Lovely piece, thank you! Instantly brought me back to the time my guy and I unexpectedly made our way via ferry to Inishmaan of the Aran Islands of Ireland. No cars, no phones. We did have a place to stay and a bed and breakfast host who served us the most delicious potatoes I’ve ever tasted. Also unreconstructed prehistoric ruins with no annoying markers. And—the John Millington Synge cottage!
I spent 2 weeks in the San Blas islands when I was 17 (almost 49 now). Glad to hear it’s still relatively intact. The Kunas are fantastic people. You’re basically offshore of the Darien Gap there, where humanity is struggling to depart Venezuela…
In December I stayed there with Birkenstocks next to the bed, just in case. I also shook the sheets and blankets before getting into bed. Saw scorpions but avoided stepping on them. Glad you enjoyed your trip to Panama with the cousins. Great picture of ancient ritual.
Susie- I am going to tell you something that will change your life. Hoka's make something i believe is called the recovery slider. It is a total game changer. Makes Birkenstocks feel painful. You can go to their website and order. Wish i could show you a picture? Let me know if you want me to email one to you. They were my first reorder when my house burned down. They come in many colors. A friend sent them to me as a gift after foot surgery (which you can relate to) and i've never been without. Go to Hoka.com. btw-not pretty but who cares with that much comfort
Thank you for this wonderful story. I am a reformed Jew from Brooklyn N.Y.. While I've been in a tropical beach environment, I've never had the "full treatment" as you did. The experience you had sounded fantastic!!!
Sadly, your "Old Man', is nothing like the experiences I was subjected too with regards to Hasidic Jews. In the early 60's, Hasidic Jews descended an mass, into my community. (We were about 75% Jewish and 25% Catholic. All very "Americanized").. They we pushy, intolerant and downright rude. Immediately they tried to take over the entire neighborhood. Every shop owner on the main shopping drag was approached and told, "If you don't close on Saturday (Shabbos), none of our community will patronize you. Every community council meeting was disrupted by demands from the Hasidic community.
Sorry to be long winded and bursting your "Old Man" bubble.
My paternal grandmother occasionally visited Panama (as I recall, my Aunt Marion had moved there with Uncle Martin for a while); I remember the excitement of us all loading her onto a plane in Philadelphia and then picking her up a couple weeks later, with her skin appropriately leathered. (Which my browser insists is not a real word -- it is, though, a real description.) After I started poking into genealogy, I found some documents online documenting her departure from Florida to Panama and back via ship, so she must not have been on a direct flight.
Would have loved to be a fly on the mizzenmast watching you fight to politely suppress your inner commotion during Mordechai's visit. Thanks so much for this report!
I want to say this could only happen to Susan Orlean, but I've had a few of these surreal experiences of my own. You expect to wake up and realize it was just a typically weird dream. Loved your telling of this.
You are a lightning rod for the improbable and wonderful.
❤️
Lovely piece, thank you! Instantly brought me back to the time my guy and I unexpectedly made our way via ferry to Inishmaan of the Aran Islands of Ireland. No cars, no phones. We did have a place to stay and a bed and breakfast host who served us the most delicious potatoes I’ve ever tasted. Also unreconstructed prehistoric ruins with no annoying markers. And—the John Millington Synge cottage!
I spent 2 weeks in the San Blas islands when I was 17 (almost 49 now). Glad to hear it’s still relatively intact. The Kunas are fantastic people. You’re basically offshore of the Darien Gap there, where humanity is struggling to depart Venezuela…
I’m so glad to have been there. Amazing place and lovely people. And it felt so removed from the world’s turmoil even though it’s so close!
One of your absolute best--ever.
❤️
In December I stayed there with Birkenstocks next to the bed, just in case. I also shook the sheets and blankets before getting into bed. Saw scorpions but avoided stepping on them. Glad you enjoyed your trip to Panama with the cousins. Great picture of ancient ritual.
Susie- I am going to tell you something that will change your life. Hoka's make something i believe is called the recovery slider. It is a total game changer. Makes Birkenstocks feel painful. You can go to their website and order. Wish i could show you a picture? Let me know if you want me to email one to you. They were my first reorder when my house burned down. They come in many colors. A friend sent them to me as a gift after foot surgery (which you can relate to) and i've never been without. Go to Hoka.com. btw-not pretty but who cares with that much comfort
as if the story wasn't enough, that photo, amazing thx
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Thank you for this wonderful story. I am a reformed Jew from Brooklyn N.Y.. While I've been in a tropical beach environment, I've never had the "full treatment" as you did. The experience you had sounded fantastic!!!
Sadly, your "Old Man', is nothing like the experiences I was subjected too with regards to Hasidic Jews. In the early 60's, Hasidic Jews descended an mass, into my community. (We were about 75% Jewish and 25% Catholic. All very "Americanized").. They we pushy, intolerant and downright rude. Immediately they tried to take over the entire neighborhood. Every shop owner on the main shopping drag was approached and told, "If you don't close on Saturday (Shabbos), none of our community will patronize you. Every community council meeting was disrupted by demands from the Hasidic community.
Sorry to be long winded and bursting your "Old Man" bubble.
Be Well.
My paternal grandmother occasionally visited Panama (as I recall, my Aunt Marion had moved there with Uncle Martin for a while); I remember the excitement of us all loading her onto a plane in Philadelphia and then picking her up a couple weeks later, with her skin appropriately leathered. (Which my browser insists is not a real word -- it is, though, a real description.) After I started poking into genealogy, I found some documents online documenting her departure from Florida to Panama and back via ship, so she must not have been on a direct flight.
Would have loved to be a fly on the mizzenmast watching you fight to politely suppress your inner commotion during Mordechai's visit. Thanks so much for this report!
Loved this piece, thank you for sharing it.... just an FYI, the Han Kang book is called We Do Not Part.
Oops! I’ll correct that—thanks!
And it's really good.
I want to say this could only happen to Susan Orlean, but I've had a few of these surreal experiences of my own. You expect to wake up and realize it was just a typically weird dream. Loved your telling of this.
Loved the juxtaposition of Mordecai on the spearfishing. Borderline dystopian.
Very dystopian!
Perfect. The trip and the story.
That is a genuinely wild and weird story!
Lovely story!
We are off to Panama too- to visit friends
Oh wow! We loved it—Panamá City was a wonderful surprise and the natural beauty is extraordinary.
Another wonderful piece. (Agreed about "Asura," too. We're loving it!)
Thank you so much, Chris! This one was fun to write—such a crazy experience!