Okay. We both needed some rest after my overzealous recounting of my time in Ireland and Scotland. I know it was a little over the top in terms of quantity but you have to realize just how excited I was about the trip, realizing a lifelong dream. Although my Favorite Panamanian and I did a fairly good job of beating jet lag last week I still felt a little discombobulated (that’s still a a word, isn’t it?). So much so that during one of my middle of night awakenings to address, well, you know, I started panicking because I couldn’t remember what city we were in, how the hotel bathroom was configured, and what time the tour director wanted our suitcases out in the hallway. It took some tactile exploring to fully wake up and realize I was, in fact, home. My family rose to the occasion this weekend to cement a grasp on reality.
We were assisted by the retirement party
in Rhode Island for one of our best friends. He and his wife were next door neighbors
when we lived in Cranston in the early 90s. She and my wife became best friends
and we’ve stayed in touch over the years, even living with them for a short
time when I retired from the military. His retirement party was the impetus to
lure my son and his family down from New Hampshire for the weekend. We met them
at the party location, the palatial home of the retiring friend. The weather
was not promising when we arrived as it looked like the Irish rain gods had followed
us home. We were sitting in the pool house watching the rain pour down. Someone
chased those pesky Irish sprites away though and the rest of the afternoon was
glorious.
Sunday Lunch
Rain Coming Down on Party Location 
BR3 Arrives! 
Linking up with Old Friends and The ABFA! 
BRS Down two Teeth Now 
Son with New Retiree 
ABFA into the Pool 
Son Takes up Lifeguarding 
Then Joined by the Rest of Us
It was so settling to see and hug my
son, the ABFA, BRS, and BR3. It hadn’t been that long but it seemed like ages
that we’d seen them. Time is a weird substance. Our trip seemed to be over in a
flash but simultaneously it seemed like we’d been away from home for a very
long time. Someone much smarter than I can ever hope to be will have to explain
that. The granddaughters immediately dragged the ABFA into the pool for
extended time there. The BRS swims like a fish now and BR3 may be braver than
she should be with only a styrofoam snake under her arms, but they had a great
time. As did we, catching up with friends we hadn’t seen for all too long a
time. Lots of time in this paragraph. That said element marched on too quickly before
it was time to head back to Worcester. I’ve said it many times on Frail Deeds,
but it is an essential truth of life. There is something redeeming spending
time around family and old friends. You just can’t beat it.
Real Swim Bugs Now
Son and ABFA 
BR3 Always the Comedienne 
Retirement Off to a Great Start 
Dinner Time 
Party Location 
BR3 Ready to Descend 
Watching the Birds Sunday Morning 
Abuela's Shoe Closet was Raided
The house seemed to wake up with the arrival
of the granddaughters. I hadn’t realized how quiet it had been until those two
started in. We gave them the presents we’d (my wife) bought them while on our
trip. BR3 now seems fascinated with the Loch Ness monster (a good monster we assured
her). After they went to bed (kicking and screaming) we got to settle down and talk
a bit with my son and the ABFA. My son and I ended up in the Man Cave watching
a movie together and that was right up there with granddaughter hugs in terms
of grounding me back in the States. The morning started with the obligatory hojaldra
breakfast although BR3 now demands corn muffins in addition. We enjoyed a
fantastic summer morning out on Deckzilla catching them up with all our adventures.
Since we hadn’t fully restocked the kitchen yet, we took them out to lunch. I
was totally impressed with the granddaughters who behaved like angels. Apparently
some dedicated training has been undertaken to meet that goal. They now have a
one visit limit to the rest room instead of the usual 4-5. They had to return
home but their mission (at least for us) of welcoming us home was a complete success.
Deckzilla Morning
We were just settling down yesterday afternoon
when we received the biggest news of the weekend, check that, of the year. Namesake
Nephew got engaged!!! He’s been living with his lady love for a while now and
popped the question to her while on a getaway weekend up in New Hampshire.
Great Aunt said it best, “Thrilled to
share that Namesake Nephew and his gal are engaged! Finally getting the
daughter I’ve always wanted. I’ve never seen Namesake Nephew so grounded
and happy. Welcome to the family! Arthur is smiling down on us and pleased to
see you both on such a loving path!”. We met the newest addition to the family
over the holidays last year and had noted the same thing, how happy Namesake
Nephew was. So welcome to the family. She’s going to need a blog name. Time to
party!!!
Newest Fiancés
Got New Photos from Tour Director
The Entire Tour Group Outside Blair Castle
The Farewell Dinner
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; 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
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