Did you know Sylvester the Cat speaks Spanish?
I should not have been surprised. After all those years tracking Tweety Bird, maybe another language would help.
Sylvester was the cover boy on my Valentine's Day card from my wife. The message was sweet and funny--and given to me in person here in Panama. Yes, I'm still here--and enjoying every minute.
This time I've got my son Isaac and his friend Bennett at my side. It's good for me to have the boys, because they add a perspective that I've lost about Panama. Now, I see Sylvester the Cat, LaCoste ads and baseball. Bennett, who's visiting a foreign country for the first time, sees houses with tin roofs, smells unusual odors, and hears Spanish everywhere. For me this place is familiar. For Bennett it's a whole new world.
I'm constantly amazed at how the Panamanians embrace American culture. Their stores are stocked with American goods--that people buy at ridiculously inflated prices. Even US holidays are celebrated here, including Thanksgiving! If anything, they should LOATH Thanksgiving because it marks the rise of England in the New World. The original Panama City was burned to the ground by English pirates, yet Panamanians celebrate Thanksgiving! And Santa Claus rides in a sleigh. And Sylvester the Cat delivers Valentines greetings.
At the same time thank God for the differences. This week is Carnival in Panama--that uniquely Latin celebration before Lent. In the U.S., other than in New Orleans, we've largely lost this celebration. It's too bad, because a little fun is what we badly need in northern climates in mid-February. I'm happy to be here for Carnival.
And fresh fruit--wow, how much I enjoy that. Pineapple so sweet it tastes like someone added sugar. Mangos, watermelon and grapes, too. I can't stop eating when I'm here.
Of course the beach--crashing waves and warm water, really takes the chill out of my bones.
Can an American get tired of Panama? I don't think it's possible in February.
Adios Amigos!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Hello Again
Well, it's been a week since I last posted. If anyone is disappointed, I'm sorry. Clearly I lack the discipline, or perhaps, more accurately, the singular purpose that Julie (in Julie and Julia) possessed to write a daily blog.
I'm twelve days now in Panama. The weather has been magnificent--warm every day and not too humid. I'm eating well, but sticking to my diet and exercise regime. My wife and I are getting along fine. We miss our children, though.
In many ways Panama looks better than it has in past visits. No devastating recession here, seems like everyone is working--and many prospering. Traffic, while still frustrating, has improved thanks to some recently completed freeways and newly installed "smart" traffic lights that adjust depending on traffic loads. The Panamanians hate the lights, but I think they're great.
Panamanian drivers are actually obeying the new lights instead of running through intersections at breakneck speeds. This country needed to "slow down" and obey rules of safe driving. My wife suspects that foreign guests had complained about poor Panamanian drivers, and the government decided to do something rather than risk alienating an important source of national revenue. So, to me, the traffic in Panama is noticeably better now.
Also noticeably better is my wife's aunt. She has rallied (again) and seems in no imminent danger of dying. This is not the first time she's recovered like this--dire medical emergency, death on the doorstep, Piecuchs arrive, and, voila, a new lease on life. Why the improvement? Does my wife's touch possess restorative powers? Did we bring with us some special medicine not available in Panama? I have my own theory.
Modern medicine can cure many ills and keep our bodies going in relatively good shape to a ripe old age. I've written here before about longevity secrets--and the importance of fruitful labor. And this week, I see even more clearly that what I wrote is true. Medicine cannot give meaning to life. Doctors cannot give purpose to their patients. Existing alone is not enough to sustain one's spirit.
The physical decline of Clarisa's aunt, which nearly cost her her life eight weeks ago, has as much to do with her shrinking world as with her advancing age. Aunt Clarisa's lost mobility has had devastating results. Too proud to sit in a wheelchair and barely able to walk, her world became little more than her small, hot apartment. On the third floor without an elevator, there was no place for her to go and nobody to see but those who chose to visit. I'd be dying, too. No going to church. No trips to the market. No sitting in the park watching people. Her universe shrank to her telephone, her television, her doctors, and her caregivers.
But to see her today--even after an exhausting round of dialysis--Clarisa's aunt seems energized. She's walking better. She's taking more interest in her surroundings. And, she's exceling at her new job (overseeing meal prep at our condo). This turnaround has come with some effort. When we arrived she seemed interested in little more than talking about her illnesses and ailments. That had to stop.
We now force her to talk, to walk, to supervise meal preparation, to go to church. Rather than simply sit her in a chair, count her pills and speak soothing words, we urge her to get up, to do for herself, and to make decisions. Sometimes my wife sounds a little harsh--but remember the saying, "use it or lose it." Very true when we're old--what you don't use, doesn't come back.
Here's two behaviors every elderly person should work hard to avoid: self righteousness and self indulgence. A self righteous person always believes that they are fine in God's eyes. While others may be judged harshly, the self righteous are God's favorites. The true saint always recognizes that they are unworthy of God's favor--that God's mercy comes in spite of our shortcomings. The closer a saint walks with God, the more he/she recognizes their own shortcomings.
The daily disciplines of those who struggle for righteousness sake--prayer, meditation, Bible study, worship, praise--do not require physical strength or trips about town. A homebound elderly person has plenty of time for these activities! However, a self righteous person may avoid them. Why pray, go to church, seek to do acts of mercy and kindness for others? I'm already God's favorite, and, now that I am old, I need not make those efforts.
