4th and Out

My Favorite Panamanian and I concluded our celebration of the 250^th birthday of our country by attending the annual 4^th of July party in Leicester held by our good friends and fellow members of the Latina Mafia on Saturday. We joined the Czech Friends who had already arrived and received a full report on the Czech Shadow’s latest adventures in employment as well as learning how to drive a car. Her father, the driving instructor, looked to have sprouted a few gray hairs because of that responsibility (I could be imagining that). It was a beautiful afternoon with the pool beckoning nearby.

Our 4th of July Attire

I was not to be fooled though. I knew the pool water would sport typical New England level temperatures which I am now firmly allergic to. The blame for that affliction lays rightfully at the feet of our Panamanian condo pool. Our hostess continued her years-long plea to get me to return to my roots. Anyone who grew up in Keene and used to swim at Camp Wakanda’s ice cold pool should be made of sufficient inner strength to handle it. In my dotage, however, I am comfortable being a complete wimp in this department. The same thing has happened with New England ocean beaches, which I also grew up with. Anyone who has joined me for a swim in the warm Pacific waters of Las Lajas will understand.

The Mafia Table with a Czech Interloper

The Party

The Czechs had to leave early which was a bit of a downer, but the Panamanian mafia took over a table and the banter never stopped. I assisted another member of the mafia at the grill and then ate way, way too many desserts. What can I say, I was caught up in the throes of celebrating America’s birth. I am honest enough with myself to realize it had more to do with the delicious cake available. The lady’s convocation eventually moved nearer to the pool but the only one who jumped in the pool was our hostess. The rest dipped their feet in and my Favorite Panamanian later admitted that was a trial, as she suffers the same affliction as I do with cold water. It was a great afternoon and early evening spent with great friends. They made noises about getting together later this week to cook something ethnic (I’ll be alright as Dominoes is only a call away).

The Mafia

Recon Party at the Pool

Eventually the Others Showed Up
But Only our Host was Brave Enough to Jump in

The BRS has been engaged with seacraft over the past few weeks at a summer camp. This photo shows her expertly skippering a ship on the high seas. She and BR3 along with their parental units spent the holiday weekend up at a family camp in the lakes region, where Riggins rediscovered himself in the water. He has no problem with cold water and my son said it was so good seeing him cavort again.

BRS at the Wheel!!

I recently checked out a reel on Facebook that announced the iconic Carousel of Progress at Disneyworld was closing as it will undergo a major upgrade to make it more timely. This ride has a sentimental hold on me for a number of reasons. I first saw it at the New York World’s Fair in 1965 on one of the last intact vacations my family took as my parents split up shortly thereafter. I’ve always loved the optimistic message of the ride as it follows progress from the turn of the 20^th century through to modern times. This is quintessential Walt Disney, who originated the ride, as it believes in people and in progress. Every time I go on Facebook now, since I watched that one reel, I’m greeted by several more showing the final day of rides. I can’t resist watching them even though I know the signature song, “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” will be stuck in my head for hours afterwards. There are worse fates.

I'll Miss This Guy

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Nostalgia Overdrive

Happy Birthday America!!!! My Favorite Panamanian and I are scheduled to leave shortly for the annual 4^th of July party hosted by a member of the Latina Mafia (an honorary member of the Panamanian Mafia but Peruvian, so there). On Thursday I had what we called in the Army “a wild hair” (I won’t, in the interests of decency, complete the saying). I reached out to Keene Friend to find out when my hometown would be holding their annual baseball/fireworks at Alumni Field. He and his lady were planning on attending that on Friday night and I finagled an invite to join them.

At the Game Last Night

My Favorite Panamanian was all in as well as she also has great memories of past 4^th of Julys spent on the outfield grass at Alumni watching the fireworks. The first for her was iconic and continues to live on nearly forty years later in family lore. My daughter had just learned to talk and was a decided fan of the color pink (I believe it had something to do with Barbie dolls). As the fireworks bloomed over the field, the little sprite kept excitedly exclaiming “PINK!!”. It’s become emblematic of the celebration of the 4^th ever since, much to the annoyance of that now 40+ year old daughter. She just rolls her eyes as she knows her siren call is now indelibly linked to our day of independence. Everyone I talked or texted with yesterday found a way to issue a “PINK!”. The author was characteristically quiet as she is still trying to quiet the deluge of recognition.

