Heidibella in the Tropics

Michelle's Island Birthday Bash

This past weekend we all went to Isla Grande to celebrate Michi's birthday. We had a blast! I hadn't been to Isla Grande in so long. I remember when Dad used to take Michelle and me when we were in our early teens. We used to go every other weekend pretty much. One of the things I remember most about those weekends is Piringo, who used to drive us around on a boat. He must have been around 15 at the time. He now owns his own boats, several of them, and his own restaurant and hotel. Piringo picked us up at the dock to take us to the hotel. He has changed so much! I remember him as a skinny little boy, and now he's a grown-up entrepreneur. We stayed at the Bananas Hotel. We went island hopping, had delicious seafood all weekend long, played ping pong, went swimming, and had a grand time. I hope you had a great birthday Michi...we had an awesome time celebrating it with you! Check out the pictures here.

Sista of mine

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHI!!!!!  Have a wonderful day...sorry I can't see you until tonight.  I LOVE YOUUUUU!!!!!!!!!! 

Happy Birthday, Mom

The first thing I did this morning when I opened my eyes was think of Mom. Today would have been her 70th birthday. When I checked my email, Michelle had already sent a message that said, "Happy Birthday, Mom!" in the traditional green letters and italics that Mom always used. To commemorate this special day, Michelle, Chris, and I make shrimp cocktails...one of Mom's absolute favorite foods in the world...Michi and me in Panama, Chris in Florida. We got together at Michelle and Austin's place. The menu was shrimp cocktail, cocktail sauce made with real horseradish please...none of that stuff mixed with sour cream and God knows what else. Michelle reminded us that Mom always left the shrimp unpeeled because it would take you longer to eat them, therefore allowing you to enjoy them more. We also had chicken pot pie, one of Mom's classics. And to finish off the meal, rum cake...a dessert she loved to make for her guests. Michelle even broke out some Ivan Rebroff music...boy did Mom love that guy. She would play his music so loud, and would make us all stop what we were doing to listen to the amazing vocal acrobatics he could do. Thanks to Michi, Austin, Gab, and Lala for coming together to remember her today. To Dad for a beautifully written note that I read this evening, and to Chris and Jack for joining us in this celebration from far away. Happy Birthday, Mom! I miss you...

Pics here.

Diane

Today was a great day. I'm in Round Rock, TX for work and today I took a road trip to Copperas Cove to see my niece, Diane.  I hadn't seen Diane since my brother died in 2001.  When I called Diane to tell her I was in Texas she said, "You aaaaaaaaaaaaaare????"  She was so excited!  I picked her up at about 1:00 pm (after getting horribly lost) and we chatted and talked and had lunch and went shopping...it was a terrific day.  Diane is a totally different person from when I last saw her.  She is now 15 years old and so much bigger from when I saw her seven years ago. The thing that impressed me the most was that her hands are EXACTLY like my brother's hands.  Amazing.  And she is soooo sweet.  Diane, I am so proud of you!  I'm so happy we were able to spend time together today...I LOVE YOU!

Five years...and counting

Five years ago today, Gab and I tied the knot on a beautiful breezy afternoon in the town of Cermeño. These have been the best five years of my life, and I give thanks every day for sharing my life with such an amazing person. Happy Anniversary Gabriel...I love you!

The Flintstones - Happy Anniversary

Skye Pie

Eighteen years ago today, I was sitting in school anxiously waiting, tapping my foot, my pencil, anything tappable, not paying attention in class at all. I was too nervous, because I knew my sister was in the hospital giving birth to her first baby. When Michelle and I heard that we would be "tias" for the first time, we would buy baby clothes and walk it across the floor on a hanger trying to imagine what it would be like to have a little one around. We were beyond excited, but we had no idea, we couldn't have any idea, that we would be blessed with a sobrina like Skye Pie. I can't even find the right words to describe her because you'd really have to meet her to understand. She is kind, amazingly smart, funny, beautiful, and so incredibly talented that I wouldn't even know where to start. On that day in 1990, almost as if my Dad knew that I was about to go crazy, I got called out of my classroom because he had come to take me to meet my future god-daughter. When I saw her little head completely covered in the darkest of hair, I couldn't believe she had arrived. Skye spent her first two years with us before moving to the U.S. with her parents and baby sister Maddie, but I give thanks for that time we had with her. She brought as much happiness to our lives then as she does now. There is something about her, a light, that makes all of us around her feel special. Today we celebrate her 18 years and how special she is. Happy Birthday Skye...WE LOVE YOU!

Joined Forever

On December 29 we baptized Sofia Gonzalez-Medela. Her parents (Jose and Rosana), Sofi's Godfather Alex and I smiled ear to ear as we followed this centuries-old ritual and watched as Sofi, in a gorgeous dress that wouldn't have fit her had we waited one more day, was doused in a pitcher full of water. She was so well behaved, and so she became my Goddaughter forever. Cheers to you Sofi, I love you! More pics here. Photos taken by Bellafoto.

Welcome Home!

Last weekend we picked up four weary but excited travellers that arrived in Panama after months of packing up their lives in Los Angeles.  The dogs made the trip very well, thank goodness. Claudia was quite peppy and anxious to get out of her crate and Nero was so happy to see me!  We got to take a peek inside the door and there they were all huddled like a family waiting for clearance to be able to take the dogs out. WELCOME HOME MICHELLE AND AUSTIN!  Life in the tropics begins!

A new member of the family

On Monday, July 23, Sofia Gonzalez Medela came into the world. Congratulations to proud new parents Jose and Rosana!

Happy Birthday Gabs!

Happy Birthday to...as he would say..."the best husband ever made!" I LOVE YOU!