The BOOKMARK in Dolega

By an American yet, one who has a real anger management problem…let me tell you a true story of life in Chiriqui.

It was a frantic, but exciting morning…Cody was going to see the new American Vet, who apparently appears periodically in Boquete (afterthought, for R and R apparently). We prepared carefully, taking his vitamins, Brewers Yeast, eye drops, shampoo to learn how we can prevent constant shedding, along with his weight loss problem, as well as pick up a distemper shot. Arsenio, my taxi man, arrived on time, and we set off to do the usual Monday errands in Boquete, plus trying to time our arrival to be prompt. My memories of vets back in the States (in the 70s and 80s,) always involved being on time, but of course, I didn’t take into account the personal idiosyncracies of Doctor Whatsis, who obviously uses his trips to Panama to relieve stress…well, we raced through all the odd jobs, plus delivered new books to Romero, sent a MoneyGram to bookseller in Costa Rica, and picked up six boxes of books from Miami at Mail Boxes, etc. Needless to say, we were rushed and exhausted when we arrived at the Palo Alto rental pad of the vet.

Only to find another couple, waiting with a pair of Shepherds. I approached them with “Are you waiting too?” And they answered in the affirmative. “I have a twelve o’clock appointment. Is the doctor in?”

“Oh yes, he’s there.”

I started to simmer. “What time is your appointment?”

Ten o’clock

But, but…I am sputtering, and rang the bell.

At this point Doctor Whatsit comes around the corner, embraces Lady Botox, and starts noodling the shepherds.

I mouthed up I have a twelve o’clock appointment, and I come here and expect that we are working by American standards here, and here’s a ten o’clock appointment still here…..

no, no, says Lady B, It’s my fault. We are late.

Now you’re behaving like Panamanians, I say.

And Doc What pops in and says, you can just get the hell out of here.

Whoa, I say, you have anger management problems.

Get out, he says, and you know what you are THE UGLY AMERICAN.

So dog, Arsenio and I beat it back to the sanctity and security of the Book Mark here in Dolega…lots of work to do, about three hundred books to unpack, sort and shelve. I chuckle…me the ugly american, and I haven’t seen the country in twenty years (back when vets kept both appointments and their courtesy