Playing is the Name of the Game

Last Sunday, October 18, 2009, I went hunting for photographs at the former Panama Canal Zone; specifically the historic cemeteries of Corozal and Paraiso.  I returned home about 10:30 a.m. just in time before a tropical cloud burst.  October is the rainiest month in Panama.

When I opened the door, I head the screams and shouts of my wife’s grandnephews—Abdiel and Karol.  Right then and there, I knew it was going to be an interesting day.  When these guests are home, the house shakes and rattles like in the middle of an earthquake.  They really know how to shake a tree.

As usual, I went to my office and started downloading about 100 photographs from the camera to the computer via the USB cable.  While I was in the midst of this activity, I heard loud laughter, screams and shouts in our guest room where the kids were playing.  Just in case, I sneaked inside the room with my camera handy.  Just in case…

I discovered a game scene in full swing inside the room.  It was difficult to take these shots, since there was no time to frame the pictures.   The rascals were moving all the time, and to make things worse, the room was dark.  Fortunately the flash was on.  Here we go.

Abdiel and Karol were swinging a sheet in an effort to make a jumping rope. They had no idea I was taking their pictures. They were too busy playing. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Abdiel is busy making a rope with a sheet, and at the same time, screaming like a monkey at the top of his lungs. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Karol is concentrated on what's happening at the other end of the sheet, I mean, rope. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

The rope maker shows his sister how things are done. He's the expert. Karol looks on attentively. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Nothing beats the scene of children at play.  Those of you who have children know exactly what I’m talking about.  When they departed at 5:30 p.m.  peace and serenity returned to our home…until next week, that is.  Good Day.

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The Taste is in the Pudding

Last Sunday we were advised that my wife’s grandnephews would visit us for the day.  Usually they have breakfast with us and stay until mid afternoon.  After that, their father takes them to play at Parque Omar where they have ample room to play and run to their heart’s content.

Since my wife knew Abdiel and Karla were coming, she went to the supermarket and bought a large package of ice cream cones, the ones you eat after the ice cream has been consumed.  She also bought a quart of Helado Galleta Deluxe (Cookie Ice Cream) maufactured by Estrella Azul. We were sure they would be elated with this sweet surprise.

As expected, shortly after breakfast, Abdiel asked if  “tía” had bought any ice cream for them.  “Indeed we have”, she said with a wide smile on her face.  She then fetched the ice cream cones from the fridge and filled them up to the very top with the Helado Galleta from Estrella Azul.

They dashed to the terrace to play with their toys.  Since I was curious to know if they were enjoying their sweet surprise, I went to the terrace to watch their reactions.

These are the faces I saw while they were licking their ice creams.  Here we go.

Karla and Abdiel reacting to their ice cream cones at our house last Sunday. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Judging from Karla’s face, she was neither happy nor disgusted with her ice cream.  I would say she was neutral on the issue.  On the other hand, Abdiel’s facial expression shows that his ice cream was not his cup of tea.  This picture would not be a good ad to promote Estrella Azul’s ice creams.

Next time we’ll try with Butter Pecan or Chocolate Chip until we hit the nail on the head.  When the children left, Aura and I took care of the rest of the ice cream.  For us it was yummity-yum-yum-yum.  Good Day.

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The Smiling Pancakes

My wife usually gets up from bed at 4:30 a.m. (-5 GMT) every day except Sunday when it’s her day off.  On Sundays she stays in bed until about eight o’clock.  That has been her routine as far as I can remember.  However, yesterday she was up real early.  I think it was 5:00 a.m. when I heard her showering in the bath room.

—I asked, “Aura, how come you’re getting up so early today?”

—She replied, “I have things to do.”

—“Yeah right, but, today is Sunday.”

–“Yes, I know,  but I’ve got things to do.”

I went to peck at my computer’s keyboard at my office, while my wife settled in the kitchen.  From the office I could hear her banging the pots.  I wondered about her words, “I’ve got things to do.” But I kept on writing my stuff and soon forgot about her words.

About an hour later, Aura yelled; “Omar, can you come to the kitchen?”

“Yeah,” I said.  “I’ll be right there.”

You know how it is.  When Momma calls, Pappa jumps.

When I got to the kitchen, my wife’s face was beaming.  With the proudest of her smiles, she said, “Look what I made for Abdiel and Karol.”

This is what I saw neatly centered on a green dish.  Here we go.

Picture of a pancake with a beaming smile for Abdiel and Karol, my wife's grandnephews. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Another happy pancake with a cheerful smile for a couple of hungry kids. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Two happy pancakes for a pair of Sunday morning hungry kids. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

I don't know what happened to this fella, but he doesn't look too happy. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

The pancakes’ facial expressions were made with slices of white cheese, and the eyes were made with black grapes cut in half.  The pancakes were made with deep love and affection.

Love is a good thing.  It even makes pancakes laugh.  Today is Monday, the start of a new week.  Come on, put a smile on your face, will you?  Good Day! 

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