Looking Across Alumni Field Towards Keene High

My own association with Alumni, of course, goes much further back. I remember going to it when my parents were still together and marveling at the display. The year my parents first split up, my mother got tickets to the game and celebration. Great Aunt and I attended the game and then the fireworks (I still remember the chicken was undercooked). While I’m always immersed in nostalgia when I return to Keene, it was in definite overload last evening. When we sat down in the bleachers, I could see Keene High across the field and the window of the classroom where I took sophomore math in 1971. While I played very few games on the field itself, I attended countless games there while growing up.

Great Game Also

It was something of a social event for both Keene High and Legion baseball games. It was definitely a “girl watching” place for myself and my friends. I was smiling last night as the crowd gathered and I realized somethings were still the same. What the PCR and I used to call “Bettys” and “Snappers” were circling in the same size groups they did fifty years ago while the guys, intensely interested, were trying to be too cool to notice. It was a special night as the waves of nostalgia inundated the game and the crowd. It was a great time sharing with Keene Friend, his lady, and my wife.

The Crew Setup for Fireworks

As the game wound down, we moved to a nearby field to watch the fireworks. We thought they no longer allowed people on the field (they did) but the location we ended up at was even better. There was no surface battle between battleships that were a staple of the shows from our youth. I’m guessing they became too dangerous with all the pine trees around. The fireworks show was incredible though. One of the best things about being at a small-town celebration is that even though the crowd was huge, by Keene standards, we were able to get close and enjoy the fireworks going off directly overhead. I was transported again back to a four- or five-year-old version of myself watching from nearly the same location with my mom, dad, and sisters. That’s what my hometown does for me and why I love going back.

Latest Puzzle

We drove back to Worcester last night. In a major shift in assigned duties, I was doing the driving. My Favorite Panamanian remarked how strange it felt not to be driving back. I’ve usually sent too many beers downrange to attempt the drive. We’ll have to search way back into the dusty annals of history to find a First Friday of the Week where I didn’t have a single beer. I’m thinking it had to have been in Saudi Arabia in the late nineties for the last time that happened. But that is an indication of how intoxicating nostalgia can be because I didn’t miss it all.

The Failed Step

Digging Out

Trench Ready

Concrete In

End Product

In some housekeeping items, I finished another 1000-piece puzzle. This one was a Christmas themed one. That’s another thing I’m an absolute sucker for. I’ve started following a series of reels of Christmas scenes and music from days gone by on Facebook. It still brings a smile to face and that feeling of the holiday season even as temperatures head for triple digits. I also finished another backyard project. The step onto my backyard path that runs between the terraces and Deckzilla had failed, as I dug it out and backfilled the base with a stray bag of concrete (not cement as my son would insist I say). Of course, the day I chose to do it was the hottest in three years, but I got it done in the early morning before the temperatures soared. It seems to have worked. So, I hope you are heading out to celebrate the day with friends and family. I am so thankful to have grown up in the best of all countries and to have had the opportunity to serve it in uniform. Here are some of the Alumni Field fireworks to send you out to partay!!!!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Happy 4th Again

I wrote this last year and it still applies, although it’s been so heartening to see the Europeans visiting for the World Cup seeing America as it is versus what their media tries to portray. They should ask themselves why the powers to be in their countries do not want them to see the real America.

Since we’re at that special day where we celebrate the birthday of my beloved country, I wanted to take this opportunity to address something that’s been bothering me since the Clinton presidency. Something that has been enhanced and blown up to unimaginable levels since the advent of the information age. The attempt to divide Americans. For Clinton it was a cheap political trick to garner support. Others have taken this and run with it. Our enemies, the Russians and the Iranians, have certainly noticed as they are engaged in an ongoing war for the soul of America through the internet. We are better than this.

I know we have a complete buffoon as president. He isn’t the first and he won’t be the last, but he is our duly elected president. Of all Americans. You can’t only love your country when you agree with the political party in power. We have been and will continue to be a force for good in the world because we are one of the few, if not only, countries in the world where the station of your birth doesn’t define you. I wore the unfirm of this country for twenty-seven years and in doing so certain aspects of life in America were brought home to me in no uncertain terms. We are that shining city upon the hill that Ronald Reagan spoke so eloquently about.

One of the things I did in preparing to write today was search the internet for quotes about America. It reinforced my core beliefs about my country. I ran across Reagan’s farewell address as he prepared to leave the presidency. I know revisionists have tried to cast aspersions on President Reagan but I lived through his time where he reinvigorated America by reminding us who we are. My fervent hope is another great communicator will emerge from the political rubble that Trump will leave behind.

