I made it! It’s definitely a long trip. I didn’t mind the bus rides, but two 4 hour stints in the airplane were tedious. Being crammed in like sardines in less than comfortable seats gets old. I had a great seat neighbor from Panama City to Houston though, and the conversation made the time fly by. Thank you, my new friend.
It’s cold here! After being acclimated to the current mid 90’s Panama weather this is a big change. Thank goodness for fuzzy socks, sweaters, and my daughter’s down comforter. Everything looks so clean and orderly too. After the organized chaos of Panama, the activity, color, noise, and less than neat and clean appearance, this almost seems sterile and… I’m not sure how to describe it. It’s beautiful, nice, but very different. Maybe it’s the quiet too. There are no dogs barking, roosters crowing, and the symphony of birds and insects I’ve grown accustomed to.
Funny the things that catch your eye. We went to the store today and big display of asparagus made me very excited. I hadn’t even thought about asparagus, something I had very frequently before, so it suddenly looked wonderful. That, and baby spinach. We had roasted asparagus for lunch and made salad with baby spinach. I ate way more than my share. This was a very nice upscale California store with all kinds of delicacies, so you would think I’d have gone nuts, but these were the only things I thought I had to have. Apparently I have been deprived of very little that I like.
It took me a little while to adjust to everyone speaking English. Yesterday I had to think before I opened my mouth. We speak mostly English at home of course, but around town it’s almost always Spanish so it’s starting to come automatically. And, everyone here looks so pale.
But, all in all it’s just a few minor things, nothing that feels like much of an adjustment. And of course it’s really wonderful to be with my daughter and other family, and touch the baby bump that is my growing grandson. Tomorrow is the baby shower with more friends and family, and at some point will be my first portrait photography shoot to see how I do with maternity photos.
The Panama Adventure 
Oh! I’m soooo happy for you! It must be so glorious to be with your daughter and to see that little baby bump! I love hearing about what you notice here after having been away for awhile. Enjoy!! Cheers1
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Thank you 🙂 I’m having a great time, and how fun to talk with you too!
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Thanks so much for taking time to call me! It’s nice to talk with someone who has already been here done this! Can’t wait to get together in Panama!
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i like your articles
have a great continuation
best regards
marrakech excursion
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Thank you so much
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welcome
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I might add its 70 degrees here! Cold to Panamanians… yet beautiful for the rest of us. 🙂 Love you Mom!!! So glad you are here!
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Yes, I know, I am a total wuss! I think 70 is cold, but I am so happy to be here and I love you too! xoxo
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how great! i totallly identified with the asparagus and baby spinach! deep orange sweet potatoes are another item that i miss!
enjoy your time and have fun and stay warm!
ja!
z
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I think we have sweet potatoes in David, but I haven’t tried them. Thanks, and I’m having a good time, and will stay warm. My daughter pointed out that it’s 70 degrees so I’m not exactly having icicles hanging off my ears 😀
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LOL! Cold in California, who would have thought? So glad you’re having a good time. You need to post some of those photos once you’re done! 😉
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She said I could share photos, so they will be coming 🙂
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How long must you stay there before you can return to Panama? When is the baby due? How fantastic, all in all!! Michael now gets monthly social security and said to me ” ok, I qualify for living in Panama now so when are we going?” Lol point well taken… 🙂
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Must you stay… LOL I really am here voluntarily! Mon I go to southern Utah, Thurs to TX to see Elizabeth, and back to Panama on the 18th. The baby is due May 18th, same day Elizabeth graduates. Yes, when are you coming to Panama? Get your courses on line and manage them from afar, and come live with the happy people 😀
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Walking around Key West and seeing all of the free roaming roosters makes me think Panama! Love reading what you are noticing as well. When I vacationed in Panama it seemed to me that I couldn’t find a really good green salad. I will be on the lookout next week when there. Have a wonderful trip!
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I can’t wait to hear about your trip! You can see Panamanian roosters shortly after the Key West roosters. Did everyone make it down there OK and the wedding is going forward as planned? In Panama, they seem to grow lettuce and cabbage, but not too much else in the way of greens. I hadn’t thought about it much until i saw all the baby spinach.
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I’ve been enjoying your posts for a while now.
Being a relocated native Californian, I totally relate to your oblservations. I find myself flying there a couple times a year to check up on family. I find myself getting a queasy feeling even before landing in Southern CA. It starts with flying through the brown mucky haze. Then it gets worse as I negotiate all the traffic on the freeways. The only good things I can say about CA these days are 1, The weather tends to be good. 2. The beaches and mountains are beautiful. Still, driving through all the insane traffic to get to those beautiful places may not be worthwhile.
Hope you enjoy your family before returning to the “organized chaos” of Panama.
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Where have you relocated to?
My daughter lived in southern CA for a while and I know what you mean. You have to take a big freeway to get anywhere. Here in northern CA it’s better and I like this area a lot. It’s just crazy expensive and too chilly for me.
Thank you so much, glad you enjoy the blog 🙂
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I’ve seen asparagus for sale at the Pricesmart in David, but I’d have to take out a loan to buy any of it and I LOVE asparagus.
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I wondered if it was at Pricemart or the supermarkets sometimes, but I generally don’t even look at produce there so I wouldn’t have noticed it. I’ll eat my fill here, and go back to fruit and broccoli and all the other good local stuff in Panama.
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