Fallen Trees

I know it’s been a whole day since I’ve been on here but post-Thanksgiving holiday with the departure of friends and family is always a time to reflect and be depressed. I didn’t have any time yesterday to write since my wife and I launched on first phase operations of my absolute favorite time of year – Christmas! Since we are definitely post-Thanksgiving I can abandon any reluctance I felt about getting “up” too early.

Saturday saw the remnants of Thanksgiving leak away. Keene Friend, changing up his usual Modus Operandi, actually hung around to share breakfast with the rest of us. Buddy was the immediate winner because if Keene Friend is in the house in the morning that means he’s required to take the wonder pooch for a walk. Buddy exorcised his post-Remy anxiousness in a one-bag tour of the neighborhood.

My wife prepared a fabulous breakfast for all of us including my son’s childhood favorites. After breakfast and Keene Friend’s departure it was on to a galaxy far, far away. In preparation for the upcoming Star Wars release the ABFA has finally agreed to allow my son to repair the gaping hole in her pop culture education. She’d never seen any of the Star Wars movies and I just happened to have blu ray copies of all of them. We settled in to watch Episode 2 which was a fine way to assuage the demons of the day before and the abundance of adult beverages that were sacrificed in honor of Thanksgiving (day 2).

My Favorite Panamanian wandered into the room at some point and became engrossed in the story. She’s always looked askance at this most telling evidence of my rampant geekdom but the force overpowered her doubts and she was hooked. After the movie the ABFA and favorite son headed north for a Christmas market in Nashua while my wife was kidnapped by the next door Mafioso. They were last seen headed for a mall and emerged several hours later when I enticed my wife back with a promised diner date. We ended the night watching Episode 3, Revenge of the Sith, at her insistence, another doubter has fallen to the power of the force!

Yesterday, in addition to the aforementioned avoidance of blog writing responsibilities, saw the normal Sunday pre-work requirements, church, grocery, laundry, NFL Red Zone plus the added pleasure of Christmas tree purchase and set up.

My Favorite Panamanian Tree Hunting

We returned to our old Charlton haunt for the Christmas tree and it was kind of bittersweet if not infinitely cheaper because we effectively halved the height of our tree with the move to Worcester. Gone are the days of the soaring 14 foot Christmas trees that had to be secured to the wall after the whole, unfortunate falling on top of my wife episode. It seemed every step of the process was comparing how much easier it was to maneuver the small seven foot tree as compared to earlier years while at the same time missing the challenge and immensity the taller predecessors provided. Some things are weirdly hard to let go of. It’s remarkably easier to set up the smaller tree though and my wife banished me to Couch Potato Position/Red Zone for the actual decorating (this goes down as a win).

And It's Up

Lighted

And Almost Finished

The Patriots rampage through the NFL came to a halt last night and though they went down fighting I was left with a real bitter taste in my mouth. I’ve always thought it was lame to blame officials for a game’s outcome but last night definitely had me thinking a fix was in for the game. The Patriots were called for some critical nitpicking fouls while the Broncos were allowed to do pretty much anything they wanted, including launching themselves at Brady’s head with no repercussions. The biggest downer of the night though was losing the Gronk to a hit hat was eerily reminiscent of his season ending injury of a couple years ago. Buddy slunk downstairs and hid because of all the angry shouting I was doing late in the game.

Ouch!!!!!

Finally a college friend rightfully called me on the carpet for my last blog post in that I wasn’t effusive enough in my praise and glorifying the miracle that is the First Blog Reader. These photos clearly establish that I have been remiss in my failure to laud. Since this blog is aimed at her I think I can confidently state that when she reads this, in a couple decades, she’ll know just how special and earth shattering her first couple weeks of existence were. She continues to amaze and charm all who are fortunate enough to meet her. She divested herself of her umbilical cord remnant over the weekend which allowed some “belly-time” for the first time which brought her already impressive neck muscles into play. So far the only non-positive thing I can think of about my first grandchild is the incredibly distant location of same. She continues to rock!  

A Real Fox

Alright, That's Almost too Cute!

Call me Grandma!

Chillin

Post-bath Stare 

Yes, I Am!

