Curious Redeployment

I’ll get to the curious part when I write about our arrival in Boston. I guess that’s called burying the lead but, what can I say, I was never a journalist. We have successfully returned to our Worcester home which is decidedly less tropical than our home in Las Lajas, but that’s the way it’s supposed to be. We still haven’t completely unpacked because that’s going to take some time and energy, which currently is better spent in catching up on everything that needs to be done in the house, like renewing the car registration which expired in February (Whoops). Luckily that can be handled on line. I got the flag pole back up to signal our return to the neighborhood. I’ve made it through the stack of junk mail and bills (is that redundant?) and we now have to hit the grocery store, so we can, eat.

El Fogon Farewell Dinner

Closing up the condo was poignantly sad. I say poignant because it really has become a second home to us and preparing it to weather the eight months of our absence in its tropical environs was a two day job (4 if you’re my Favorite Panamanian). She finally pronounced us ready to leave after our last sunset ceremony with the Upstairs Neighbors and the final of a seemingly endless laundry loads finished up in the dryer and was packed into plastic bins. I snapped this picture of the condo as we left and it looked sad, abandoned, and nothing like the home my Favorite Panamanian has created over the years. We left earlier than expected because a threatened road closure that turned out to be just a negotiating tactic. It turned out for the good because it gave my wife added time with her mom. We ended the day with a family dinner at El Fogon saying goodbye to my friend/waiter Everardo.

Sad Condo

Last Sunset Ceremony

Last Las Lajas Sunset

My brother-in-law gave us a ride to the airport Thursday morning which was a huge help and rescued me from one last drive through David’s demented traffic patterns. Our flights on Copa were typically awesome with only a short layover in Panama City between flights. During our approach to Panama City I snapped these photos showing some of my old haunting grounds from my mis-spent lieutenancy in the early 1980s. I got pictures of Fort Kobbe/Howard Air Force Base, the Amador Causeway and adjacent Canal, and finally Panama City which is so much bigger and more developed than back in the day. I also snapped a picture of a beautiful coral reef in the middle of the Caribbean as we flew over and the southern coast of Cuba.

Kobbe/Howard in the Distance
Ships Waiting to Enter the Canal in Foreground

Amador Causeway and Panama Canal

Panama City

The Caribbean Reef

Southern Coast of Cuba

The flight got interesting as we approached Boston. We heard a loud bang from almost directly underneath us when we were about forty minutes out of Boston. It remains a mystery because there was no announcement from the cockpit as to what it was. They probably didn’t know either, thank God from aviation redundancies. The mysteries continued upon arriving in Boston where we were treated to an amazing sunset that harkened back to Las Lajas. The mystery involved the plane driving past the international terminal and ending up in a far corner of the airfield. They wheeled up an old-style staircase for us to disembark. I kidded the stewardess that they hadn’t been paying their rent at the terminal but she nervously said it was security related and pointed at a nearby law enforcement dude. Still a mystery though as we boarded a bus back to the terminal and the seemingly endless immigration line (felt like I was back in Disney world with the switchback line). That long wait though meant our luggage was waiting when we finally emerged and we linked up with our slightly grumpy van driver. We arrived home around ten PM and found the house in great shape, nearly buried under the mountain of aforementioned junk mail. A hasty making of the bed ended the day for the my Favorite Panamanian while I descended to the Man Cave to insure all the electronics worked. They did, although the cable system gave me a few startling moments (I guess it resented its lack of use in 2024). So, we’re home, sort of. We’ll truly be home when we see the kids, grandkids, family, and friends which is what makes this our home.

Sunset in Boston

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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 him her single days in Brooklyn; 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; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Beach Exit Moved Up

Today marks our last day on the beach and I’m going to have to make this quick since I’m getting dirty looks from my Favorite Panamanian as she flits about the condo cleaning up. Sitting at the computer while she works is never a good idea, especially when I am within eyesight. As predicted, I’m now back from helping her store some more things as she walked by me huffing and puffing carrying too large a load. She’s says she doesn’t want to bother me but I think it’s more of what she’s learned at spouse school over the years about the devious use of guilt as a weapon. Getting back to the story, we’re leaving tonight, after our last sunset here, instead of tomorrow. We heard a rumor yesterday that there would be protest closing of the InterAmerican Highway (our only way to David) tomorrow. As much as I love being in Panama, I’m ready to go home and this will offer my wife some more time with her mom tomorrow in David.

