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

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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