Family Redux

My Son and Sister Yesterday

A late post today because I don’t want to let go of yesterday and after I finish writing this it will seem just that much further in the past. Who could imagine that Thursday’s excellent day of family fun could be improved on? Yesterday went a long way towards accomplishing that goal due to an incomparable sister and her commitment to the day after Thanksgiving gathering that has become her hallmark over the last decade. It started out as a chance to celebrate with my mother since I always spent the actual holiday with my father’s family. When my mother passed my sister remarked that the tradition would die but my kids would hear nothing of that.

Buddy Trying to Get Inside with his Tormentor at his Side

It’s always been so much fun to get together with my sister and her fabulous in laws that both my son and daughter insisted the tradition continue. Since my sister is incapable of refusing them anything we have continued and we’re all the richer. The Keene Friend has fallen victim to being included as a member of the family so he’s always dragged into the affair as well. After a morning spent with another group of friends and accompanying three females on a Christmas tree buying expedition (not for the faint of heart) he was ready for a few adult beverages.

My son and the ABFA showed up in Worcester shortly after Keene Friend for the trek down to the Ocean State. Buddy accompanied us, much to the amazed pleasure of his newest cousin Remy, who immediately took up his tormenting duties of the exasperated wonder pooch. My sister outdid herself once again with a fabulous Thanksgiving spread. Keene Friend, my favorite son, and I assisted in the final prep as Buddy was consigned to the back yard with his affectionate cousin.

Son and ABFA - Party Time!

We were just about ready to serve when we noticed a severe lack of noise coming from the back yard which upon inspection revealed a total lack of canines. Buddy had staged a breakout! He burrowed under the fence and was joined by his young cousin for an unfettered trip around the greater Cranston area. The entire family deployed into the street trying to ascertain the missing dogs’ location. The only voice that seemed to have any effect was my Favorite Panamanian’s. The two dogs emerged from a few houses down and slunk back for some quality cage time.

Buddy Grabbing Some Rest While Remy is Held Back

While the dinner was fun the real highlight of the day was the evening party that always follows. I sat around the table conversing with the family while awaiting the arrival of the party guests. There’s a standing joke within my sister’s in-laws family who are justifiably known for their lack of punctuality. We started a contest on how late the first would arrive. The ABFA (who else) won when the first in-law showed up only 34 minutes after the scheduled start time.

Brother in Law - AKA Life of Party

The rest of the evening was spent catching up with these all too fun people gathered around the table where food and drinks just kept re-appearing. My brother in law showed up from work and the party really took off. There were a couple video calls with my daughter and granddaughter and you could tell how much they missed being a part of the day with us (okay that was mostly on my daughter’s part). My daughter reported a very fussy day by the little one which had both  her and the Wingman a little exhausted. Hopefully they’ll be with us next year and into the future. The pictures of my granddaughter were once again the first order of business for everyone and they confirmed her grandfather’s opinion of her excellence.

Californian Perfection

Tired Mom Yesterday

What do you Mean - "Fussy"?!

Per usual, I didn’t want the night to end but time has this frustrating inexorable tendency to pass. My wife gamely volunteered for the drive home with me in the semi-navigating spot. I stayed awake for the entire midnight ride home which is a first for these type trips. I can’t wait for next year.

Photos from Confidential Source of the Arcane Sister of my Brother in Law

Here Seen with My favorite Panamanian Inspecting my Granddaughter

Well That Was Fun

There’s going to be a lot of pictures today because there is no way on God’s green earth that I can adequately describe how much fun I had yesterday with my father’s family for our annual Thanksgiving Day gathering. I was feeling a little bit down because neither of my kids, not to mention the ABFA or Wingman, would be joining us. That yawning hole of longing was immediately filled when the door opened and I was swarmed by the inevitable company of cousins. Just something special about cousins.

Me With one of the Breakout Stars of the Pub Crawl

Sister and Brother in Law With us At Last

Wife with Favorite Cousin - Aieee Chihuahua

Our Table - One of Four

Just the medicine, as well, for vanquishing any thoughts that the day would be anything but sublime. I don’t see most of these people except for this one day a year and there is no awkwardness whatsoever – guess that’s called family.

The Young'uns Table

The Slightly Less Young

I was still dealing with an immense blow to my sense of the world as well. My elder sister was joining us for the first time in many years and I left a message Wednesday night reminding her of the time to be here for the journey north. For the very first time in recorded history was my time challenged sister not only on time she was more than twenty minutes early. I’m still in awe. Of course I received some return fire last night when she called to remind me what time I am expected at her abode today.

