Anyway, backtracking brings me to where I left off with the last post which seems like an eternity ago.
Since then, I received a missed call from my Brother at 6:30am on Easter Sunday. I already knew in my heart before I returned the call that my dear Grandmother passed away. She was the last of my Grands, and one of the sweetest people I have ever known. I booked a flight and attended a beautiful ceremony, surrounded by friends and family, some of whom I have not seen in several years. The event turned out to be a much-enjoyed family reunion followed by Mother's Day, and my Brother's graduation party...My Grandmother was always an essential glue that bonded our family, and even after passing, that affect held strong, and will continue to do so for a long time to come. She lived 93 years, and through hardships I can only try to understand, always had a smile on her face and a kind comment to anyone who she crossed paths with...definitely a model of who I aspire to be.
The visit to Wisconsin allowed me to spend some time at the farm which was very enjoyable because of the season. Everything was turning green and it was 80 degrees (unusual for May). We worked on the chicken coop and took GPS readings of some new trails. I also got to hang out with friends briefly. We went to a Brewers game and watched them beat Pittsburgh. I remember going to games when I was a kid and the stadium would be half full, but now, they sell out normal games. The parking lot is a giant party scene and a lot of fun.
I was able to sell my car which was a relief for me, and especially Dad who has had the burden of maintaining it while I've been away.
Prior to leaving for Wisconsin, my former roommate from California came to visit. Christian quit his job and is on a world tour. Within a week of being in Panama, he has job offers, bought a motorcycle, and moved in to my house on the farm. Right now, he is on a sailboat traveling from Costa Rica to Panama with a friend, so when he gets back he will decide what to do next. It is very fun having such a good friend here! We went rock climbing, and hiked Volcan Baru.
I still can't believe it took me a year to hike Volcan Baru...I guess I've been waiting for someone to do it with me. Volcan Baru is the highest point in Panama, and on clear days, you can see the Pacific and Caribbean. The dormant volcano is 11,398 ft and the trail is about 10 miles to the top. Jason and Cecelia also joined us. We met at my house around 9pm and left for the Volcano at 11:30pm. We shaved a couple of miles off by driving passed the park HQ to a farm on the recently (temporarily) improved road. I anticipated a lot of rain and very cold temps from what others had told me, so I had several layers and everything wrapped in garbage or zip-lock bags. J's knee was bothering him, so we took our time with plenty of rests. It got cold, but did not rain at all, and the top was windless. We reached the summit in time to watch the sun rise (the only time of day you have a chance of seeing both coasts). We were only able to see the Pacific due to cloud cover below our vantage point. The hike down is always harder for me, so again we moved slow. Lack of sleep and the exertion it took to climb up had us all acting loopy. J and Christian decided to sample some strange berries, while Christian painted his face with mud and scared other hikers. It was a hoot for sure, and we made it back to my house at 11am for a celebratory beer after the 11-hour journey.
Christian, Jason, Cecelia on top.
Sunrise from Baru.
I have begun training to become a volunteer with the Panamanian Red Cross. Everything is in Spanish for now, and the English version will be later. I figure that if I am called upon to help, there is a high probability that any victims I come into contact with will be Spanish-speaking.
That's all for now, but here are some random pics:
Jess riding Panzer.
Tarantula Moth, maybe?
Sasha, the pregnant Dalmatian on the farm.
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