A Song of Joy December 5, 2008
Posted by Ken Newton in : Life in Panama , trackbackAhhh… the beauty of a MacBook Pro - sitting outside in the darkness, the sounds of the night busy all around. And the only light comes from my screen and the incredible keyboard with the lit keys. The only thing Apple needs to figure out is how to stop the bugs from landing all over the screen. Very distracting to see parts of your screen coming to life….
Not so great a morning. We had to go to the Immigration office to obtain our multi-entry permit. This is something that is required when traveling in and out of the country while your visa is in process. Typically it costs $50, but in order to obtain it, we found out that we were being fined $100 each because our last one had expired while we were last out of the country. Another 2 hours at the office going through paperwork and payments (only cash, no checks or credit cards), and we are once again legal. We figure it is nothing more than a scheme to generate revenue. While our visa is in process, we are given temporary identification cards called tramites. As long as the visa has not been approved, we have to keep renewing our tramite and, if we have any intent of being out of Panama (like spending Christmas with our family), we have to also obtain a multi-entry permit. In other words, delaying the approval of our visas results in more revenue to the government.
On our third attempt today, we found a different unsecured wireless network in front of a cafe. We quickly read as many emails as we could and answered a few with some short responses. We long for the moment when we will have our own internet access where we can relax over the keyboard and ponder the words of our emails. And take the time to check for grammar and spelling errors. I can’t stand generating any correspondence that someone else can fault for a spelling mistake….
I took a really great picture today. Until early afternoon we had lots of sun. We noticed that almost every house had its laundry hanging on lines, over chairs, porches, and just about anything off the ground. Everything has been so damp and wet until today. So Lynda jumped into the cultural mode, washed some clothes, and proceeded to hang everything on our outdoor clothes line. The picture I took is of Lynda with her basket of clothes pins, surrounded by flapping sheets and every kind of wearing apparel imaginable. And she looked so happy.
In fact, I know she is happy. Later in the day, as I was outside assembling a small grill, from within the house I heard Lynda singing. It was about the nicest sound I have heard. It was so happy and pure. It was from deep within her spirit. She was happy, and I don’t remember her singing in a way that made me smile just for hearing her voice….
Life isn’t all that easy here. We struggle hard for lack of so many things that we once took for granted. We are frustrated beyond words for our inability to communicate with neighbors and people we pick up along the road - mothers with children who would otherwise walk for miles to go to school or pick up food at the closest grocery store. We miss our children and our grandchildren. We miss water pressure and dry sheets. But life is also absolutely wonderful. Our closeness to one another is so new, even after 36 years of marriage. The daily adventures are worth every perplexing and annoying moment. The people in Chiriqui are so kind and unselfish. The opportunities we have to connect and to care give us fulfillment. Nothing significant…. Little things… cardboard.
Tomorrow will have its new difficulties. Tomorrow will have its new adventures. And tonight is just for sitting on the porch, typing in the darkness on my Mac. It just doesn’t get any better.
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