It always amazes me to watch the fireworks that are set off during the holidays in Panama. Typically they are set off by ordinary individuals and the cost of some of the displays is staggering.

From our vantage point in David, I could look in a 360 degree circle and see fireworks going off everywhere. Random firecrackers have been going off for days, but as midnight approached the real show began.

We did get a frightened visitor during the festivities. A bird flew in the back door to get away from all the explosions and bright lights. He flew to every room trying to figure out how to exit. He finally became tired enough that I was able to pick him up. I could feel his small heart beating rapidly.

When the fireworks subsided I set him free. He entered the new year with a little anxiety and a hope that 2012 would be better than the year that had driven him into the apartment.

I guess he shares a lot of the hopes that many of us have. 2011 was a pretty tremulous year. The economy sucked, many retirement visions were put on hold, new worries arose for many of our grandchildren. We saw world rulers die, get treated for cancer, toppled or killed. We saw Panama’s previous dictator return to Panama to a residence in prison. We saw many U.S. troops return home from various world locations. Continue reading →