We struggle with immigration issues because people want to come here. While I know that is simplistic, but it is a bone deep truth that has existed for more than 200 years now. People come here because they believe in a future for their children. I know there are smarmy social justice warriors (especially Western Europeans) who exist solely to criticize and point out our shortcomings. I still believe in America, not only as a country, but as an idea. Yeah, it’s a messy place, currently tearing at itself as political differences are constantly invigorated by the relentless internet traffic (a lot of instigated from Moscow and Tehran). They will fail eventually because we are Americans first, before all our differences are taken in account. Enemies throughout our history have mistaken our internal arguing as a weakness and have paid the price when our glowering, united attention focuses on them.

If you have friends who you have distanced yourself from because they do not agree with you politically, then you need to take a long look at yourself. I have a bunch of friends I do not agree with about everything, politics and otherwise, but that doesn’t mean I don’t cherish them as friends. Ask yourself if you are better off hearing only from people who agree with you about everything. People are not unworthy simply because they don’t agree with you politically. Of course, this does not apply to the fanatics on either end of the spectrum but they are a noisy, self-important but still small percentage of the population that will eventually be shouted down by the majority. I believe in this as I believe in the promise that is America. I wouldn’t have worn the uniform as proudly as I did for all those years if I didn’t. Happy Birthday America, I love you still.

As I said, I was searching for quotes and decided to include a bunch of them that speak to the America I believe in a lot more eloquently than I ever could:

“People in power are trying to convince us that the villain in our American story is each other. But that is not our story. That is not who we are. That's not our America. Our United States of America is not about us versus them. It's about we the people!” - Camila Alves

From President Reagan’s farewell address:

“The lesson of all this was, of course, that because we're a great nation, our challenges seem complex. It will always be this way. But as long as we remember our first principles and believe in ourselves, the future will always be ours.” 

``We the People'' tell the government what to do; it doesn't tell us. ``We the People'' are the driver; the government is the car. And we decide where it should go, and by what route, and how fast. Almost all the world's constitutions are documents in which governments tell the people what their privileges are. Our Constitution is a document in which ``We the People'' tell the government what it is allowed to do. ``We the People'' are free.” 

“An informed patriotism is what we want. And are we doing a good enough job teaching our children what America is and what she represents in the long history of the world? Those of us who are over 35 or so years of age grew up in a different America. We were taught, very directly, what it means to be an American. And we absorbed, almost in the air, a love of country and an appreciation of its institutions. If you didn't get these things from your family you got them from the neighborhood, from the father down the street who fought in Korea or the family who lost someone at Anzio. Or you could get a sense of patriotism from school. And if all else failed you could get a sense of patriotism from the popular culture. The movies celebrated democratic values and implicitly reinforced the idea that America was special. TV was like that, too, through the mid-sixties.” 

“I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it, and see it still. And how stands the city on this winter night? More prosperous, more secure, and happier than it was 8 years ago. But more than that: After 200 years, two centuries, she still stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady no matter what storm. And she's still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home.” 

And the rest:

"America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand." - Harry S. Truman.

"Where liberty dwells, there is my country." - Benjamin Franklin.

"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." - Thomas Jefferson.

"No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation." -Douglas MacArthur

"America is not just a country, it's an idea." - Bono

“This is your democracy. Make it. Protect it. Pass it on.” - Thurgood Marshall

“Duty, honor, country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be.” - Douglas MacArthur

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like me, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” - Thomas Paine

“I am an American; free born and free bred, where I acknowledge no man as my superior, except for his own worth, or as my inferior, except for his own demerit.” —Theodore Roosevelt

“The essence of America—that which really unites us—is not ethnicity, or nationality or religion - it is an idea - and what an idea it is: That you can come from humble circumstances and do great things.” —Condoleezza Rice

“Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history.” —John McCain

“The fate of America cannot depend on any one man. The greatness of America is grounded in principles and not on any single personality.” —Franklin Roosevelt

“I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” —James Baldwin

“I say to you that our goal is freedom, and I believe we are going to get there because however much she strays away from it, the goal of America is freedom.” —Martin Luther King Jr.

“This [nation] will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” —Elmer Davis

“We’re blessed with the opportunity to stand for something—for liberty and freedom and fairness. And these are things worth fighting for, worth devoting our lives to.” —Ronald Reagan

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” —John F. Kennedy

“Democracy is worth dying for, because it’s the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man.” - Ronald Regan

“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it.” - Mark Twain

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Dated Approach

Someone mentioned in passing that it is now July. How the hell did that happen so fast!!? I guess I should have been paying attention when all the 4^th of July talk started cranking up. I was having so much fun in June which probably more than explains why it departed in such explosive speed. On the last day of June, I squired my Favorite Panamanian out for weekly date night. I decided to splurge by adding dinner out to the usual movie. No matter what you may hear from biased observers, this decision was not based on the fact I had made my way in my usual inevitable fashion into the doghouse for husbandly behavior. All married guys know that means your wife is suddenly angry with you and you are trying to figure out what you did. It’s part of the manual they issue wives shortly before the wedding.

