Beach Solitaire

I’ve been abandoned by my Favorite Panamanian. Granted, it’s only for a couple days and it was my decision, but there it is. She needed to go back to David to renew the registration on our car and then drive her mother to a doctor’s appointment today. She strongly hinted that I could accompany her but I knew that meant I would be sitting in her mother’s house while she did all the errands. I opted to remain in our paradisical condo by myself. I know. Huge sacrifice.  With the Sunday departure of both my Favorite Panamanian and the other two families at the condos, I have had the entire building to myself for the last two days.

Alone on the Beach but I do Get the Sunsets

And This View from our Condo

The strangest (well, maybe not so strange) part is that I found myself missing human interaction. I often tell myself I would love the solitude and lack of supervision this type situation would mean. The truth is I think human interaction is a very basic need and I haven’t had any for a couple days. I have binge watched the series Yellowstone (awesome) and playoff football but I find myself looking around for the Favorite Panamanian so I can share some of my less than cogent thoughts on the state of the world. I think I’ve been married way too long to be allowed this much alone time. I miss the flashing eyes, eve when they flash danger for me.

Past Couple Mornings on the Beach

I was hoping the whole Tonga volcano would result in some bigger surf but, although it made a major hit on the coast of Peru, we’ve nothing to show for it. My boogie boarding has been consigned to the much smaller than usual waves here. I did make the acquaintance last week with some rays. They were the small ones you see in the petting tanks at many zoos although these haven’t had their stingers removed so I beat a fairly hasty retreat. I was struck by their grace as I saw a couple zoom through a wave directly in front of me just before it broke. As I made my way back to shore, I was surrounded by at least a dozen in a swarming pod. I just stood stock still until they made their way around me. It was kind of cool but the ole heart was racing a bit. My Favorite Panamanian saw a huge manta ray jump out of the water just beyond the surf line when I returned from my adventure.

Site of So Many Memories

My morning walk on the beach went in the other direction this morning, a little further than I intended. I ended up at the beach resort where I first fell in love with Las Lajas and the center of so many great memories of family gatherings over the years. It was there that Wingman contemplated asking for daughter’s hand in marriage as we sat around a late-night campfire only to wait until he was a few thousand miles away to broach the subject. It was here that Keene Friend almost broke his neck bodysurfing but during the same visit he also danced. So, it would probably be appropriate for there to be some sort of historical plaque put up stating that on this spot we had a verified sighting of Keene Friend dancing. Lots of great memories, as I said, and definitely why we chose to buy the condo here.

BRS & BR3 Enjoying their Own Water Sport

I’m still setting up the beach chair for the sunset each day accompanied an appropriate libation as well. The sunsets have not disappointed. I checked the ring camera back home yesterday morning when I came in from the beach and saw 6-8 inches of heavy wet snow blanketing the front of the house. The beach, while a bit lonely the past couple days, has it all over trying to move heavy wet snow.

2 Days Worth of Sunsets

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – 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; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course; 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 3^rd 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

Lieutenancy Redux

For the second day in a row we were hosting old friends yesterday at the beach. We were lieutenants together way back in the day when I first showed up in Panama as a very green lieutenant, fresh out of Ft Benning School for Boys (OCS and the Infantry Basic Course). He was my sponsor and was already married to a Panamanian gal and a year later when I was married to my Favorite Panamanian the gals became friends as well. We never served together again but always had fond memories of the time spent slogging through the jungles of Panama in the early 1980s and singing drunken military ditties on a high-rise balcony. He’s gone on to be a very successful writer, mostly of military science fiction, with over eighteen published novels. He, his wife, and two young relatives came to spend the afternoon with us.

The Two Wives

My Fellow Lieutenant and I

We spent a lot of time conversing on the beach about those shared memories of serving in the 193^rd Infantry Brigade as young lieutenants. It was a great learning experience for infantrymen. Especially officers since we were given a degree of freedom neither of us saw again in our careers. We joked this was probably because our superiors couldn’t or didn’t want to find us as we operated in the jungle.  We trained hard and long, spending weeks at a time living in that very inhospitable environment. It was a great stroll down memory lane while the gals engaged in the usual non-stop dialogue involved with catching up after a couple years apart. Another great afternoon spent with old friends.