The self indulgent person takes care of his/her own needs first and lacks empathy for the needs of others. While a younger self indulgent person may in their daily activities find themselves helping others, especially if they have children who need their care, an elderly self indulgent person may feel no need to do anything for anyone else. After all, people should serve me.
Yet, our Lord said it is more blessed to give than to receive. And, that command does not end with advanced age. An old person who has empathy for the world can share their resources, can say kind words through letters and telephone calls, can pray and ask God to assist those who are in need. These giving activities do not require physical strength or mobility, yet they can make a difference in the lives of others.
As we work hard to help Clarisa's aunt spend her last days with dignity and to encourage her to strive for righteousness sake, may we be good guides and encouragers. May we avoid our own self righteousness and be empathetic toward her real infirmities--and show proper compassion when she experiences aches and pains.
Oh Lord, help us.
I'm twelve days now in Panama. The weather has been magnificent--warm every day and not too humid. I'm eating well, but sticking to my diet and exercise regime. My wife and I are getting along fine. We miss our children, though.
In many ways Panama looks better than it has in past visits. No devastating recession here, seems like everyone is working--and many prospering. Traffic, while still frustrating, has improved thanks to some recently completed freeways and newly installed "smart" traffic lights that adjust depending on traffic loads. The Panamanians hate the lights, but I think they're great.
Panamanian drivers are actually obeying the new lights instead of running through intersections at breakneck speeds. This country needed to "slow down" and obey rules of safe driving. My wife suspects that foreign guests had complained about poor Panamanian drivers, and the government decided to do something rather than risk alienating an important source of national revenue. So, to me, the traffic in Panama is noticeably better now.
Also noticeably better is my wife's aunt. She has rallied (again) and seems in no imminent danger of dying. This is not the first time she's recovered like this--dire medical emergency, death on the doorstep, Piecuchs arrive, and, voila, a new lease on life. Why the improvement? Does my wife's touch possess restorative powers? Did we bring with us some special medicine not available in Panama? I have my own theory.
Modern medicine can cure many ills and keep our bodies going in relatively good shape to a ripe old age. I've written here before about longevity secrets--and the importance of fruitful labor. And this week, I see even more clearly that what I wrote is true. Medicine cannot give meaning to life. Doctors cannot give purpose to their patients. Existing alone is not enough to sustain one's spirit.
The physical decline of Clarisa's aunt, which nearly cost her her life eight weeks ago, has as much to do with her shrinking world as with her advancing age. Aunt Clarisa's lost mobility has had devastating results. Too proud to sit in a wheelchair and barely able to walk, her world became little more than her small, hot apartment. On the third floor without an elevator, there was no place for her to go and nobody to see but those who chose to visit. I'd be dying, too. No going to church. No trips to the market. No sitting in the park watching people. Her universe shrank to her telephone, her television, her doctors, and her caregivers.
But to see her today--even after an exhausting round of dialysis--Clarisa's aunt seems energized. She's walking better. She's taking more interest in her surroundings. And, she's exceling at her new job (overseeing meal prep at our condo). This turnaround has come with some effort. When we arrived she seemed interested in little more than talking about her illnesses and ailments. That had to stop.
We now force her to talk, to walk, to supervise meal preparation, to go to church. Rather than simply sit her in a chair, count her pills and speak soothing words, we urge her to get up, to do for herself, and to make decisions. Sometimes my wife sounds a little harsh--but remember the saying, "use it or lose it." Very true when we're old--what you don't use, doesn't come back.
Here's two behaviors every elderly person should work hard to avoid: self righteousness and self indulgence. A self righteous person always believes that they are fine in God's eyes. While others may be judged harshly, the self righteous are God's favorites. The true saint always recognizes that they are unworthy of God's favor--that God's mercy comes in spite of our shortcomings. The closer a saint walks with God, the more he/she recognizes their own shortcomings.
The daily disciplines of those who struggle for righteousness sake--prayer, meditation, Bible study, worship, praise--do not require physical strength or trips about town. A homebound elderly person has plenty of time for these activities! However, a self righteous person may avoid them. Why pray, go to church, seek to do acts of mercy and kindness for others? I'm already God's favorite, and, now that I am old, I need not make those efforts.
The self indulgent person takes care of his/her own needs first and lacks empathy for the needs of others. While a younger self indulgent person may in their daily activities find themselves helping others, especially if they have children who need their care, an elderly self indulgent person may feel no need to do anything for anyone else. After all, people should serve me.
Yet, our Lord said it is more blessed to give than to receive. And, that command does not end with advanced age. An old person who has empathy for the world can share their resources, can say kind words through letters and telephone calls, can pray and ask God to assist those who are in need. These giving activities do not require physical strength or mobility, yet they can make a difference in the lives of others.
As we work hard to help Clarisa's aunt spend her last days with dignity and to encourage her to strive for righteousness sake, may we be good guides and encouragers. May we avoid our own self righteousness and be empathetic toward her real infirmities--and show proper compassion when she experiences aches and pains.
Oh Lord, help us.
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