Board Reset

Signalling the First Touchdown

Okay all the pieces have been repositioned in accordance with their requirements, despite my feelings on the subject. The First Blog Reader and her accompanying adults are safe in New York City (more on that later), while the ABFA/Son/Riggins team returned to New Hampshire and the Panamanians to Panama. I had a part to play in a couple of those redeployments which made for a twenty hour day yesterday. It was not without its absolute charm though.

Helping Grandpa With Breakfast

Assessing

Making a Suggestion

I made the usual early morning rise to escort the Panamanians to the airport and made the trip in less than half the time I had on Thursday afternoon. New flash – a lot less traffic in Boston at 5am on Sunday than on Thursday rush hour. It was a bittersweet trip because I knew they were desperate to get back in time to see their rapidly declining father but I’m going to miss having the constant chatter around the house which is deathly quiet now for the first time in months. They safely reached home last night and there was a huge gathering of family to greet them, having traveled to David when the news about my father in law broke. While I miss her a lot it’s the best place possible for her right now, well except for the cold her granddaughter passed on to her which will keep her away from her father until she improves.

Ready for the Game!

Back in Worcester my granddaughter once again ably assisted me in making breakfast; a routine we started during her visit in June. In a heart melting moment (one of several yesterday) when she saw me at the stove from across the kitchen she demanded that my daughter bring her over to assist me. It was affirming to have both of my “kids” as well as Wingman and the ABFA around as well. It was the first time we’d all been together since the Panamá trip in February and so much has happened since then.

He's Baaaaaack!!!

The big event of the day was the Patriots game and the start of the Tom Brady revenge tour. We decided to delay the needed trip to New York City until after the game which allowed everyone to watch the game together in the Man Cave – its first big event! My granddaughter has a charming Tom Brady onesie which was completely appropriate for the day. She was upstairs with her mother when Brady marched the team down the field for a touchdown and the entire room exploded. Wingman had taught her the touchdown signal and when she heard everyone yelling she raised her hands to acknowledge the score (heartwarming moment).

One Very Happy Grandfather in the Man Cave

Pointing out a Key Play

We soon had everyone down in the cave with way, way too much food. The dogs were summarily excluded due to the low lying quantities of refreshments. They gathered just outside the gate to whine their displeasure at their exclusion. My granddaughter took up station at my side and we talked about the game. She actually sat there for a good three minutes (a life time in her constant motion way of life) for the best and most heartwarming moment of the day.

She tried to steal some of my popcorn but her ever present mom prevented that. Not to be daunted by mere parental censure she chased the bag down and knocked it behind the couch. She made her way up and down the couch bestowing her presence on everybody. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a football game more.

Chasing Down the popcorn Bag

There was the sad fact the game and visits had to end. I wasn’t going to let my granddaughter ride a train into New York and volunteered to drive them all there. My daughter is working out of her home office for the week and her company put them up in a Manhattan hotel. Exhausted by her game day antics my granddaughter slept for nearly all of the first half of the trip. She awoke on the Merritt Parkway and soon let everyone know she was not taking the confining environment of her car seat without serial complaints.

She Made the Rounds to Include My Son

My daughter rose to the occasion and entertained her (and us) for the rest of the ride, fighting off the car sickness it induced on herself (she’s a real Mom!). We were serenaded by a series of calypso and Disney songs which had my granddaughter squealing in delight. Wingman served as a fantastic navigator and the trip into Manhattan was the easiest I’ve ever managed. We came in on the West Side and then cut across, straight through Matthew Scudder Territory!

Checking out the Food While Mom Checks out the Diaper

Dropping them off at the hotel was not the easiest thing I’ve ever done. I wanted to turn around and take them back with me but my adult voice won over the lesser angels of my nature.

I felt like almost pseudo-New Yorker as I contested with New York cabbies and wayward pedestrians as I fought my way to the FDR Drive. I was on my own for the return trip but I took a chance on I-95 (not for the faint of heart) and for once it actually worked out. So after a very big loop through my favorite driving wasteland of Connecticut, which went down without a fight yesterday, I arrived home shortly after 11pm. It was a very long but oh so very full day.