I
know it’s been a couple days since I posted here but you will completely
understand after I recount how the intervening time was spent. Our week-long stay
with my daughter’s family came to an end which was not what anyone really wanted,
especially the FBR. She was inconsolable after going to bed Thursday night
knowing we would be gone when she woke up. She was sobbing into her pillow and
her parents had to go up at least three times to deal with her. The last time my
daughter said the FBR had given them orders to talk us out of leaving and to
request one last hug from each grandparent. Heart strings effectively strummed.
While I’ll certainly miss my morning workout partner, if our time together had
to end, the alternative isn’t that desolate. This is my view as I write this.
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| My View |
Since
Copa ended their direct flights to Panama from Boston during the pandemic we
decided to fly out of New York’s JFK since we were already in New Jersey. There
was only one drawback (well other than the smart remarks from the TSA agent
about my Red Sox shirt), the flight left at 2 in the morning. Outside of some
military flights, this was the weirdest hour I’ve ever flown, but it made the
drive for Wingman to the airport from New Jersey a lot less problematic than it
would be during the day. We got a couple hours of sleep on the plane despite the
best efforts of a crying infant a few rows behind us. We landed in Panama just
after sunrise. I don’t know if it was the hour of the day or a result of the
pandemic but the airport was almost deserted. Instead of the usual bustling
pace we literally walked up as the first in line every place we had to stop.
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| Some Last Photos from New Jersey |
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| FBR Making Rice Krispy Treats With Abuela |
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| The Important Sampling Phase |
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| My Workout Buddy |
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| Coaching Grandpa as he Rides Down Panamanian Causeway |
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| Another Sign of Détente - Pee Wee on Our Bed |
A
quick comment on flying during the pandemic. I’m not sure if this was only Copa’s
procedure but it was well done. They boarded the aircraft literally row by row
starting from the rear of the plane. They reversed that when we landed with
everyone required to remain seated until the row in front of you departed. Of
course, there were the few idiots who didn’t want to listen but, when spotted,
the attendants made an announcement which finally got through to them better than
the withering stares from the rest us choosing to follow the rules. The result
was an orderly departure from the plane instead of the usual mosh pit when the
seatbelt light goes off. I know, weird to say something good has come out of the
pandemic.
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| At My Mother in Law's House |
After
passing through immigration we walked over to the domestic flight gate and were
in very short order flying to David, our final destination reached by air. The
upshot of our very early morning departure was arriving in David around nine in
the morning. Again, a deserted terminal but as soon as we walked outside, my
wife’s family greeted us at a socially acceptable distance with balloons and
non-stop laughter. It was quite a welcome. They came with our car and we made a
stop back at my mother in law’s house to pick up some groceries they bought for
us as well as a special fish dinner she had prepared for my Favorite Panamanian.
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| First Friday of the Week on our Balcony |
After
that all too brief stop, staying outside to keep everyone safe, we were on the
final leg of our journey, the hour long drive to Las Lajas. I kept thinking I
should be feeling a lot more tired than I was (2 hours of airplane sleep over
previous 32) but since I was driving at highway speeds on a road fully stocked with
Panamanian drivers, I was thankful for the exception. We had to pass a
checkpoint where they took our temperatures before allowing us access to the road
to our condo but sooner than we could have imagined we arrived.
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| Signature Sunset Last Evening |
My
sister-in-law and her friend had spent some time earlier this week cleaning and
fully stocking the refrigerator which was a Godsend. Instead of the usual intense
cleaning and waiting for the fridge to cool down that usually accompanies our after
a return year’s absence it was like we’d never left, although the pillow did
smell a little mothbally (I know, that’s not a real word). We prepared a meal
and after eating the tiredness that had been noticeably absent descended in
full force. We decided the full unpacking could wait until today.
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Workout Location This Morning
Our Condo is 3d Floor Left Corner |
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| There are Worse Places to Work out |
We
spent the remainder of the day staring out at the beach listening to the surf pound
the shore. I’d forgotten that sound is so prevalent here and becomes white noise
after a couple days but it felt almost like coming home to have it re-inserted
into the senses. The sunset was Las Lajas spectacular and everything seemed to
have returned to a year ago, before all the Covid implications.
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| Wife Took this Photo of me (Yellow Shirt) Going into Waves this Morning |
I
was out this morning for a workout on the beach. I had the entire beach, for at
least a mile in each direction, completely to myself. I did however, miss a certain
talkative five-year-old workout partner. I took it as a sign that my first attempted
boogie board ride was a huge success, riding all the way into ankle depth. The boogie
board replaces the bike workout, much as the water soaked coconut replaced
weights for my workout. You work with what you got. Las Lajas reminded me not
to take the surf lightly tumbling me a couple times and ripping off a pair of
swim goggles as well. I think I’ll survive.
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| My View up the Beach While Working Out |
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RECURRING CHARACTERS
BR3 – granddaughter #3, BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first
granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best
Family Athlete = my daughter in law; Wingman
– my son in law; Keene Friends 1 & 2
– friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend
– friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as
radical leftist to attract women; Kindergarten
Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Pittsburgh College Roommate – high
school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions
once my wife got involved in planning; Maine
and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters,
my wife is the 3rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; 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; Neighborhood
Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of
course); First Friday – celebrations
to mark the First Friday of the Week; Curbside
Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in
Brooklyn