Water Heater is Fixed!

Earlier in the day we had the handyman back to fix a couple things. I hadn’t had a hot shower since leaving the USA and his primary mission yesterday was getting the hot water heater functional. He had to jury-rig something to get it to work but that may have been the best shower I’ve had in ages.  The water here is never really cold, cold like we have in New England, but I still don’t enjoy a shower without real hot water. He also fixed the balcony doors which needed some minor adjustments and hung some of my Favorite Panamanian’s increasing stockpile of beach related nick-nacks on the wall.

Sunset Last Night

My Usual Photo Back to the Family to Rub it in

I don’t want everyone to think life in paradise is not without its challenges. On our first day on the beach, I forgot the age-old lesson I learned back when my friend and I were running around the jungles of Panama, everything in Panama bites. I forgot to apply insect repellent for that first day on the beach and I was rewarded with a couple legs that look like I’ve got a case of smallpox. The sand fleas and chiggers seem to have acquired a real taste for gringo blood. We’ve taken to keeping the balcony doors open with the air conditioning off during most of the day as we get a nice breeze. I have to put the balcony sun shades down to ensure we don’t get overheated in the afternoon but it's nice to hear the pounding of the surf so clearly through the open doors as I write this.

Beach This Morning

End of the Beach, River on Left 

I had to do some extra work this morning on my exercise routine for a couple reasons. The first, and most obvious, is that I may have had more than a few Atlas beers yesterday while in the midst of intense reminiscing with my fellow lieutenant. The second was the Patriots’ playoff game last night, or more accurately escribed, massacre. I was so excited to be able to see the game live with the new apparatus my daughter and Wingman gifted me with. I was cursing their name (just kidding) as the Bills just had their way with the Pats. The Bills’ quarterback is something special and he certainly rose to the occasion while the Patriots’ defense just did not show up. So, the extra work this morning. Since my Favorite Panamanian didn’t join me for the walk I extended it to the far end of our beach where a small river flows into the ocean. It was kind of cool, especially since I had the entire place to myself. I discovered where the omnipresent pelicans hang out. There was a small fishing boat offshore that was surrounded by pelicans, both in the water and in the air. I’m not sure their presence was exceptionally welcome.  

Our Condo Seen from the Beach

Balcony Doors Left Open

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – 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; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course; 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 3^rd 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

A. Great. Day.

We got our 2022 guest hosting off to a great start yesterday which shouldn’t surprise me since it featured some of the stalwart member of the Panamanian Mafia from our days in Northern Virginia. The Panamanian involved is also a Chiricana (native of the province of Chiriqui) like my Favorite Panamanian and we picked up the friendship like a day hasn’t passed since we were last together. That’s the mark of really good friends and these folks certainly qualify. They were also amongst the few friends able to visit us here last year during our April-long stay.

Our First Guests of 2022!

One of the best parts of that last visit were the huge waves that my counterpart and I challenged with boogie boards. My only complaint about our stay here so far has been the uncharacteristically small waves. I was commenting on this to him as we walked out into the surf. We hadn’t been out there for more than ten minutes before some more representative waves started rolling in and the rides were on. I complimented him on fixing my boogie board issue as his presence seemed to reawaken Las Lajas’ large waves.

Beach Time

At the Show Pony

The ladies were back on shore devouring one of my wife’s pizza dips which hasn’t lost anything off its fastball with the trip south. It didn’t last long after the boogie boarders returned from the surf. After declaring victory over the pizza dip we walked the short distance down the beach to the Show Pony Hotel for a very fun lunch. One of the characteristic expressions of my wife’s province of Chiriquí is “Meto!” which is used for everything and reminds me of the Army’s overuse of the expression, “Hooah!!”. I mention this because I had my first ever “Hamberguesa Meto” at the Show Pony and it was fabulous. The company was even better as we celebrated being together again.

Sunset Prep

And First Friday, Of Course!

