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| I Told Her They Wouldn't Fit She Had to Prove me Wrong |
I knew it was going to happen but that
doesn’t make the separation from the FBR any easier than I expected. We waded
through summer traffic both going to and returning from New Jersey as we reverted
the FBR to her rightful situation – that, of course, being with her parents. They
were out on a romantic getaway to mark their tenth wedding anniversary (how is
that even possible!!) and were scheduled to come home on Sunday. We drove down
on Saturday so we wouldn’t spend an entire day on the road. The trip down was
delayed a couple of times. The first was when the FBR announced she
needed to go to the potty and I pulled into the next McDonald’s since it was
near lunch time. I was filling up her drink at the machine when I heard a
delighted squawk at my side and my left arm being pulled desperately in another
direction by a thoroughly excited and jumping three year old. The FBR had
spotted the attached playground. This added twenty minutes to the trip as she
found several places in the superstructure of the playground that I could not
gain access to and she could hide out. She eventually relented and we got back
on the road. The other delays were minor such as pulling over to insure the FBR’s
IPad was properly working and then a look left and go right at a New Jersey
rest area. One of those, “I don’t have to go” declarations until I was ready to
pull back onto the highway and a 360 degree change in need.
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| Diner Silliness |
We pulled up to the empty house and
were greeted by Pee Wee the cat who seemed less than thrilled to see the return
of the FBR. This might have been due to the enthusiastic hugs she was
delivering. We ate dinner at the FBR’s favorite diner, complete with a Mickey
Mouse themed pancake. I’m convinced the FBR has figured out a way to suck
energy out of my body because it was only about four hours of driving but I was
exhausted by the end of the day. We awoke the next morning to a fully recharged
FBR. We walked down the street to the local bakery where the FBR ran into one
of her best buddies. He was excited to see the return of the FBR and demonstrated
his friendship by spilling the FBR’s water all over her cinnamon roll. That was
only a minor blip in an otherwise delightful morning with the very friendly bakery
crowds, including a couple dogs and two disturbingly attractive police
officers.
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| Getting my Feet Tattooed |
One of the things I noticed during
this week’s stay with us was the FBR seeming to miss her parents more than usual.
Of course this may have been a reaction to a less lofty position in her firmament
for her grandparents. She would get teary eyed after each Facetime call with
them and repeatedly said how much she missed them (usually when she was being
corrected on something). Whatever the reason I was happy to see it because I
know how simply awesome her parents are and I’m glad she realizes it as well.
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| The Return! |
After breakfast my Favorite Panamanian
and her mother serial watched episodes of Fixer Upper while the FBR and I
engaged in a semi-spirited game of hide and seek while also getting my feet tattooed.
The energy vampire was again fully engaged. When did it become so difficult to
crawl under tables? We were out on the back deck blowing bubbles shortly after
lunch when the anniversaried couple returned home. My wife gave us the heads up
and the FBR was literally jumping up and down with joy when she saw her
parents. We were already packed up to leave as I hoped to beat the summer
Sunday afternoon crowds on the road for the trip back. We had an all too short
a time to spend with my daughter and Wingman. The FBR conspicuously tried to
distract from a conversation between us where we were highlighting some of her
less than stellar moments over the past week. Those are already forgotten
though as both my wife and I are lamenting how quiet the house is. My wife even
got misty eyed this morning when there was no cry of “Abuela – I’m awake” from
the next bedroom.
 |
| She Was Back out Socializing Sunday Afternoon |
We didn’t miss all of the traffic but
it only took 30 minutes to crawl the six miles to the Tappan Zee. We were in a
bit of a funk as we pulled into the house Sunday afternoon but this was
assuaged in large degree when we received a call from my Favorite Son. The BRS
was charging around the house in full voice. What is it about granddaughters
that immediately lift spirits just by a devilish smile and emphatic grunts?
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RECURRING
CHARACTERS
BRS
- Blog Reader the Sequel
- second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog
Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA –
Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law; Wingman – my son in law; Keene
Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene,
NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt = my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since
grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to
attract women; Pittsburgh College
Roommate – high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which
grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two
close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3rd musquetera
(musketeer); Riggins - also known as
the Grandpuppy, son's dog, surrogate grandchild while awaiting arrival of the
BRS; PanaGals – female
relatives/friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin
Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we
have lived & their spouses; Neighborhood
Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of
course); First Friday – celebrations
to mark the First Friday of the Week; Deckzilla
Dude – senior citizen carpenter/contractor; Voices of Inappropriate Worth - members of public who come to every
Worcester public meeting to complain, all are on public assistance along with
demeanor issues
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