Confab Extraordinaire

Yesterday I was the proud host for a confab of the three granddaughters, okay that was mostly my Favorite Panamanian, but I did contribute. We had a fabulous, if Canadian smoke laden, hazy summer day, to spend a late afternoon on Deckzilla. In a shocking story that I’m stunned did not appear on the major wire services, Great Aunt was accompanied by Soxfather’s Sister and her husband. The sister is a true Rhode Islander who only recently learned she didn’t need a passport to travel beyond Rhode Island. Since we’re about forty miles away this would usually require an overnight trip based on that tremendous distance. I was just happy to be offered the opportunity to once again convince her of my photographic expertise.

Very Happy Abuela with her 3 Granddaughters and their Light Sticks

My Favorite Son and his bunch arrived first and were followed in short order by the Cantankerous Friend, the ABFA’s parents, and the Rhode Islanders.  It was a perfect size group to sit around and enjoy each other’s company. We received word shortly after the party kicked off that my daughter and the FBR were leaving New Jersey to join us. The FBR was the lone invitee to one of her best bud’s birthday party in NYC yesterday morning. They toured the Spy Museum where the FBR claimed they had to dodge lasers. The pictures made her look like a teenager headed out on her first date. Tempus fugit and all that.

FBR Heading to the Big Apple

With the Birthday Boy

Wife Gardening with BR3 and BRS

Jenga Time!

It was a great afternoon that fled into night and my Favorite Son ably manned the grill to add some seared animal flesh to all the delicacies each guest brought. Th BRS and BR3 were the absolute center of attention and basked in their celebrity status. My Favorite Panamanian was repeatedly reminded of a similar party a couple years ago where she accidently kicked the BRS while crossing Deckzilla, some good deeds, etc. etc. She had performed some of her usual culinary wizardry with yet another of her legendary cakes and some holiday themed watermelon and blueberry sticks, she’s kind of amazing in that regard. Great Aunt, always dependable, provided a death by chocolate cake so some additional miles on the bike will be required this week, totally worth it.

Some of my Best Shots of Soxfather Sister

Great Aunt Pointing out my Approach

Wife's Cake and Death by Chocolate Cake

Red, White and Blue Fruit Sticks

While Soxfather’s Sister, with Great Aunt’s repeated assistance, unsuccessfully dodged my efforts to chronicle her presence with my otherworldly photographic abilities, it was great spending time with these great friends catching up. We tried to call Keene Friend who was attending the PCR’s annual and legendary (according to him) 4^th of July party but we were assiduously ignored and gave up after three calls. My Favorite Panamanian was truly in her element surrounded by granddaughters and before the meal was truly finished, she was dancing with both the BRS and BR3. Shortly thereafter the travelers from New Jersey arrived and it was so cool to see how excited the three young cousins were to be with each other again. There is something special about cousins.

Rest of the Group

Son Manning the Grill

Grandparents Invited to Granddaughter Table

BRS with Fruit Snack

Dancing with Abuela

While the Rhode Islanders had to leave not long after (something about getting through customs at the Rhode Island border) the rest of us carried on assisting my daughter and the FBR in catching up with us. Their abuela revealed the light sticks she had purchased at the fireworks earlier this week and as expected they spent the rest of the evening flitting around the house with the twirling lights. It was one of those perfect days where some of the most important people in my life had gathered and the attendant joy was unavoidable. Despite the incredible amount of sugar sent downrange the granddaughters were exhausted by bed time and only put up a token fight about going to sleep. A great day (and no granddaughters were kicked!).

FBR is in the House!

Cousins Unite

Daughter and FBR with Late Dinner

Riggins Greets FBR

Hojaldra Breakfast This Morning

Popsicles After All Behaved so Well in Church

No movie fell in my A-Z watch, granddaughters’ presence does that.

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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; 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 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; 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