They treated us to the lunch in celebration of our pseudo 40^th anniversary and I walked them through the origins of celebrating the first Friday of very week. This translated nicely as we returned to our beach and continued the revelry. A short time later, the Family First Friday Facetime Call started and my frozen family members back in the states were appropriately jealous as the palm trees swayed in the background as we talked. My wife, who as a Panamanian should know better, set up her chair directly below one of the palm trees and its package of coconuts. I mentioned this might not be smart for which I received the usual wifely response of superiority that I dared to question her. The rest of the group moved to the pool while I finished up the call.

Mafia in the Pool

The Near Miss

Shortly after my wife left, a small coconut fell directly in front of her chair and would have nailed her feet if she had been there. I made sure she was aware of this near miss and for just a moment her wifely disdain was shaken. It’s all about life’s small victories. After the pool we set up on the beach for the sunset. While last night’s sundown was probably the least spectacular so far it was certainly the most enjoyable because the group we had assembled to view it. Life is all about time spent with family and friends and these friends are close to meeting both labels.

Beach this Morning

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – 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; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course; 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 3^rd 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

Non-Anniversary

Before I continue, today does not constitute my 40^th anniversary with my Favorite Panamanian. It is true that 40 years ago today we were married in a civil ceremony but that didn’t count then or now as the official date of our marriage. My then future wife opined we weren’t officially married until we stood in front of a priest, and we did this to get on the military housing list. I was of the opinion that this civil ceremony entitled me to other marital privileges but I was shot down in flames until our March 6^th church ceremony. So in March, you can wish us a happy anniversary. We’re still going to celebrate today because, of course, it is also the First Friday of the Week and the first in a long time we’re at the beach for.

Lunch Yesterday with Unsuspecting Partners

Last Vestiges of Sunset Last Night from Our Living Room

We will be joined in the celebration with our first visitors of the 2022, members and good friends from the DC chapter of the Panamanian mafia. Yesterday I missed the beach sunset as we were returning from our supply run to David. We had a very fun lunch with my mother-in-law and wife’s sister at my favorite steak house in David. That was followed by a tortuous 2 hour sojourn in the grocery store which only reinforced my long held belief that my Favorite Panamanian and I should not shop together. We have diametrically opposed decisiveness quotients and aren’t really tolerant of the other’s. I just do not feel the need to contemplate literally every item in the store, but that’s me. We survived somehow and were pulling into the condo just after the sun set. Well, now to celebrate the non-anniversary.

Crowded Beach This Morning

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – 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; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course; 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 3^rd 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

Retiring Reflections

I’m finally getting to truly experience what retirement life is like and I gotta tell ya, it has a lot to recommend it. As I’ve written about earlier, both my Favorite Panamanian and I were so busy after January 1^st that I didn’t get a real sense of retirement because I was working harder than I had in years. The last few days have more than met the required definition of retired life. We don’t even own an alarm clock and I can stay up as late as I want without concern about what I’m facing the next day (outside of my wife of course). I guess this lifestyle could get old, but I think that will require decades and I probably don’t have that much time left anyways. Several people warned me I would struggle with the lack of activity in retired life. That has turned out to be completely false because I fill the day with things I like doing versus have to do. I’m finally getting back into the best shape I’ve been in since I left the Army and reading whenever I want to (which is a lot).

Sunset Yesterday

I Think the Word You're Looking for is, Wow!

Beach This Morning

I’ve posted another couple of photos from yesterday’s spectacular sunset. I know this may seem cruel to those living in the polar vortex back home, but it is done out of the fervent hope it motivates you to come visit us in Panama. We’re looking forward to our first visitors tomorrow, a couple members of the DC chapter of the Panamanian Mafia. You can ask me to stop posting pictures of this paradise. You can ask, I won’t stop, but you can ask. We’re rerunning back up the coast to David today to take my mother-in-law out to lunch and then hit the grocery store again. The few days here have revealed some gaping holes in our initial supply run.

A Friend Posted this Today and I Laughed Out Loud
My Generation Gets the Joke Immediately

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – 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; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course; 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 3^rd 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