Luncheon Special

A quick entry today because my Favorite Panamanian is in high cleaning mode with the impending arrival of the Maine Musquetera for a weekend visit. The already pristine house is getting her usual attentions which should leave her exhausted, but my money is still on the fact that both of these good friends will stay up into the wee hours of the morning talking. It’s what they do when they get together. I’m just trying (and mostly failing) to stay out of the line of fire. Today is worth the effort as I know how much my wife enjoys spending time with one of her sisters of the heart.

Lunch Crowd Yesterday

Yesterday was my chance to link up with friends with my monthly luncheon back in my hometown that my high school classmates put together. It was once again well attended. I, of course, drove the new car up which made me even happier. Predictably, I didn’t get to drive it back because of the affect of the after lunch party at the Pour House. I truly enjoyed the lunch, sitting at a table with both Keene Friends and a trio of female classmates that I usually don’t; get to talk with. They were a lot of fun, especially after I learned two of them spoke fluent Spanish. Once my Favorite Panamanian heard that, I was directed to change seats with her so she could converse with them in her native tongue.

Our Table with the Keene Friends and the Spanish Speakers

The new car led to the funniest moment of the luncheon. After we ate and were organizing to leave, my Favorite Panamanian took possession of the keys and headed for shopping. This was the first time she drove the new car by herself. I was taking a lot of good-natured ribbing from my classmates about letting her drive the car, predating disaster at every turn. The funny part came when she had to back the car out of the notoriously tight Pub parking lot slots. She had to back up and try three or four times. All within clear view of the lunch goers and this only added to the verbal jousts headed my way which continued as she threaded her way by us, through the large rocks that line the exit. I don’t think I’ll tell her about that.

Attempt at a Pour House Photo

After the lunch the two Keene Friends and I adjourned to the Pour House for the aforementioned After Party. We were joined by other classmates, including one of the wives and, necessarily, the Cantankerous Friend. It was a very fun afternoon as we caught up with each other and continued the jokes. There was almost non-stop laughter. The classmate’s wife, also a KHS graduate, but from another year, marveled at how close the Class of ’73 is. We made the obligatory semi-inebriated call to the PCR who was in his usual high form. Later in the afternoon, my Kindergarten Friend broke free from his pre-vacation chores long enough to join the fun. It was an altogether outstanding afternoon. We consulted on the need for an intensive summer reconnaissance program for the November pub crawl since our usual launching point, Penuche’s Ale House has closed (a moment of respectful silence please)

The Kindergarten Friend Showed Up

We eventually declared victory and decided it was time to walk down Main Street to join my Favorite Panamanian at Margarita’s for dinner. Keene Friend, the Cantankerous One, and one of our female classmates joined us for dinner and regaled my wife with how well the after party had gone. I don’t think she was excessively impressed. A day that, once again, flew by way too quickly. That is bound to happen when you’re in the company of outstanding people, as I certainly was yesterday.

Dinner Crowd, Complete with what my Sister 
Calls my S***-Eating Grin

Two movies fell in the A-Z watch, both keepers: Predators – two Oscar winners stranded on a distant planet with a crew of other killers to take on a pack of predators – very well done; The Predator – just what we needed, the predators genetically enhancing themselves to make themselves more deadly.

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