Today is the funeral of a great man and the 41st president of the United States. I was fortunate to get to dine with him at a dinner where he spoke.

I was working in Washinton D.C. on a contract for the army when he sent troops to Panama for Just Cause. I never mentioned this when I lived in Panama because many Panamanians protest that invasion and there was a large loss of life during the invasion. While Panama was better off without Noriega, it is a good time for U.S. citizens to stay off the street during its anniversary.

I also worked in Austin for a project for Governor (future President 43) George W, Bush. Unfortunately, I did not get a photo with him to remember that time.

George H.W. Bush will be buried in College Station, Texas at his Presidential Museum.  I hope to visit there in 2019.

RIP President Bush.

It has been over a year now since Lilliam and I moved to the US, so let me take a little time and reflect on Lilliam’s and my initial reflections on the US move. I returned after living 15 years in Panama and Lilliam was beginning her transition to the US, only having experienced it on several short visits.

I will start with our arrival in Houston. This was our initial point of entry and Lilliam’s final interview with immigration prior to receiving her Green Card. The interview was pretty quick and she was happy to now be into her new life experience. Continue reading Reflections on the Move to the US →

I have been meaning to post this for some time and I guess this is the time. When Lilliam and I started getting ready to move, I started looking for a way to ship items back to the US.

I should say that if you are moving to Panama, I recommend you leave furniture, cars and all large items wherever you are moving from. I moved a 40-foot container to Panama and 99% of the items are still in Panama.

Moving items from Panama is more difficult and much more costly. I checked with DHL, a shipper in Boquete and a shipper in Bocas. The shippers only sent pallets and the price was out of reason. Continue reading Sending Stuff To The US And the Move →

I keep saying I need to touch base with the blog readers to see if anyone still checks in.

That thought seems to enter my mind and then dissipates almost as fast as it entered.

Sometimes I think that maybe I won’t get back to writing and I should take the blog down. Then I receive an email because the blog is still up and it renews my energy.

Here was the email today.

Hi Don,

Biill Warren here.

I knew Bo Kjaer Olsen way back in 1994 or so and he told me so many treasure stories and I shared mine with him. I cannot believe he was murdered aboard his lovely ship in Panama. This is a sad night for me. I have tried to find him for years. His printed flyer/brochure was super nice. Did he ever go back to the ” de Gouden Buys” and bring up those 24 chests of gold coins? He told me when he approached the diamond areas along Namibia and so africa he was shot at by deBeers diamond company security guards. Is his son alive and if so, is there a way for home to contact him? Or a wife or daugh-in-law? And, did the cops ever find the guys who killed Bo and shot his son? Zach and his wife must have had a good look at the bums.

Where is Bo’s ship which i believe Baron Hiltons son bought him. Did you know the Hilton family financed Bo for salvage?

I am a published author. Books about my adventures researching, searching and salvages treasures around the globe. I write you now at 2 am in Odessa, Ukraine on the black sea where i am singing my concerts and diving and writing.

thanks,

Bill Warren

This was obviously related to the posts related to a shooting and Embassy case I had written about. Zech and I have remained friends since we met. I encouraged him to move back to the US and he has done that.

He still has medical problems because of the bullet that remains in his back. We communicate on a monthly basis.

At any rate, this was today’s reminder of why I have kept the blog up. I will post again but now isn’t the time.

I received a WhatsApp message stating that Dr. Bullen will be in his David office on Saturday, June 2, 2018.

As you may remember, he is the doctor that helped Lilliam with her skin cancer need.

My original post, on Dr. Bullen’s office, can be found HERE.

Information on his dermatology practice can be found HERE.

Numbers to call for reservations are 223 9697, 215 2106, 213 1907.

David – 777 8076 direct, 774-0128 ext 2185
Mobil 6982 2188 (English)

Lilliam and I visited the US several times before we decided to apply for Lilliam’s Green Card. We started the Process in July of 2016. The process is described in the following US Government website.

In our case, I had to file form I-30, which is the petition for an alien relative. The filing fee was $535.

There were many more fees as well as the expenses of preparing the documentation. All in all, I think I spent in excess of $1,500+ to get through the entire process.

I am not going to go into any of the filing specifics, but will merely describe the process and anxiety we went through in satisfying all of the requirements.

Some people hire lawyers to do this, but I am convinced that it can be done by the individual if you are patient and willing to read the instructions and double check your work. I had to do the filing as I was the petitioner. There are requirements for both the petitioner as well as the relative. Continue reading Green Card Experience →