I landed in Panama on a Wednesday afternoon at the end of September. By then, I’d changed my flight multiple times to extend my visit with Mistou- Mundo was virtually foaming at the mouth by the time I was within his reach.
He’d arranged for me to occupy a short-term rental in Punta Pacifico, “until your furniture arrives and you can pick out a place you want to settle into.” It was in a glass monstrosity of an apartment tower, filled with blanquito ex-pats and mid-level foreign NGO managers. The kind of building where you’d never hear Spanish being spoken in the elevator. But it had two bedrooms and a huge balcony overlooking the bay, so it would do as an interim resting place.
Mundo and Gianina were living about a fifteen-minute drive inland, in Obarrio, while Gianina finished up the last of her medical licensing requirements. Doe dropped some pretty big news on me when he picked me up from the airport.
“Gianina is two months pregnant, and we’re looking for a house in Altos de Golf,” he said.
I was pleasantly surprised at how happy he sounded, especially considering how hectic things were for the both of them. Gianina was halfway through her compulsory “rural services” year- the last necessary step before becoming a fully accredited practicing physician. Most people were assigned to posts that forced them to move five or ten hours away from home, but Gianina’s family had called in some favors and she’d been assigned to a clinic located a mere 75 minutes outside of Panama City.
“Damn, bro,” I replied. “Congratulations! You ready for this?”
“I hope so. I mean, I’m gonna be pushing thirty-six by the time this kid gets here. In Panama, that’s practically grandparent territory.”
“Well, we all figured you’d be an unmarried teen dad, so at least you’re keeping it respectable,” I joked.
“Either way, both sets of future grandparents are thrilled,” Doe replied. “And I’m happy as fuck that they’ll all finally get off my ass about it.”
Doe pulled up to the Punta Pacifico apartment building.
He handed the keys to a parking attendant, then turned and smiled at me.
