It’s Called Anticipation

This will be my last post until at least Sunday because my Favorite Panamanian and I are headed to the New Hampshire seacoast tomorrow for what has become an annual ritual. My Favorite Son and the ABFA rent the same awesome beach house each of the past few years and invite us to come over for a couple days. We’ve timed it again this year to coincide with my son’s birthday so Bonecrusher will be coming with us. His birthday is on Friday and, as with last year, he wants us to accompany him to the movie theater. I remember the days with very young kids and the effect that has on movie going. He shares my love of cinema so this will be a special day for him.

Get to Hang with These Guys

We’re staying for a couple extra days because not only are we celebrating his birthday but the ABFA, the ABFA’s parents as well as the BRS/BR3 tandem are also in residence. That means an incredible amount of fun is there for the taking. I’ll get to try out the new swim shoes I bought to hopefully address the boogie boarding foot injury. I’m not under any illusion actual swimming will be involved as Panama’s ocean temps have ruined any chance of that in New England ocean waters. Still, there will be some wading, probably in pursuit of a granddaughter. As stated in the title, anticipation.

Fun Will be Had

I had a very fun zoom call last night with the Roothuggers. We’re Command and General Staff College classmates who have kept in touch over the last thirty years. We were all part of a staff group who had more fun than was strictly authorized during that year at Fort Leavenworth, including our spouses. I’ve attended two reunions so far, one in New Orleans and the other in Florida. Last night’s call was about another reunion next year. I’m nervous because each of the past reunions coincided with newsworthy events. On our drive to the airport for our flight to New Orleans the Marathon Bombers shootout was going on in Watertown as we drove through. Our stay in Florida was extended a couple days because of Super Storm Sandy. I mention all this because last night I was “volunteered” to put together the next Roothugger reunion for September 2025 near Boston. Keep your eyes on the news next summer.

Speaking of the news, we had something happen that has never taken place before. Joe Biden, with the democratic nomination all locked up, bowed to intense pressure to quit the race. I’ve been a reluctant supporter of Biden since the alternative the last couple races has been the closest thing I’ve ever seen of evil incarnate. Like the rest of the country, I was horrified by Biden’s debate performance where his mental acuity was abysmal. Now I’m going to be forced to support a California Democrat in Kamala Harris. I think I can do it, but it will be painful. My fervent hope is that Trump can be beaten decisively and lose the stranglehold he’s had on the Republican Party for the last decade. I was a lifelong Republican until Trump showed up. I hope with him out of the way after this election, some leaders will emerge in that party instead of the sycophants afraid to cross the profound narcissism of the fatally flawed former president.

Four movies fell in the A-Z watch, all keepers: The King’s Speech, sneakily heartwarming; Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, one of my favorite movies of all time, also fell desperately in love with Michele Monaghan; Kiss of the Dragon, Jet Li tearing up Paris with Bridget Fond while Tcheky Karyo massively overacting; Kiss the Girls, liked this serial killer flick with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd both very good

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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; Seis Amigos - two couples from our condo complex and my wife and I; Soxfather – my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course