Vanessa walked to the bakery next to the Hotel The Golden Towers in Panama City.
She was on a mission to get her morning coffee, a good cup, and a Panamanian meat empanada. The bakery, Mama Abuela, was already abuzz with activity. The delicious aroma of freshly baked bread and sweet pastries mingled with the familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee. Vanessa felt like she was in heaven for a few moments. “Buenos días” is the friendly Panamanian greeting, delivered with a genuine, welcoming smile. “Buenos días, doña Amalia,” responded Vanessa. “Un cafecito con crema y azúcar, por favor, y una empanada de carne y una Mamallena para llevar.” The empanada is filled with savory meat that Vanessa loves. The Mamallena is a delicious bread pudding for her friend Lou, made with stale bread, sugar, eggs, butter, and raisins.
The two older ladies were on their second trip to Panama, and everything had become more familiar to Vanessa. She really liked Panama and its friendly people. Outside the bakery, on her way back to the hotel, the local lottery man had set up his table and was selling lottery tickets. He was a colorful character with a Panama hat, a bushy mustache, and a lit cigar already dangling from his lips. “Lotteria, Lotteria,” he called in a sing-song voice. His companion was a Capuchin monkey wearing a cute white Panamanian outfit and a little sombrero. Vanessa could not resist and decided to try her luck with a lottery ticket for today’s drawing. One American dollar bought the two tickets that were picked and handed to her by the little monkey. It was super cute and made Vanessa feel warm and fuzzy inside. “Gracias,” she said.
The day was spent on an outing to Casco Viejo and a city tour with their guide, Fernando, culminating in a trip to the fish market for ceviche for a late lunch, accompanied by ice-cold Panamanian beer and lively music.
Lou was ten years older than Vanessa but looked like she was in her 50s. Years of exercise and travel abroad gave her energy. Vanessa, a feisty Latina, always had a lot to say but lagged behind Lou in energy. She battled iron deficiency constantly. They returned to the hotel to prepare for tomorrow’s return to the States and catch up on some rest. They were on the tenth floor of the Golden Towers, with a panoramic view of the city and a great view of the corkscrew building, which glistened in the late-afternoon golden glow. Vanessa placed her two lottery tickets and her tip on the table for the cleaning lady. They weren’t going to be there for the drawing anyway.
That night, Vanessa dreamt she was walking along the shore of the Chagres River at the edge of the rainforest. She felt young and vibrant again. The scent of orchids and Panamanian fauna filled her lungs with a pulsing energy. Her hands seemed to glow as she touched the rainforest’s vibrant greenery. Lou was in her dream as well, looking like she was in her 20s and walking briskly ahead. Her dark skin glistened in the sun. They reached a waterfall and bathed in the serene pool beside it. Colorful fish swam beside them, and the cascading waterfall, along with the sounds of birds and crickets, created a beautiful symphony. When she woke from her dream, she stretched for a long, lovely moment, then got a move on because they had an early flight. Lou was already up in her room, packing at the last minute. “Hey!” Vanessa caught her own reflection in the mirror. She ran to Lou and said, “Look at me.” Lou looked younger, too. “Wow. What is going on?” Lou said.
“I feel so good and strong; we are young again,” Vanessa said. She checked herself in Lou’s mirror and, indeed, looked like she was in her 30s again; the bags under her eyes and gray hair were gone; her arms were smooth again—no more crepe-paper skin or flabbiness. Lou was amazed by her own transformation as well; her hair was full and lush with curls again. They laughed in disbelief. “Are we dreaming?” said Lou. “We’d better get a move on; our flight is going to leave us behind.”
They expected to wake up from this dream any minute now. But this was real. They were still young when they arrived at the airport, throughout their flight, and even when they got home again.
Vanessa embraced her newfound youth and decided to exercise and eat healthily. She went to college and finally finished her degree. She became a writer and had her historical fiction novel published. Lou traveled and finally finished her memoirs, which made the Amazon bestseller list. She went on a book tour.
What would you do if you woke up looking and feeling 20 years younger?
GrowingOlderHopeWiser 
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