Arrival Day

In the immortal words of Theoden at Helm’s Deep – “So it begins.” It will be so weird driving into work today knowing this is the last time I ever do it as a full-time employee. I’ve worked since I was fifteen years old so that means I’ve been at this for nearly a half century. God I’m old. Today will be the last time I take my life into my hands by negotiating Kelly Square on my way into work although the new construction has taken a lot of that place’s teeth out of the equation. I think the toughest adjustment will be for my Favorite Panamanian who worries her life style at home will be severely impacted by my presence all day. Now that’s going to be fun.

My Admin Staff and I Earlier This Week Holding Our Breaths

Yesterday as anything but fun since I was in charge of transferring both my wife’s and my cell phones to a pair of newly purchased iPhones. Wingman did all he could to prepare me and I thought I was all set. Everything was going swimmingly until I tried the transfer onto my new phone and received a message that the new phone didn’t have enough memory for the old phone, even though it has twice the capacity of the old one. Then I went to the iCloud backup that was supposed to be my resource and the backup I made the night before did not appear.  One for my iPad was there and I wasn’t even sure how that got there. I wrestled with the thing for about three hours before I admitted defeat and just used the backup of the iPad.

Because We All Had Our Masks on Before and After

That meant I had to reinstall all the Apps I had on my iPhone but not on the iPad as well as reinstalling my personal email account. It is testament to the hard work of my children and their spouses over the past few years that their attempts to drag me kicking and screaming into 21^st century technology has not been in vain because I eventually got it all set. I then faced the task of my wife’s phone; not something for the faint of heart. I had to pry the old one out of her fingers to get access to it. In an extremely welcome turn of events that changeover went exactly as Wingman told me it should. Now we both have to learn how to us the damned things, I already miss having the go to button at the bottom, what’s with all this swiping.

I was able to take the day’s frustration out when I returned home by once again attacking the terrain of the back yard. That location and I have a storied history when it comes to conflict. It hates to have me dig into it and as an old infantryman I felt I needed to rise to the challenge. Yesterday’s task was digging a three-foot-deep hole for the base of my new flag pole. The yard threw its usual complement of rocks every few inches but as I said I had a lot of frustration to work off. I was two inches from the bottom when I ran into a really big rock. I prayed that it wasn’t one of the mongoso ones that I’ve come into battle with in the past. I ended up straddling the hole and attacking with a crowbar and eventually dislodged the beast. I hope the neighbors weren’t listening when I bellowed my victory curse.

I then poured the concrete for the pole and my Favorite Panamanian began to question my technique. She is an instant expert on whatever task I attempt. She thought I should be employing sono tubes for the concrete which I said was unnecessary due to the compacted clay I was cutting through for the past two hours that lined the hole. Luckily, we share a son who is an engineer so I called him and he immediately ruled in my favor which means I finally won an argument with my Favorite Panamanian. I am now 3 for 28,314 in that department. Small victories.

I Know Exactly How Bernard Feels

It’s been kind of a surreal last week at work. I’ve been really touched by the large number of employees who’ve stopped by to wish me luck and thank me for my time here. That means so much. Of course, I get the beady eyed stare from a couple of employees who disagree with some of the decisions I’ve made but that’s almost a badge of honor considering the source. I’m going to miss 98% of the people here, it’s been a great ride starting in 2005 for my first time working with civilians since 1978. Now it’s on the messing with my wife’s life of leisure.

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – granddaughter #3, 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 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; 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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn

Memory Dump

I awoke this morning to realize I only had three full days of full time work ahead of me. Forever. While that is certainly food for thought I’m committed to seeing this through to the finish line and won’t take any extra time off. I’ve spent the last couple weeks emptying the walls of my office which has brought a number of comments from fellow employees who had grown accustomed to the “I Love Me” walls. I have the daunting task now on figuring out how to hang all that self-important accoutrement in the Man Cave, but that’s next week.

BRS Helping BR3 Passing on Toddler Hints

The biggest current challenge is transferring both my Favorite Panamanian’s and my cell phone to a new carrier. The new iPhones arrived in the mail yesterday and I have sought tutelage from my tech support team, the I-Phone master himself, Wingman. I probably present his greatest challenge ever when it comes to long range tech advice. I’m going for it tomorrow with both my wife and my phones getting backed up to the cloud tonight. I know, I didn’t even know that was possible. If someone can’t reach me on the cell phone over the next couple days you now know the reason. I learned the valuable lesson to not let your photo collection get out of hand. I had over 10,000 photos and videos on the phone dating back to 2016. A surprising number of them were duplicates because why take one photo of a granddaughter when you can take ten. I spent three hours last night deleting the duplicates to get it down to a manageable state.