My Very Cute Date

At any rate, we had a very good time and, miraculously, I emerged from penalty status intact. I’m not sure where my atonement was achieved, but it was certainly assisted when I additionally agreed to go shopping with her after the movie. This is something of a last resort type tactic, usually a fate I would only attempt if I had broken something really expensive of hers. After consultation with her, we also decided to go forward with the Mohs surgery for the skin cancer spot on my temple area. Some very nice friends and acquaintances reached out after my blog post last week and said I should consider pinpoint radiation. I sought out an opinion on it and while it is certainly less invasive than Mohs, it doesn’t offer the 99.95% cure rate that Mohs does. Also it’s in an aera without any underlying structures that might be compromised. It’s not as if my looks (never an area of strength) will be compromised by another scar (my story will be it was from yet another knife fight). I go under that knife on July 14^th, which I thought was a long way off until June abandoned us.

Finally Got a Photo from Son's Disney Adventures
BRS and BR3 Made up for their Dinner in the Castle

The movie we saw was Supergirl. I was interested to see which way the DCU was going to head with this movie. It’s not great but it’s certainly entertaining, in a summer blockbuster kind of way. They didn’t go after the sweeping, earth shattering goals of the usual superhero flick and kept it close to the title character’s search for meaning in her life. They expertly wove her back story into the plot, which in some ways explained why she was such a total loser at the beginning of the film. She grows on you though, which is a tribute to Milly Alcock in that title role. She is fantastic in a role that required her to carry the entire movie, which she does effortlessly, or at least made it seem that way. Jason Mamoa showed up to provide some testosterone, suitably clueless of course, since this her story and not his. Supergirl reluctantly helps an orphan girl track down her family’s killers because they have an antidote for her superdog, Krypto (great CGI comedic timing there) whom they poisoned earlier. It’s a movie about looking for a vanished home which I could identify with, and I truly enjoyed this flick. A definite win for the DCU.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Paradise Achieved

I have been rightfully accused of intense hyperbole when it comes to describing how much fun time spent with my family and friends is. That accusation is founded in a basic truth. That being, I am singularly blessed in the family department, spanning multiple generations. Three of those generations came into play over the weekend (four if you count the dog and cats). I am however proud of the fact that the time doesn’t require embellishment, it simply is what it is – more fun than is probably legal in most 3rd world countries. I offer this past weekend as a case in point.

Saturday Deckzilla Dinner

My daughter and the FBR showed up on Friday in the early afternoon for a long planned get together. A few weeks ago, my Favorite Panamanian noticed that the Hanover Theater had a Broadway play, Mrs. Doubtfire, playing Friday night. A few hundred dollars later we had tickets. My wife, totally without scruples, took advantage of my love of live theater. Before the show though, they had time for a shopping trip to the mall. My Favorite Panamanian’s shopping gene has skipped a generation but is in full force with all our granddaughters. An expensive reality, just like last Friday. They returned from their shopping foray and the FBR was proudly displaying her acquisitions when the receipt fell onto the floor. I was able to snatch it up before they could intervene. They both looked a little nervous but whatever they paid was worth it to see how happy both of them were. Notably, the FBR insisted on buying gifts for her two cousins who would be arriving the next day.

FBR Showing off her Bargains

I, Looking at the Receipt

The Hanover Theater was fantastic. I thought I was buying tickets to front row of the balcony (at least that’s what their website was telling me) but we ended up near the back. The view was fine though, and it offered the opportunity for the FBR to dance in the aisle during some of the musical numbers. I loved the movie it was based upon but was a little skeptical it would make a good musical play. I was wrong, it was great. While Robin Williams will always own the role, the lead actor threw himself into the part. He made it his own and the actors playing the kids were particularly good, especially their singing voices. The best part was seeing how much the FBR reveled in the experience. She has been doing some after school drama classes, so this was right up her alley.

Into the Hanover

Very Excited FBR

Love the Hanover

Daughter and FBR

Very Fun Night

FBR Taking a Break from Aisle Dancing

They had arrived from New Jersey bearing the stars of the weekend, their two cats, Walnut and Pistachio. They quickly assumed control of the house as we retrieved all the toys they left here after Christmas. It was so much fun having pets in the house again and reminded me how greatly I missed it (yes, even cats). With our annual 3+ months spent in Panama, and the condo rules there about pets, we are restricted from having anything I find acceptable (no ankle biting dogs).

