I got my first full night of sleep but there was a steep price to pay that allowed that to happen. I couldn’t believe it when I woke up this morning to a clock proclaiming it was after 8am. That’s much later then I usually sleep and decidedly later than past two weeks where I could count on a granddaughter wakeup, usually consisting of a full dive onto my sleeping form at the end of a room long dash. Strange how much I miss it. This last week, with only the FBR in residence, was a little more sedate although I did a fair amount of running around with her, she is a rising taskmaster (it’s the genes inherited from her abuela). She was also a bit more emotional this year about missing her parents. As soon as they pulled into the driveway she rushed out and bestowed a really long hug on her mom and dad.
FBR Hugging her Mom Upon Arrival
All three granddaughters were available Sunday
morning as my son’s family rejoined us along with my daughter and Wingman who journeyed
north to retrieve the FBR from our grasp. As with last year, we used this august
assembly to execute the Family Fantasy Football League draft on Deckzilla. As
you can probably guess, whenever this group is assembled and then you add Great
Aunt, Keene Friend, and Cantankerous Friend to the mix, there is going to be
some serious laughter heading downrange. A difference this year was the inability
of my Favorite Panamanian, despite guarded attempts, to assist in the preparation
as she is still on crutches. She fumed a little bit at my cleaning standards as
opposed to hers, but let’s be honest, no one can meet those lofty ideals. 
Pre-Draft Conference
Out Onto Deckzilla
The draft was a lot of fun with my son
as commissioner. The PCR joined the league this year which immediately led to
Cantankerous Friend launching aspersions about collusion between the PCR and
Keene Friend. It was a very fun afternoon on Deckzilla as the picks rolled in
and the three granddaughters and grandpuppy swept through whenever they felt
the need for popsicles (okay, that was mostly the granddaughters). We drew the
draft order from the hat and for the second year in a row I emerged with the
last pick. Soxfather’s sister had been making big noise all year about how she
was going to personally attend the draft to supervise us but I guess that hour
long trek from the depths of Rhode Island was just too much for her to chance.
We, somehow, survived without her supervision. Go figure.
The Draft Starts
ABFA and My Daughter Getting Draft Advice From their Daughters
As soon as the last pick was made, my
son was assigned to the grill and the various dishes everybody brought were assembled
for an extensive post-draft meal. There was way too much food. The FBR had assisted
me with pre-draft grocery shopping and I made the mistake of passing through
the dessert section which resulted in two large containers of cupcakes and sugar
cookies (it’s how we roll). Saturday was one of those afternoons that, even
while participating in it, you’re hoping will last longer. Unfortunately, the
cosmos, being what it is, held short shrift with my prayers and time, as it
usually does in these situations, seemed to speed up. Great Aunt and the guys
from Keene left just as the sun was setting.
Great Aunt, Keene Friend and Cantankerous Very Focused
Son and I as he Mans the Grill
It's testament for how tired the granddaughters
were that they didn’t put up too much of a battle at bed time. Although I’m hesitant
to make that claim to my son who drew bedtime reading duty. We gathered around
the kitchen table to play yet another game of Uno Flip, which is fast becoming
the family staple. Wingman, gamemaster for the family, introduced us to this in
Panama and we can’t get enough of it. There is so much laughter involved as the
game see-saws between contestants. The game also brings out the competitor in
each player, some times in hilarious fashion, such as with the ABFA’s mom
during our trip to the beach house this year. Saturday’s game was no different.
I’ve ordered a set of the cards for the game so we’ll be able to play whenever
we get the urge (and have the right mix of people).
Then, Bravely, Supervises the Granddaughter Table
Son, Returning to the Uno Flip Table, Noticing Something is Amiss 
Daughter Sunday Morning at the Hojaldra Cauldron
Sunday morning was interesting at
breakfast time. My Favorite Panamanian was still not up to manning the stove but
the family hojaldra queen (the BRS) was still demanding her tribute. We devised
a system where my wife created the hojaldra while sitting down and my daughter assumed
the mantle of hojaldra cooking. This follows the failed experiment of either my
son or I trying to. By noon all had to depart and the house descended into an eerie
quiet that hadn’t been seen in, well, two weeks. Having the granddaughters stay
with us is a time I cherish each year and I’m hoping we’re creating good memories
for them. I’m ready for a little rest though as, inexplicably, it seems to be
more physically challenging each year. It’s almost as if I’m getting old
(perish that thought). More than worth the effort though, especially if the reward
is having everybody who was with us on Saturday present. I’m still going to
miss the wake ups. My Favorite Panamanian goes under the knife tomorrow for her
knee. Please keep her in your prayers. I’ll try and post tomorrow how it went. 
Under the Watchful Eye of the Hojaldra Queen
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 (whom I miss more than I can ever
explain); Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course
No comments:
Post a Comment