Today was a bona fide treat as I journeyed across the state to link up with an old Army buddy for lunch. Not just any old buddy either. My decision to stay in the Army was based in large part upon the fun I had with my first command. That was a company command in the Old Guard and the guy I met up with today was my hand-picked Executive Officer, whom I would summon to my office by bellowing “XO” at the top of my lungs. He was a special guy then and remains so. He was quite the ladies’ man back in the day and all the married dudes (such as myself) lived vicariously through his romantic adventures, which are the stuff of legend.
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| With Former XO and his Kid Today |
Father and Son at Practice Facility 
At t3eh Diner, Still No Respect from this Guy
We linked up at the practice facility
just as the son was finishing his morning practice session. After introductions
we set out in search of lunch. My old XO’s logistics abilities seem to have
waned a bit because the first two places he selected were both closed. We
eventually found a diner in the center of Greenfield where counter space was
available. He then pulled the ole, “Whoops, I forgot my wallet” ploy to get out
of paying for lunch. Some things never change (the fellow lieutenants mentioned
above are nodding as they read this). We had a good laugh about that but I would
have paid much more than I did for the opportunity to catch up with my old
friend. There’s something redemptive about re-connecting with old buddies after
a long hiatus. Such a great time.
The Guidon
Wingman and FBR at Busch 
If FBR is at Ballpark, Popcorn and Cotton Candy Will be Acquired 
Later at the Concert 
FBR Surrounded by the Linda Lindas
Apparently, there was a lot more going
on with the FBR’s and Wingman’s trip to St Louis. They were there to also see a
concert by the Linda Lindas. I have no idea who this L.A. based, rock group is but
apparently they’re a big deal. Wingman used his rock and roll contacts to get the
FBR a backstage meetup with the group. This is the type of things lifelong memories
are made of. Since Wingman (and the FBR) are also baseball fans they also took
in a Cardinals’ game at Busch Stadium. As I said, lifelong memories. 
Great Seats for Concert
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; CRC - 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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