Where it all began

He met her when he was a mere 19 and she 20 in Panama City, Panama. He was in the US Military and boyy were they in love. But that didn't last too long. You see the love they held was merely lust for one another. She was working in a bar making tips like no other, he came in met her, tipped her $100 and came everyday for the next month begging her for a date or at least give him the time of day. She secretly liked the attention and gave in one day. They did all kinds of things together from sneaking into his barracks and I don't think I need to tell you what went on in their.

Panama was going through an Invasion, by the United States and guards were taking control all over the streets and anyone caught after curfew were given a warning on the first offense and on the second time they were out after curfew their heads were shaved. So of course this too went for the American soldiers but worse stories have been told, but basically they were forbidden to see each other let alone be out after 10:00.

But they pressed on. You know that young puppy love sort of thing? He loved her and where she came from. Even though she grew up in a one room shack and was the 15th child of 16 total. Her mother even hated her because she wanted her next child to be a boy and instead got a girl. Things at that time were different than today.

But life for them was paradise. They partied. They went to the beach and eventually he popped the question. Of course she said yes. He adored her, did whatever she wanted. He even wanted to take her back to the United States and have a family. And Panamanian women going to the USA was unheard of, especially the poor country girls.

She fell pregnant with me the next year which would change the course of their life because my dad turned into a very different person than the one my mom fell in love with..