BR3 Sleeping Angel

Since there wasn’t enough going on, the trickster gods decided to send me another challenge. My long overdue flag pole arrives today! The challenge will be digging a very deep hole through the rocks and clay, but it’s not as if I don’t have extensive experience in that regard. The upside is that I then get to play with concrete! I want the flag up to celebrate retirement as well as signal just how much I love this country, even with all its current warts.

Latest Besson Watch

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – granddaughter #3, 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 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; 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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn

New Family Swim Champ

I received a great surprise today when Wingman sent a text that included a video of the FBR in a pool. I figured it was just another episode of the FBR and Wingman dealing with the scorching heat of summer in Pandemia. The surprise was seeing the FBR launch across the pool with her head under water and swimming! I always held the family championship for learning to swim the earliest but the FBR is now challenging that title. The last I saw her she was terrified of putting her head under water but this speaks the hard work she and Wingman have put in.

FBR Emerging from her Swim

The Swimmer in Action!

With her Coach

Swimming has always been a huge part of my life. I started swimming just after I turned four and have been fairly aquatic ever since. I grew up in the YMCA first on the swim team and then as a lifeguard and camp counselor. As a child our family vacations were always set around swimming, be it Lake George, York Beach, or Harrisville Pond. I swam Division 1 in college and played water polo. In my later years I’ve returned to the pool and the YMCA and it was like finding a lost relative. I am therefore prouder than usual (a seemingly impossible task) of the FBR. I can’t wait to swim together.

The Family Shot

Sisters!!

Proud Dad

Lucky Girls

I’m still basking in the afterglow of the weekend spent with my Favorite Son’s family to celebrate his birthday. They recently had a professional photographer take some shots of the family and I was astounded by the results. The BRS looks like a child model with none of her well documented mischievous side in evidence. I especially like the photo of the entire family. You can see the happiness and love in the faces. The BRS and BR3 are incredibly lucky in the parent department. My wife also sent me some pictures she took over the weekend, including the one where I donned her sun hat while the BRS and I negotiated her playground. I think I dominated the chapeau!

BRS Wears the Flower almost as well as Abuela

Riggins Still Gets his Love Despite the 2 Girls

Like I said - Complete and Utter Domination!

BRS and I Headed to Playground

Besson Watch Continues

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – granddaughter #3, 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 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; 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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn

Granddaughter Overload Proved Impossible

Frankly it is physically impossible to spend too much time with any of my granddaughters and I put that theory to the test this weekend. For the first time since Pandemia asserted itself my Favorite Panamanian and I spent the entire weekend away from home. We were with my Favorite Son and his family to celebrate his 35^th birthday. Even writing that doesn’t make seem any more possible. How did that tow headed youngster become this impressive young man and father himself.

Son with His Mom, the ABFA and Birthday Cake

We went up Saturday morning early enough to make a subsequent trip to Best Buy to buy a post retirement computer. I’m not going to do anything like that without my “go to” tech team which consists of my kids and their spouses. They can explain things so even an old knuckledragger such as yours truly can understand. As soon as we arrived I could tell this was a good idea as he quickly dismissed some computers I looked at and was able to tech talk with the sales person; something I would be completely incapable of.

Abuela Masks

BR3 in Residence

We left the store with a new laptop and software for security as well as Microsoft Word, etc. We arrived back at the house to find my wife in complete heaven in charge of both the BRS and BR3. It is the happiest I’ve seen her in in a long time. The BRS was sporting her new mask courtesy of her abuela. It’s weird that she wanted a cat mask (being in a dog loving family) while the FBR wanted a dog mask (being in a decidedly cat family).

BRS at the Sprinkler Pool

Abuela was the Lifeguard

Grandpa was in Charge of Fishing

The One that Got Away

One of the basic truths living in Pandemia has taught us is to treasure the simple pleasures that were suddenly ripped out of our lives by this foul pestilence. Chief amongst that was the visits with family and friends. My son and I sat down to watch the Red Sox game together and there was a feeling of contentment about that simple act that cannot be overemphasized. It speaks volumes about what we take for granted in life.

BR3 Wide Awake

Talking with Abuela

Hanging with Grandpa

Very Happy Grandpa

My wife decided she didn’t need to witness the humiliation of the Red Sox being pummeled by the lowly Orioles so she and the BRS set up her sprinkler pool in the side lawn. Both my son and the ABFA warned her to make sure the BRS used a swim diaper under her bathing suit. My wife scoffed at the idea and was a very good sport with the clean-up when the parents were proved correct. I spent a little bit of time at the pool with the BRS who looks upon grandparents as facilitators for her brief forays into the water. It was too much fun.

Smiling at Dad

My son set up his grill and did his trademark excellent work in the searing of the dead animal flesh we brought, while I was chasing the BRS around her new playground. She is relatively fearless at the climbing and swinging except if a bee flies by which is grounds for serious histrionics. Escaping the bees, she and I built some very tall towers which she relished in knocking down, something of a trend I’ve noticed with my granddaughters. It’s almost as if the FBR and BRS coordinated the task.

