Sunday, November 27, 2022

The Gifting

I return to Frail Deeds kicking and screaming and only because the reason for my absence from the blogsphere, the presence of my family over the past five days, is no longer present. I’m calling this, the gifting, as this is what I thought of the truly outstanding people I was fortunate enough to spend time with. They provided the gift of their company and I treasured it. The only gap (and it was a big one) was the absence of the ABFA, BR3, and Wingmom; more on that later. It all started late on Wednesday when the New Jersey bunch pulled into town. They made fantastic time for the Wednesday before turkey day. The only holdup had been Wingman breaking free of contact at his restaurant. The first and constant question I got from the FBR upon arrival was when her cousins were going to show. I’ve come to terms with definitely being the second-class priority with the FBR. I just can’t compete with the cousins. That ole precept – “There’s just something special about cousins”.

Thanksgiving Fun
Turkey day started early for me as I got up at 3am to put a turkey in the oven. We were returning to the annual gathering of my cousins from my father’s family and I was asked to bring a turkey this year. I could have used the time start feature on the oven but I did not trust it (it’s a generational thing – my kids nod sagely). The FBR performed her grandparents awakening duties to perfection at 7am. I had the sad task of telling her she wouldn’t be seeing her cousins this day. BR3 had spiked a fever on Wednesday and was staying home with her dad while the ABFA took the BRS to her other grandparents’ house for the day. They switched duties on Friday allowing my son to bring the BRS to visit us. The FBR was definitely not pleased but she quickly focused her attention on a certain grandpa. Always a good situation, at least for the grandpa.

Granddaughter is in the House!

BR3 Was Down and Out

ABFA and BRS at ABFA's T-Day
I’ve written before about the 8 brothers and sisters which included my dad as the youngest. I grew up going to a Thanksgiving gathering of the cousins produced from these magnificent aunts and uncles. After my parent’s’ divorce I was away for a few years and reconnected shortly after the birth of my daughter. We’ve missed the last two years because of Covid so this was a return of sorts. The numbers were certainly down with reps from only three of the branches from the original seven aunts and uncles (one uncle did not survive WW2). It was still redeeming to be around my cousins again. We were on the cusp of qualifying for the “old table”, not a promotion I’m looking forward to.

Cousins Gathering

Cousin in Chief Making Remarks

Our Very Fun Table
It was a tough day for the FBR as she was only seven-year-old there and had forgotten to bring her usual bag of tricks. She was complaining about how bored she was until Wingman pulled her aside and told her to look at her grandpa and see how happy I was being with my cousins. Sometimes sacrifices are required, even from seven-year-olds. We made our peace when I let her “steal” my cell phone later in the afternoon. The only price was having to delete somewhere north of two hundred pictures and videos she took. There weren’t enough young’uns available for the usual football game but just seeing my cousins again was worth the drive north and the antipathy of a bored seven-year-old.

A Sample of the FBR's Photography with the Stolen Phone
Me Speaking with my Cousin

Anyone Seen my Phone?



Happy Thief Selfie
After our return to Worcester, we decided pizza was in order; thus started what I called our pizza debacle. I went to my usual pizza place online and got through the fairly complicated ordering process. As soon as I pushed complete order, I got a message the order had been canceled so I ordered it again. After receiving the same message, I went further into the menu and eventually learned the place was closed (so why where they still taking orders!). I went in search of other pizza places. Wingman and my daughter were hovering a bit as I don’t think they had a lot of faith (completely understandable) in my online capabilities.

My Favorite Panamanian Sneakily Sampling Every Dessert
I found a couple places that claimed to be open. I once again ordered the pizzas from the next one and received confirmation and an anticipated delivery time. It wouldn’t be a debacle if that worked though. About ten minutes later I received another cancelation notice and when I tried to call the place, found out they were closed (despite specifically saying they were open online). I finally arrived at what I claimed would be the last one, Golden Pizza. Once again, order completed and delivery time established. My daughter even confirmed the place looked like it was open even though their phone was always busy. The delivery time came and went. The FBR was pleased because she got to stay up late and she loves chicken nuggets.

Together Again!!!
Friday brought the second highly anticipated day of the weekend, the second Thanksgiving at Great Aunt’s home. This was a tradition that grew out of my parents’’ divorce as we always celebrated the day after with my mom at Great Aunt’s home. When my mother passed away we decided to keep up the tradition because we always had such a good time on the day. This year was up in the air because of Soxfather’s demise. As late as a couple months ago Great Aunt wasn’t sure she was up for it but she recently called to say he would have wanted us to gather precisely because Soxfather always enjoyed the day so much. Great Aunt really rose to the occasion and was the most organized she had ever been for one of these. Keene Friend had arrived to come with us so we had a truly outstanding group.

Abuela Sent to the Corner by Granddaughters

Enjoying it 

Dinner at Great Aunt's House
The day had already been a win for the FBR also with the late morning arrival of my son and the BRS. They were rarely more than a couple feet apart for the rest of the time we had together. The dinner was delicious and spiced with an appropriate toast from Namesake Nephew for Soxfather. Soxfather was with us for the entire day. We normally populate the far end of the table but this year, without any planning, we ended up at the other end, reserving Soxfather’s usual seat. This happened for both the dinner and the usual evening gathering of Soxfather’s magnificent family.

Son and Daughter with BRS

I Am Blessed

Still a Little Goofy

Obligatory Cinema VeritĂ© Candid Photo of Soxfather Sister 

Very Fun Evening Group
We had to redeploy to Worcester in two groups in order to honor the granddaughters’ bedtime. Keene Friend once again took one for the team and volunteered to be the designated driver for the second, more well lubricated group later in the night. The later evening again reminded me of how much times like this were missed during the pandemic. Soxfather’s sister was once again casting calumnious remarks about my photographic abilities which resulted, as usual, with a large number of photos of her being taken. It was like old times, although I would cast a longing eye at the other end of the table throughout the night.

Great Aunt and Namesake Nephew

FBR and BRS Circulating

They Had to Leave Early

Soxfather Sister with her Hubby

Soxfather Sister with Namesake Nephew

After Party Action Shot
Saturday morning had the two granddaughters waking up very early and going into a spirited discussion period starting around 5am. The foggy adult heads were at the movie theater a little later having to deal with the latest Disney animated movie, Strange World. It was a lot of fun listening to the FBR explaining what was going on with the previews to her mother. Unfortunately, the FBR and my son had to leave after the movie to reunite with the ABFA and BR3. The BR3 was feeling steadily better but scared the hell out of her mother Saturday morning when she woke with a bloody nose. With the departure of her cousin the FBR once again shifted her focus back to her grandparents. I was drafted into a game of hide and seek where I was roundly trounced by my much younger opponent. Once that very tired seven-year-old went to bed we gathered in the Man Cave so we could expose my daughter to the exquisite silliness of Bullet Train. Sunday saw the dreaded emptying of the house with the departure of the New Jersey bunch. I was left to reflect on the past few days and genuinely feel the loss of the atmosphere of family I was blessed with since Wednesday.  So, a true gift.

At the Theater Saturday Morning

FBR and BR3 Enjoying Gifts we Brought Them from Disneyworld
Three movies fell in my A-Z effort, all keepers, Cleopatra (way, way long but still much better than its rep, literally cast of thousands, great extras on disc), Clerks II (just as idiotic in color as original slackers return), and Click (much better than I remembered and Christopher Walken always a treat and did I mention, Beckinsale at her peak).

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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 him 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 3rd 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; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; 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

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