The Seis Amigos at Our Farewell Sunday Dinner

I’m truly indebted to my fantastic Panamanian friends who have endeavored to give my Favorite Panamanian and I a heartfelt send off as we head north. The Panamanian couple of the Seis Amigos came up from Panama City to spend the weekend with us which was way too much fun. We ended their visit with a Sunday night dinner at the Las Lajas Beach Resort since my wife has declared our condo kitchen off limits due to cleaning requirements (it’s a very comprehensive effort). The rest of the condo community provided an unintentional gift as well Sunday with a lively beach Zumba session and a half dozen well equipped thongs from visiting ladies cavorting in the surf. Okay, that was mostly for me.

Beach Zumba

Sunday Sunset

Sunday Sunset with Upstairs Neighbors

I mentioned last week in the blog that’s what I’m going to miss most about our time here, not the thongs (but there is that), but the friends we leave behind. They’ve made a special effort to insure none of my boogie boarding sessions have been solitary. This morning was my last one of the year and the Upstairs Neighbor unexpectedly showed up to accompany me. I came back upstairs to find our dedicated handyman taking down the balcony shade curtains amidst other tasks. The condo is losing the homey feel my Favorite Panamanian has established as more and more of the decorations and furnishings she’s put in place go into storage. Okay, just back from weighing suitcases, the summonings continue, but I will finish this post!

Back at Resort Monday Night with New Friends

Last night out new friends from down the beach, the Canadian and his Panamanian wife, invited us out to dinner, back to the home of the best Panamanian cheeseburger, the Las Lajas Beach Resort. As I’ve said many times, we’re blessed with the friends we acquired down here and this couple tops the list for this year. The Panamanian ladies have bonded over the shared travails of being married to gringos. The Canadian and I have also really hit it off and he has a ready supply of beer on hand, so win. In reality they’re just great people and makes the time on our sometimes solitary beach home even more enjoyable. We’re going to miss all of them, but, as with the mostly departed pelicans, it’s time to head north.

This Morning, Heading Out to Last Boogie Boarding Session

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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 him her single days in Brooklyn; 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; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Final Friday and More

First of all, I want to calm any anxiety you have gleaned from the title, thinking I may be abandoning my practice of celebrating the first Friday of every week. Nothing could be further from the truth, as I will explain. The title refers to the last Friday I’ll experience in Panama this year. If that is in fact the case, then I and my more than superb friends are doing it in style. The Seis Amigos were reunited on Friday as the Panamanian Couple of that redoubtable group made a special trip to the condo ahead of our departure next week. They joined me for a boogie boarding session Friday morning to kick off what has been, so far, a remarkable weekend. They had some business to conduct in David later on Friday so they missed out on the First Friday of the Week gathering (our last this year) at Sunset Pizza in Las Lajas.

Saturday Dinner with the Seis Amigos

Our Upstairs Neighbors, as is their wont, more than made up for the missing members of the “Seis”. Our favorite Panamanian cat, Chow Mein, spent the entire meal with us, scrounging everything from popcorn to pepperoni. She’s grown a lot during our stay and engaged in a lively pursuit of a gecko that had the temerity to invade her hunting area. The gecko beat a hasty retreat when Chow Mein demonstrated her improved ability to climb. The owner of Sunset came over to bid us a fond farewell since she knew this was our last Friday in Panama.

Friday Sunset with my Favorite Panamanian

The Upstairs Neighbors

Back to my Wife and I 

The Panamanian couple joined me for my morning boogie boarding session both Friday and Saturday mornings which added a great deal of fun. Even my Favorite Panamanian interrupted her morning prayers long enough to join us Saturday. She and her counterpart from the Panamanian couple made a tactical mistake by, as is their wont, getting into a deep conversation in the middle of the waves. Las Lajas took umbrage to their temerity and predictably delivered a very large wave when they were not paying attention. I saw it coming but they ignored my warnings also. It was kind of funny when the wave crashed on them but I successfully hid my grin from the spluttering pair as they emerged in the aftermath.

Friday Night at Sunset Pizza With Upstairs Neighbors

Chow Mein After the Gecko

Saturday Morning Boogie Boarding Group

The big event of the day was a picnic lunch hosted by the Panamanian Couple on the beach. They were slow cooking an impressive hunk of beef amongst other delicacies as my Favorite Panamanian and the Upstairs Neighbors also donated some favorite dishes. The Upstairs Neighbors, fresh from a visit to Peru, prepared a blender full of Pisco Sours, which they learned to make on their visit. It was a big hit amongst the group. Since my beer was flowing above its usual pace (a predictable outcome when surrounded by good friends) I took it easy on the amount of Sours consumed. I think, this morning, a couple of our group regretted not taking my course of action.

Saturday Beach Picnic

Pisco Sour Prep

Upstairs Neighbor Prepping the Sours

Pisco Sours Delivered

It was a great afternoon with these best friends in Panama. The Upstairs Neighbors had to leave early, after inflicting their Pisco Sour damage, for a promised dinner down the beach with friends. The remaining four of us continued on the beach for the rest of the day, through yet another spectacular sunset. The weather had been bad for most of the week, but it has certainly rallied for our last weekend in Panama. The humidity had been hanging above the 90 level for the past two weeks but yesterday it reverted back to dry season levels which was certainly welcome. The afternoon also marked my last Atlas beer of the year. Atlas is my chosen brand of beer during our stay but I bought some Coors Lite earlier in the week to pave the way for my return to the States. Yet another sign of our impending departure.

Two of the Seis

Female Half of the Seis

The Guys

Making a Heart (I Think/Hope)

We moved further out onto the beach to observe another Las Lajas spectacular sunset. I felt a little nostalgic, realizing this was my last Saturday sunset as our days in Panama are whittled down. I’ve been luckier than I deserve in the friends I’ve acquired over the years both here in Panama and back home. That’s an aspect of earthly wealth that cannot be underappreciated. I realize I’m blessed to be rich in this area, here and at home, which means so much more than anything financial. I’m not saying I’m averse to an economic variety of wealth, but good friends are something more tangible and immediately enjoyable that anything fiscal.

Saturday Sunset Crew

Final Saturday Sunset

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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 him her single days in Brooklyn; 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; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Multiple Reunions

My Favorite Panamanian returned yesterday from spending time with her mom and everything seemed to click back in place. My carpet cleaning received passing grades which wasn’t the only surprise endured. The clouds which had been our constant companion since she left abandoned us for most of the day. Some returned late in the day to provide an elegant background for the sunset which was the first one we could observe since she departed. She joined the upstairs neighbors and I for the sunset ceremony and relished in the fact we attached the return of the sun to her presence.

She's Back!

Reunited with the Sunset Gang

My other pre-deployment activities (windows and balcony projects) were also roundly praised by my better half which led to wonder what phase the stars we’re under. She’s usually capable of liking what I’ve done but also pointing out corollary aspects I should have addressed. I’m not complaining, I’ll take it, especially with the remaining projects we’re facing over the next week. The suitcases came down out of storage this morning and this is a girl who treats packing as if it is a fine art. This runs headlong into my own technique, or I should say, lack of technique. This promises to be interesting but I have a ready supply of beer on hand. I’m making the switch from my Panamanian staple of Atlas back to Coors Lite because that transition shouldn’t be overlooked as we prepare for our return. For political reasons I didn’t add that to the written list of what we have to accomplish as we prepare to close up shop here.

Cantankerous and I the Year We Met

Today is an important day also for a completely different reason, it marks the day of birth of none other than that “famous” individual, the Cantankerous Friend. As usual, we’re on different continents when this day rolls around, but I hope to link up with him week after next on a thunder run back to my home town, adult beverages will be involved. My friend has evolved into something of a renaissance man since his retirement, although he’d probably want to argue with me on that point (it’s what he does). He’s an avid bicyclist now and has toured across the country on some truly impressive rides. Even more remarkably, he’s taken up snow skiing at our advanced age, including an epic trip to the French Alps this year that I hope to hear about when we get together. So happy birthday to one of my oldest friends, rock on!