My Sunday Conversation

Hojaldras!!!

Sunday was my son’s actual birthday and it predictably started out with some of his mother’s hojaldras. My wife and I made a late run Saturday evening to the grocery store to score the necessary dough. I had a couple opportunities to hold BR3 over the weekend which I truly loved. On Sunday morning however she was wide awake and we had what I’d like to believe was our first conversation. I would say something which she would patiently listen to and then coo her response. Her coos were usually accompanied by smiles so I was in veritable rapture. I’ve found granddaughters have an inevitability when it comes to worming their ways straight into their grandfather’s heart.

Birthday Cake

The Difficult Cleave 

Mission Accomplished

We stayed later on Sunday so the ABFA could take my son out for lunch to celebrate his birthday. Again, one of the simple pleasures Pandemia has taught us to appreciate. My wife and I treasured the additional time with the grandkids who were perfect angels when their parents weren’t there (something of a theme we’ve noticed with granddaughters). When my son returned yet another cake fell victim to the relentless blade of Bonecrusher although a cake pan made the stroke a little challenging.

FBR With her Giraffe Mask

She and Pee Wee in her Tent

We had a number of FaceTime calls with the New Jersey bunch over the weekend. They really wished they could have been present. The FBR seemed particularly put out that her cousins were getting quality face to face time with their shared grandparents. It was almost like we were able to bring them into the festivities with our calls. The FBR did show off her abuela created giraffe face mask which got held up in the mail until Saturday.

Pool Time with Wingman

Journeying back home through some tough traffic I felt a real sense of loss at having to leave my son’s house. Even though there was no major gathering or party the simple pleasure of spending time with those four incredible people meant the world to me and my Favorite Panamanian. Simple pleasures, indeed, there has to be a serious, more profound description to capture these feelings.

BR3 with Dad

BRS Enjoying Pool

Poster that Greeted Me

Besson Watch  Continued

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – granddaughter #3, 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 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; 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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn

Birthday Thunder Run

There are a few things in life that brings an automatic smile to my face. The opportunity to hang out with my Favorite Son certainly falls into that category, especially when it means celebrating his birthday which takes place this weekend. My Favorite Panamanian and I are headed north into New Hampshire to help celebrate with him. There is of course, the extremely nice added benefit of also spending time with the ABFA and both resident granddaughters. I was touched when we asked him what he wanted to do for this birthday and he invited us up for the weekend. We’ll watch the Red Sox opening series of the year, burn some dead animal flesh, watch some movies, eat some sword cleaved cake, and I’m guessing some beer will end up downrange. Now that sounds like a marvelous weekend.

The Birthday Boy - A Few Birthdays Ago

It is so weird that tonight is opening night for the Red Sox season but it’s a 2020 thing in Pandemia. The Red Sox are lucking out that it will only be a 60-game season because they will not be competitive this year and it will keep the pain at tolerable levels. Hopefully they can figure out their starting pitching before next year. I’ll still slavishly watch as many games as I can. This is Red Sox Nation.

It's a 2020 Thing

The FBR Helped Make Homemade Popsicles

I was running around doing some medical stuff last evening so I missed out on the granddaughter FaceTime calls. That hurt more than I can describe. I did get to see the FBR briefly as she was heading up for bedtime but that was a poor substitute for our usual conversations. She’s started calling us at breakfast time as well which makes getting ready for work a little time challenged but there is no better way to start the day then listening to a granddaughter.

Hanging in her New Playground

Playing Cards with Pee Wee the Cat

I send out a daily information email to my employees that I call the “Info Blast”. Since I’ll be leaving in one week I’m turning the responsibility for that over to my successor on Monday which made today’s my last Info Blast, something I’ve been doing daily for over four years. I sent this message to employees – “This is my final Info Blast. XXXX XXXXXX will take over the blast on Monday in preparation for replacing me as GM on 1 August. I want to thank all of the employees for making this post military job so rewarding. It’s been a true honor and privilege to work with you over the past 15 years. I know some people will be very happy to see me leave but I always felt I had to hold bad behavior accountable. I ascribe to the philosophy if poor employees aren’t held accountable then you lose the good employees. I know that runs counter to the union philosophy but in the end I honestly believe the entire organization benefits from it as the vast majority of employees are the ones I was trying to take care of. I will remain a resident of Worcester for most of the year and will always feel a connection when I see one of the blue vehicles pass by me. I won’t be able to see all of you prior to my departure but thank you to all for teaching me how to work with civilians again, it’s been a great ride. Take pride in your profession and yourself.” I’ve already received a bunch of return emails from employees thanking me so I guess the good ones did get it.Those messages meant more to me than any plaque.

Latest Besson Watch

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – granddaughter #3, 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 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; 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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn