Final Day of Rummaging Photos & Northern Trek

I’ve just returned from a very fun weekend up in New Hampshire at the home of my Favorite Son and the ABFA. There was everything in the world to recommend it. We arrived around mid-day on Saturday to find the BRS and BR3 waiting and primed for grandparent time. A welcome addition to the crowd that greeted us was another golden retriever, Riley, who they were dog sitting for. I settled in to watch some college football while my son and his two miniature assistants made a birthday cake for the ABFA. Her birthday is this coming Friday but this was the last chance for us and her parents to join them for a celebration.

We Almost Got BR3 to Smile

Talking with their Great Grandmother

ABFA's Awesome Parents joined Us

A Very Happy Abuela

Decorating the cake was turned over to my Favorite Panamanian so my son and I got to enjoy watching the college football together, including an incredibly entertaining game between Alabama and Tennessee that ended up 52-49 in regulation time. I say we watched football together but in reality we were also dodging repeated dive bombing attacks from the granddaughters. The BRS and I created a game where she would high five me and I would act as if she had seriously injured my hand with her vast strength. She thought this was very funny and only asked to do it again several hundred times.

Birthday Cake for the ABFA

BR3 Always Knows Where the Camera Is

Fun Times at the Thirsty Moose

While this was going on the ABFA was creating a fabulous steak dinner (one of the best steaks I’ve had in a while). The ABFA’s parents also showed up which took a lot of granddaughter pressure off the football watchers as the ABFA’s dad immediately formed his usual gang of three with the BRS and BR3 and headed outside. Since I hadn’t known about the birthday cake I had not brought Bonecrusher so we had to cut the cake with a mere knife. It was too much fun hanging with these fabulous people again and celebrating the ABFA. After the cake, the ABFA’s parents left for home but our hosts had another treat in store for us.

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, the FBR Was Modeling Jeans for her Abuela

They arranged for their neighborhood babysitter to come over and they took us out for cocktails at the Thirsty Moose in nearby Exeter. I thought I’d gone back in time to the many times at Scores when I saw all the televisions tuned to virtually every sporting event then going on around the world. While it proved nearly impossible to ignore everything that was taking place on those screens, what made the night so special was sitting around the table and really talking with my son and the ABFA. Since the arrival of the BSR and BR3 these times are few and far between since the kids usually dominate our time together (it’s what granddaughters do). Special, as I said above, is a very apt term to describe the evening. Progeny and their chosen spouses is an area I am extremely blessed in.

Coach ABFA at Work with her Team

Scrimmage Starting

BRS Contemplating the Action

Fall Colors Still Vibrant

The evening was even extended a bit when we had to execute a u-turn so the ABFA could return to the ATM machine so she could pay the babysitter, despite talking about it before mounting the car (she was driving). I told her I was going to chronicle this here on Frail Deeds (she makes so few mistakes I have to savor them). After an holjaldra breakfast, I joined the host family as we journeyed to a nearby soccer field. The ABFA has chosen to pass on her nearly divine level of athletic prowess to the next generation by volunteering to coach the BRS’ soccer team.

BRS Being Prepped

Proud 1/4 Panamanian

Arranged by her Abuela

Impossibly Cute

Next Stage, Learning the Steps

I think there is a special place in heaven for the coaches of youth athletic teams, especially for four year olds. It was fun watching the chaos unfold while my son and I also tried to entertain a thoroughly bored BR3. The practice ended with a scrimmage against another team which was more high comedy than athletic pursuit but so much fun to watch. The BRS showed some natural quickness and speed when she chose to participate. Unfortunately she was in a mood for most of the time and simply stood and watched as the action swirled around her. What can I say, she’s four.  

Less Success Posing BR3

Eventually got her Garbed Up

Disturbingly Angelic

Ready to Dance

Very Proud Bis-Abuela

The afternoon was devoted to two things, watching the Patriots game and my Favorite Panamanian garbing up the granddaughters in traditional folklorico dresses. The BRS was completely on board as my wife spent a long time placing the ornamental jewels in her hair. BR3 was less enthusiastic about the effort and had to be cajoled into at least trying. The BRS looked amazingly cute as she posed on the front lawn under the adoring gaze of her abuela, so glad her granddaughter was embracing her Panamanian heritage. BR3 was simultaneously charging around the lawn with only half the outfit on. Later in the afternoon she finally agreed to let my wife place the remainder of the costume on her and take a couple very quick photos. Too much fun to watch and the Patriots dominated again, so win win.

Great Way to Watch a Football Game, The Best!

Let’s plunge into the final continuation the memory rummaging with photos mined from the basement storage bins:

FAVORITE DAUGHTER

With her 1st Grade Buddies, 1991, Cranston, RI

Visiting me at Work, Schofield Barracks, HI 1994

Talking with her Grandma, Annandale, VA 1985

10 Years Later at Disney World

Mid-80s Annandale, VA

Back Yard of our Home in Mililani, HI 1991

Prom Time, Ft Campbell, KY 1997

Partying with our Cranston, RI Friends 1991

Awkward School Photo Hawaii Early 90s

FAVORITE SON

The Famous Salute

Chow Time in Annandale, VA Late 80s

His Daughters Now Play with Same Bear

Loving some Cake 1988

Christmas 1989

Birthday 1990, Cranston, RI

2 Years Old

Visiting me When I was General's Aide, Ft McNair
Washington, DC 1988

Inevitable Cowlick

Unfortunate Early Cowboys Fandom, Ft Leavenworth, 1996

Baseball Career, Ft Campbell, KY 1997

Stretching to Run with Dad, 1991, Cranston, RI

Leaning on Our Home in Cranston

In the DC Cherry Blossoms, Late 80s

Spaghetti Dinner Aftermath, Annandale, VA Late 80s

One of my Favorite Photos of him, Haunted Home, Ft McNair
Washington, DC 1988

Soccer Pose, Ft Leavenworth, KS 1996

1995 Birthday, Leavenworth, KS

After Running a 5K with me, Ft Campbell, KY
Week of the Eagles Outside our Home 1999

Hawaii School Photo Early 90s

SON AND DAUGHTER TOGETHER

Rare Peaceful Moment Together, Annandale Late 80s

Same Time, Place, Helping me Work Out

Disneyworld 1995

Christmas at Grandma's Keene, NH 1980s

Grandma's Backyard

Toasting Marshmallows, Cranston RI Home 1991

3rd Ft Leavenworth Home 1997

Christmas in Hawaii 1994

Easter Finest Outside our Haunted Home
Ft McNair, Washington, DC 1989

Dining Alfresco, Annandale, VA late 80s

Decked out with Mom, in Front of Annandale, VA home late 80s

Front Seat, Splash Mountain, Disneyworld 1995

Took this Photo With me Every Time I Deployed

Two movies fell in my A-Z effort, both keepers, The Bodyguard (pure schmaltz but that voice, that voice) and Bohemian Rhapsody (fascinating behind the scenes of so many well remembered hits - rock and roll baby).

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                     

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; 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; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course