One of the highlights of our time in
Panama occurred earlier this week with the arrival of Keene Friends 1 and 2 as
well as the Cantankerous Friend. This amounts to a serious effort at creating a
quorum for the unmatched Class of Keene High 1973. They had the typically arduous
day-long travel experience to reach David and Keene Friend 1 is still dealing
with the impact of that. We met them at the airport and quickly adjourned to our
go to option, El Fogon. My Favorite Panamanian’s family had planned to join us
but with Keene Friend 1’s persistent cough we decided not to expose my mother-in-law
to the potential cold.
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| (from the left) Cantankerous, Myself, Keene Friend 1 and 2 at the Airport |
It was fun gathered around the table
at El Fogon welcoming these longest tenured of my friends. My favorite waiter,
Everardo, who usually takes Tuesday off once on duty for our table, obviously informed
of the auspicious nature of these guests. After a quick supermarket stop, we
made our way through the dark to Las Lajas. I’m not sure what any of them will remember
from that drive because they were all exhausted, 20+ hours of travel will do
that to you. Upon arrival we quickly adjourned for the rest needed.
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| Greeting the Weary Travelers |
With two in the guest bedroom, Keene Friend
1 slept on a couple mattresses in the living room with all the curtains drawn. When
I came out Wednesday morning, he was stirring so I asked him if he was ready for
the reveal. He looked quizzical until I pulled the curtains back to reveal Playa
Las Lajas in all its morning glory. Keene Friend 2 was also amazed when he
emerged from the bedroom. It is a stunning view, when first seen (still
stunning for me after almost ten years). The Cantankerous One has been here before
so it wasn’t new for him. |
| Wife Modeling Traditional Panamanian Garb on our Beach |
Wednesday was a beach day where I introduced
Keene Friend 2 and the Cantankerous Friend to the joys of boogie boarding. Las
Lajas cooperated with fantastic waves. Keene Friend 2 quickly got the hang of
boogie boarding, especially after I told him to put the slippery side of the
board on the water side. Keene Friend 1 continued to recover with the stern and
very strict nursing of my Favorite Panamanian. We ended the day, as required,
with a sunset social hour on the beach with a typical stupendous color
showcase. Keene Friend 2 was able to share the experience with his wife back
home. I believe she was suitably impressed.
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| El Fogon Welcome |
We were planning a day trip to the mountains
today but postponed that until tomorrow to give Keene Friend 1 additional time
to recover. The other two guests feigned frustration for having to spend
another day on the beach. For lunch we journeyed down the beach to Plinio’s.
Keene Friend 1 was feeling better after being administered a green vegetable smoothie
by his nurse. He admitted it was probably the worst tasting thing he had ever partaken
of, but he proudly pointed out that he had downed the entire concoction. I am
humbled by the valor involved in that act.
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| Boys are in the House! |
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| Wednesday Dinner at Show Pony |
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| Sunset Social Crew |
Plinio’s is also the site of where we
used to stay over the years when we came to Las Lajas before the condo was
built, so a lot of memories (and great dogs). It is also on the verge of achieving
designation as a world heritage site as one of the very few places on earth where
we have verified testimony that Keene Friend 1 actually danced. It happened in
2008 and he didn’t seem overly impressed that I remembered. It’s so much fun
having these lifelong friends on board.
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| Historical Site where Keene Freind Danced |
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| Lunch at Plinio's |
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| One Very Happy Camper |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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
3rd 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
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