Back from the USA

Catching up on this site here with a few things I've written lately....

It was a wonderful time with family. It means so much to me that I not only have two wonderful daughters, but now three amazing grandchildren. And, even better, The whole family was together for Thanksgiving, including Joel and the California in laws. I started out not related to anyone and now to have all this family, it’s enough to make a grandma totally melt into a happy puddle.

But, it’s always nice to come home again too, back to Panama where happiness seems to come with the warm air. In the past it was interesting to contrast the US and Panama, but now that I have been back and forth many times there isn’t much more to add. People in the US are still tall, you can turn off the Spanish speaking part of your brain, there are lots and lots of things to buy but much of it is more expensive, especially the food. (I did stock up on pain relievers and cold medicine though. There seem to be many more choices in the pharmacy and lower prices on generic brands.) Everything is manicured, yards are neat and orderly, and streets are smooth. Since it was late November though, it was chilly most of the time and the sun sets too early in the afternoon.

I have pictures that I will get around to sharing at some point. The most dramatic are from the areas burned in the Santa Rosa fires. No picture can convey the reality and scope of the destruction though. It goes on for block after block, for miles. The rest of the pictures are flowers, pretty places we visited, and of course family pictures.

We came back with musical equipment, mainly a new amplifier and four new speakers so Joel has been busy getting it all installed, wired up, and whatever else is needed to make it work. One of the speakers is a 15” Faital for my bass cabinet. I have an amplifier all to myself now so plenty of power, and a new great sounding speaker that can handle it so I’m no longer afraid to turn up the volume. Our drummer is coming down for practice tomorrow, and we play on Saturday night so soon it will be put to the real world test.

It’s funny. Anytime I go to the US there are things to bring back, but it’s always different things – clothes, shoes, spices, food storage containers, colored duct tape and electrical tape, seeds, a small appliance, just random things we find easier to buy there. The last couple trips though have been mostly band equipment, and various things my neighbor bought since she discovered the joy of ebay shopping.

It’s also funny. The US and Panama feel like totally different worlds, but you can get on a plane in one and land in the other in the same day. Thank you for airplanes, especially the Delta ones with electric outlets and free movies. It always takes my head a couple days to catch up with reality though.