A trip from Watts Mom and Watts Dad

This week my folks came to Panama for a visit. My dad particularly had always wanted to see the Canal so this was an important trip!

When I gave them a tour of my barrio, I could see the terror in my Mom’s eyes. Not that my neighborhood is really that terrible, but I suppose the cops who were arresting some guy, the naked kid screaming from the balcony of a nearby run down residence, and the homeless pan handlers would spark a chord with any parent. However, I tried my best to assure the folks that Casco Viejo is a lively and safe neighborhood if you are careful.

Later that day my parents took the two poor teachers of MIDES (myself and Tim) out for dinner at a nice restaurant. Tim was bombarded with questions from Watts Mom and Watts Dad, but everyone got along pretty well. As Tim and I regaled my parents with stories of daily life, it finally dawned on me how strange things must sound to visitors and how normal life has become for two expats like us. Oh let’s see… there is the story of how we sought refuge in the highly chilled Marriot when it got too hot at our second hostel, the dirty backpacker place that had 3 bunkbeds in one room with a/c running from only 9 pm to 9 am, and the fact that neither of us have had hot showers since we left the states (I managed to sneak one or two at some swank places). There are plenty more stories, but I won’t bore you with them here.

Of course no visit from the parents would be complete without my Mom asking a friend of mine if they have any cute friends to introduce to me. Except that now this request has been amended to any friends in the U.S. to introduce to me. Now that my brother is married, I am the last child to be married off, and the older I get the more dismal the situation appears. This matter is not helped by the fact that I keep traveling and have somewhat of an independent streak. “Please don’t let Judy marry a Panamanian!” I think were the last few words my Mom said to Tim. Don’t worry Mom; you have nothing to worry about: I am a giant, lumbering, tie-dye wearing, vegetarian weirdo here. No proposals yet.

All in all, I think my folks had a great time! My father finally received his long-last wish of seeing the canal and we saw a giant embargo ship pass through. We had dinner another night on the Amador Causeway which was accompanied by live music—an accordion and three percussionists. The owner made friends quickly with my mother, and after finding out she was from Mexico ordered the band to play a famous Mexican song. I think she would have gotten up and danced all around that patio except that her injured knee and lack of a dance partner prevented such an outburst. (My mom is apparently who I got my dancing genes from.)

It was so nice having the parents here and sharing this time in my life with them. It makes me look forward to my return home to see the rest of my family (especially little Emma Watts) and my friends.

I hope this bloggage reaches everyone well. And should I decide to get married here, don’t worry I’ll send you an invitation. ;)