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”.
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.
Thanksgiving Fun
Granddaughter is in the House! 
BR3 Was Down and Out
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.
ABFA and BRS at ABFA's T-Day
Cousins Gathering 
Cousin in Chief Making Remarks
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.
Our Very Fun Table
A Sample of the FBR's Photography with the Stolen Phone
Me Speaking with my Cousin
Anyone Seen my Phone?
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| Happy Thief Selfie |
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.
My Favorite Panamanian Sneakily Sampling Every Dessert
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.
Together Again!!!
Abuela Sent to the Corner by Granddaughters 
Enjoying it
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. 
Dinner at Great Aunt's House
Son and Daughter with BRS 
I Am Blessed 
Still a Little Goofy 
Obligatory Cinema Verité Candid Photo of Soxfather Sister
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. 
Very Fun Evening Group
Great Aunt and Namesake Nephew 
FBR and BRS Circulating 
They Had to Leave Early 
Soxfather Sister with her Hubby 
Soxfather Sister with Namesake Nephew
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.
After Party Action Shot
At the Theater Saturday Morning
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).
FBR and BR3 Enjoying Gifts we Brought Them from Disneyworld
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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