More Recently

My Favorite Panamanian’s return wasn’t the only reunion taking place yesterday. As we were walking in from the sunset ceremony, we heard the distinctive barking of three hyperactive, small dogs which heralded the return of the Panamanian Couple to complete the assembly, once again and for the last time this year, of the Seis Amigos! We spent a lively forty minutes catching up with them on their balcony. They, and my Favorite Panamanian, joined me for the morning boogie boarding session today.  It was so much fun to have four of us out in the surf. Predictably my wife and her counterpart from the Panamanian Couple got into a conversation and temporarily forgot where they were. I was trying to get their attention when a particularly large wave arrived to remind them, funny stuff. Regrettably I don’t have any pictures of our boogie boarding session because, well, the aforementioned waves. We finished the boogie boarding and ended up in the pool where the conversations continued in a much safer environment. Those had to be abandoned when I pointed out that it was nearly eleven o’clock and we hadn’t had breakfast yet. They’ll be here through the weekend though, having returned to say good bye to us before we leave. Color me very touched.

Yesterday's Sunset

While I don’t have pictures of boogie boarding I did receive some of the FBR which only further whetted the appetite to return to the States to see her and her cousins. We gifted her the teddy bear pictured many years ago and she was taking it to school for some sort of show and tell. I don’t know how many more years with her where she’ll allow a photo taken of her holding a teddy bear so I want to enjoy it. In the other photo, she’s now participating in yoga sessions with her mom. As I said, the years are flowing way too fast, unabated.

Waiting for the Bus

Still Loves her Teddy Bear

Yoga Time with Mom

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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 him her single days in Brooklyn; 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; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Final Geo-Batching

I have been abandoned, once again, by Favorite Panamanian as she enjoys three of our remaining days with her mother. I certainly don’t begrudge her this time with her mom, which everyone my age can tell you is something to be cherished. Having to spend my time as a geographical bachelor isn’t really onerous given my location. She didn’t depart without giving me a couple missions to accomplish. It’s almost like she’s worried I can’t handle the time unsupervised. I’m really getting anxious (in a very good way) about our impending redeployment date. The rainy season has descended in force over the past few days with bright mornings followed by gloomy afternoons and tropical downpours in the afternoon. There has even been a concerted effort by Mother Nature to deny us the typically spectacular Las Lajas sunsets. (I know, I can hear Great Aunt now, Poor Baby”). This doesn’t, of course, mean the upstairs neighbors and I haven’t gathered daily to celebrate the sunset, even unseen. Yesterday, when we assembled, we were literally surrounded by thunderstorms and at one point we had to retreat under one of the beach ranchos when the rain arrived, but we kept the faith. Sunset, unobserved, was cerebrated.

Surrounded at Sunset Yesterday

I’ve completed the two major tasks my distant spouse assigned me. The first was to re-caulk the wall of windows in our condo living room. This was certainly needed as a couple of the more vigorous rains have seeped through the bottom of the windows in places. Removing the old caulk was easy as it been baked in direct tropical sun for the past six years. I accomplished the removal during a cloudy period and I thought I was all set for the application phase. Such was not the case as the sun returned as if it resented my work. So that was fun. When I spoke with my Favorite Panamanian last night about today’s task, removing rust form the balcony railings, she couldn’t resist offering me some advice/direction. She said I should do it before my morning beach workout as that would mean before the sun hit the balcony. Based on my solar adventures of the past day I did just that, although I didn’t tell her. I have to maintain a modicum of dignity.

The Window Caulking

Balcony Railings

While dodging the rain at the last few sunset ceremonies, I’ve expressed my frustration to the Upstairs Neighbors about the large tree root that drifted onto the beach a couple months ago. It has led a charmed life while obstructing views. There have been several attempts to drag it away or send it back into the surf, all unsuccessful. For a couple weeks I’ve been planning an evening bonfire centered around it. It has baked in the sun for those two months and would have gone up like tinder, just those couple weeks ago. I’m not a superstitious guy, but I swear it’s taking to laughing at me as it gets soaked each day and to add insult to the equation, we’ve had the highest tides of the year this week so it’s getting further soaked. One dry day though and it will be ashes. Yep, just about time for me to go home if driftwood is talking to me.

The Cursed Root

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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 him her single days in Brooklyn; 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; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course