Pistachio and Walnut Checking Out Deckzilla

Walnut

Pistachio

My son and his bunch arrived around noon time and the FBR, BRS, and BR3 were soon charging around the house, reestablishing the expected level of chaos whenever they are together. Since we had both kids and all granddaughters in residence, we decided a Deckzilla barbecue was in order. We invited Keene Friend, because, let’s face it, he’s family. My Favorite Panamanian had me involved in the preparation phase which, for anyone that’s ever been near her during one of these times, can be frightening (son and daughter nodding as they read this). The granddaughters took a break from raiding my wife’s shoe closet to demand to be taken to a nearby playground. In a moment of weakness (which are endemic when granddaughters are involved), I agreed to take them to. My wife only grimaced in my general direction as I loaded up the car. I was truly impressed with the level of upper body strength, especially the BRS and BR3, demonstrated at the playground. I would have been hard-pressed at their age to attempt what they easily accomplished. We returned triumphant to the house to find Keene Friend and his lady had arrived and the party was in full swing.

At The Playground

With Abuela's Shoes

The Granddaughter Table

Dessert with Abuela

My daughter had driven down to Connecticut to pick up Wingman who had participated in a charity golf tournament there on Friday, so we had the whole gang in one place for the first time since the very fun February week in Panama. We had way too much food but that’s to be expected (see comment above about a certain Panamanian). It was one of those afternoons that I live for as the granddaughters flitted around and the assemblage of a leading number of my favorite people on the planet socialized on Deckzilla. As we sat down to eat, under the influence of a certain number of Coors Lites, I remarked that this time was special. Everybody at the table nodded in agreement or they could have just been coddling me.

Wife's Shoe Closet After Granddaughter Invasion

Wingman and I with BRS and BR3 Behind Us

The granddaughters had once again seized control of my Man Cave. They find it incredibly quaint that I still have a land line telephone. I think they look at is as exotic – a phone attached to the wall that doesn’t need a passcode. They launched a series of crank calls to anyone who would reveal their cellphone number to them. Wingman had us playing an updated version of Flip 7 on Deckzilla when the calls began. The ABFA was a particular target because she is so sweet and would answer, despite knowing how it was going to go. She sent us a photo today of her phone call received log, which showed 19 calls from our phone that day. So, you can see how this went. By the end of the day we were receiving calls from Joe’s Pizza who offered free pizzas, but all they delivered was a receipt from Home Depot they found on my desk in the Man Cave. It was funny to see how creative they could be and reminded me (in semi-heartbreaking fashion) of the games my kids played at the same age with Soxfather.

Deckzilla Party

Too Much Fun!

The cats were especially intrigued with the attendant arrival of Riggins with my son’s family. Riggins is now totally blind and Walnut, especially, seemed very put out that Riggins did not react to him at all. It seemed to injure his cat pride. He spent the rest of the weekend trying to get the elusive reaction. Sunday morning breakfast was a full on, chaos riddled, event and a lot of fun. The granddaughters were summoned from the crank calling long enough to take part. The BRS once again demonstrated she has become an expert at making hojaldras as well as consuming them in mass quantities.

Walnut Hanging Out with Riggins

Sadly, the New Jersey bunch had to leave while we were at church on Sunday, but my son and his family decided to stay on a little longer. The BRS and BR3 had heard about the shopping expedition of the previous Friday and demanded equal time with their abuela. They too have inherited that benighted shopping gene. Since both my son and I were in recovery protocol, we descended to the Man Cave while the ABFA accompanied the gals to the mall. It was a great afternoon as we discovered an animated sci fi series on Amazon that had us both intrigued. Secret Level is an adult animated anthology with stories set within the universes of iconic video games. I depended on my son to tell me what games they were talking about.

Sunday Morning Watermelon

The gals inevitably returned and this meant it was time for them to depart, ending one of the best weekends ever. There is no substitute for time spent with family, especially when you are gifted the way I am in that department. Oh yeah, and just to make the weekend even sweeter, the heretofore somnolent Red Sox swept a four-game series against the hated Yankees. I was savoring the weekend already but when the Sox nearly no hit the yanks and then scored three runs to walk them off in the 10^th inning, it was just too sweet. In the lost Red Sox season, at least we’ll have this weekend to look back on.

Window Shades had to be Adjusted All Weekend
So Walnut Could Properly Secure the House

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course