Well, That Was Pretty Cool

I sit here, typing, basking in the glory of the past week. That is not hyperbole. The Christmas holiday was that much fun and was even white (though barely) for the first time in years. Everyone whom I owe a well-defined hug of gratitude have returned home leaving me sneaking down to type this while the house is a whirlwind of cleaning activity ahead of tomorrow’s early morning departure for our annual tropical sojourn on the beach for the next three months (yes, you can expect the Pacific Ocean sunsets again). The aforementioned whirlwind is, of course, my Favorite Panamanian. She feels it absolutely required that we leave the house in pristine condition. I told her I didn’t think the house sitter would notice but she’s adamant. She would know and therein lies the rub. This is an annual argument.

And it Was!

Christmas Eve

My son and his family showed up late Sunday and the FBR was soon immersed in cousinhood, forgetting the adults even existed. All three granddaughters were very excited about the imminence of Santa Claus. Sadly, I believe this is the last year they all believe in St Nick with the FBR showing signs of aging out. That happened quickly! My son, daughter, and the ABFA all had to work remotely Monday, so, in the interest of sanity and a quiet work environment, my wife and I volunteered to take the granddaughters out for lunch and a movie. The girls were fantastically well behaved and even received a compliment at the restaurant from another patron who marveled at how well they comported themselves. If she only knew! We accomplished our mission though as all three were sound asleep during the short ride back home. The ABFA posted the picture of them sleeping with the caption, Grandparents – 1, Granddaughters – 0.

Grandparents Win!

Together Again!

Movie Time

Red Robin Lunch

BRS, Every Time I rolled Out Workout Mat

Late in the day Monday Wingman arrived heralding the beginning of what became a weeklong theme, games. We played the tried-and-true ones like Uno, R-L-C, and Flip 7 along with a number of exotic games gleaned from the internet by my Favorite Panamanian, the ABFA, and my daughter. Dozens of marshmallows were sacrificed in this effort over the week. The end result always seemed to be someone (usually everybody) laughing. For Christmas Eve, my wife prepared a fabulous pork roast, a tradition in her native land. After dinner the granddaughters were allowed to open their one gift, hoping mightily it wouldn’t be clothes. They all scored with a couple makeup kits involved that eventually saw my beard painted red and green.

Screen Time

House Under Construction

Wingman Arrives!

In Christmas Attire

So Cute!

While the adults adjourned to the Man Cave for the annual viewing of Love Actually, the kids eventually (and reluctantly) fell asleep full of anticipatory glee. After the movie the Christmas tree was fully stocked and my son and I prepped the turkey for it’s early morning trip to the oven. As usual, all the granddaughters were awake well before the adults but exhibited more discipline that I would have credited them with by following instructions not to descend to the first floor until everyone was awake and ready to go down with them. I went down first to turn on the lights and Christmas music. I always love their expressions when they see the fully stocked tree for the first time.

Wife and I

! Gift Christmas Eve

Fully Stocked Tree With Santa's Additions

We then descended into the maelstrom of gift opening. The BRS went to each person who gave her a gift to thank them before she opened it. It was beyond charming. After the gifts came the traditional Christmas morning breakfast with mimosas, fried dough, and hojaldras. The granddaughters were pried away from the new toys long enough to partake. In a welcome change this year, my Keene Friend showed up mid-morning instead of his usual nocturnal arrival. This turned out to be a great development because he got to enjoy the day long craziness of the house on Christmas day before leaving for his usual Christmas dinner with another friend.

Waiting to Come Down Christmas Morn

Anticipation Building

Their First View

Gift Opening

Nearby Supply of Cookies

He was followed in short order by Great Aunt who arrived with a car fully packed with additional gifts which set off the opening frenzy again. I love how close the three granddaughters are getting with my sister. They were all very excited when she came in and it wasn’t just because of the gifts. The final addition to the crowd were the ABFA’s parents, always a most welcome addition, along with Riggins. While all this was going on someone noticed a coyote had set up in clear view on our back hill. He looked kind of sad with a raging case of mange and the look of a poor hunter (skinny). We christened a new tradition, the Christmas Coyote. Both my son and Wingman assisted greatly with the preparation of our Christmas dinner. I noticed this year that I’m slowing down and relied more on their help than previously. Rumor has it that I’m getting old.

Christmas Morning, BR3 with her Dad

Daughter and Wingman

Keene Freind is in the House!

He Gave me this T-Shirt with a Favorite Movie Quote

ABFA's Parents

Great Aunt and I

The dinner came out great and when it was over I eased over to the living room couch to enjoy some tryptophan induced napping. The granddaughters soon noticed and I had all three of them sitting on me shortly thereafter. Something about a sleeping grandparents seems to offend their senses on some level. We were soon engaged in more games, including my extending my lifelong losing streak in right, left, center. Great Aunt and the ABFA’s parents departed in the early evening. After some very tired grandchildren succumbed to bedtime, we set up for some more card games at the kitchen table. I noticed this year that we spent a lot less time in the Man Cave parked in front of the tv which was a welcome development as it led directly to more laughter.

The Christmas Coyote

Great Aunt gets her Hair Done

Game Time

Keen Friend with the Girls

Trying to Lie Down After Dinner

The day after Christmas saw the frenzied cleaning start to prepare for our weekend departure. By noon time the tree was down and out of the house and I’d picked up all the outside decorations. Inside the house the kids and their spouses assisted in undecorating the house which was a major effort considering everything my Favorite Panamanian had accomplished in that arena. This effort was welcome because it allowed us to partake of yet another Christmas tradition that evening when we journeyed north to New Hampshire for the day after Christmas party at Keene Friend’s house. The grandkids merged with the friends I’d grown up with including the recently retired Keene Friend 2 and the Cantankerous One. Once enough adult beverages were consumed we made the obligatory call to the PCR to get his Christmas reflections. A great night.

And More Games

Riggins was Tired Too

My Painted Beard

The Makeup Artists

Wingman left earlier in the day as he has the sad duty to visit his dad who entered hospice this week in Maryland. My son and his family left for home following the Keene party while my daughter and the FBR returned to Worcester with my wife and I. This gave us one more night together which we put to good use as I re-watched a few episodes of the Black Doves that my daughter hadn’t seen yet. Even more funny on a second watch although I think that had a lot to do with the company I was keeping. They departed this morning and my Favorite Panamanian and I have gone all out since their departure getting ready for the early morning flight to Panama. I can still bask though, in the contentment generated over the past week for which I have to thank my incredible family and friends. I have already started looking forward to Christmas 2025!

Girls at Keene Friend's House with Cantankerous

Day After Party

FBR Heading Home

Some More Random Photos from the Week

Christmas Eve Dinner

Card Games

House Construction

Karaoke Time

So Good in Church

Carving the Pork Roast

BRS, the Hojaldra Queen

With Great Aunt

Christmas Dinner Cleanup Crew, Daughter and ABFA

Two movies fell in the A-Z watch, both keepers: Nowhere to Run, Van Damme at his height and Rosanna Arquette, like, wow!; Now You See Me, fun magic caper with a very cool ending.

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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 her single days in Brooklyn; Czech Connection – Czech couple who’ve become good friends along with their daughter (the Czech Shadow); 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 (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