothered to check the date but had a great afternoon with the Upstairs Neighbors and their visitors. We were joined there yesterday by a sizable percentage of the Las Lajas ex-pat community, mostly Canadians with some Germans and a couple more Statesiders, in addition to us. Other than the pungent German gentleman (who hadn’t showered lately) standing right behind me, it was another delightful Coco Loco afternoon.

Coco Loco Friday Afternoon

After the very fun sunset social hour which saw a severe depletion of my cooler’s population (something I can count on when the Seis are together), we loaded up in the Panamanian’s truck for a trip into the village for Friday pizza and beer. Sunset Pizza’s owner was back from her Stateside adventures and the service returned to sublime levels. It was so good having the Seis (actually Cinco with my wife’s absence) and we Chiri-Gringos tried to show the Panamanians how much they were missed. That’s the very cool aspect to such good friends, we picked up the comradery as if no time had passed. My Favorite Panamanian was definitely missed though, despite my alcohol fueled Spanish (Coco Loco to Sunset Social Hour to Sunset Pizza) which induced some quizzical looks.

Friday Sunset Social Hour

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course