The Best Looking Table

 

Sister and Bro in LAw

There’s a rhythm to Thanksgiving and being around my cousins was exactly what was needed. The time flies at exponential speeds during the gathering. This year was special because there was serial viewing of all the pictures of the newest addition to the family, my granddaughter, as well as blow by blow accounts of the recently concluded birthday pub crawl. As we sat down for dinner the head cousin made the usual announcements and then introduced my granddaughter (in absentia of course) and the announcement of her name, with its family pride unmistakable, the entire room cheered.

The Star of the Announcement Yesterday

Decked Out for her First Turkey Day

This family gathering has been going on since well before my birth, dating back to my father’s family of incredible brothers and sisters. They’re all gone (except for a couple in laws) now but 15 out of the surviving 19 cousins were present yesterday, testimony to the enduring love those brothers and sisters instilled in the subsequent generation. Cousins traveled from Oregon, Colorado, Minnesota, West Virginia, as well as the more modest efforts of the New Englanders to the location for the last decade or so – Hancock, New Hampshire. It was so special.

Scenes from Football Game

Just a Flesh Wound

One More Year

There was the obligatory family football game with the usual tenuous grasp of football rules. It was too much fun. The group decided the two oldest participants would be captains and choose teams. I was looking around until I realized I was one of them, dammit. The game was the usual chaos with everybody laughing almost non-stop. I really am getting too old to play on the uneven field but I’m too stubborn to abandon it, despite repeated reminders from my knee. It’s something I don’t want to let go of. Kind of the same feeling I have when I’m forced by the march of the clock to leave this event each year. I’m already looking forward to next year.

California Thanksgiving

Two Beautiful Young Ladies

Wingman Explaining the Importance of Thanksgiving Football

Favorite Son with ABFA and Her Fantastic Family

We received reports from both children. My granddaughter held court for her first Thanksgiving, remaining awake and in wonder at all this weird solid food people around her were shoveling into their mouths. She did have the benefit (medicinal I’m certain) of at least one grandparent in attendance. My son was enjoying the day with the incomparable family of the ABFA but we get him back today. I’ve included some other photos from my far flung family because it looks like everybody had a good day and yesterday is about family more than anything else and I’m giving thanks that I’ve got the one I do.

My Other Sister and Her Newest Granddaughter & Namesake -
Glad She had Her Immediate Family Around Her Yesterday

Meanwhile - In Rhode Island Namesake Nephew Was Celebrating
The Force is Strong in this One

Turkey Day

I hope all reading this have the chance to spend time with family today, nothing else really matters. We’ll be heading up north shortly to devote time with a most excellent gathering of cousins from my father’s family. It is exactly the medicine required since this is the first Thanksgiving in more than thirty years that we won’t see at least one of our children. I didn’t think it would hurt as much as it does.

Luckily my cousins are exactly what the doctor ordered when it comes to dealing with this form of separation. They’re all progeny of my father’s remarkable collection of brothers and sisters, something I consider one of the true blessings of my life. The accompanying photos also helped.

Two Beautiful Young Ladies!

Yesterday was remarkably underemployed. I got home early from work to find Buddy abandoned by the Favorite Panamanian. She was responding to the siren call of the nearby TJ Maxx which had sensed her return from California. She returned in time to be totally impressed with my new found acumen for online ordering of pizza. A call from my son assuaged, for a bit, the separation; especially since he’s spending the days with the fantastic family of the ABFA.

Modeling One of her Grammy's Purchase's

Obviously - No One!

Meeting Some of her Parents' Friends for First Time

Being a Fashion Model is Exhausting

I did finish off the penultimate Matthew Scudder novel, All the Flowers are Dying, by the incomparable Lawrence Block. One of the things I really enjoy about Scudder is that Block ages him in each novel. He’s not trapped at the same age while the world passes around him as so many literary heroes are. That being said Matt’s getting pretty long in the tooth as he reaches his mid-sixties and still pulling the odd gum shoe mission. He squares off against the incredibly capable monster from the preceding novel who’s returned to New York to exact his revenge on Scudder and his wife for their roles in thwarting his earlier attempted murders.

Block once again employs the technique of telling the story from the serial killer’s side again. This provided an interesting insight and definitely helped build the tension but that meant less time spent with Scudder which wasn’t worth the sacrifice. Spending my time reading these novels meant walking in Scudder’s shoes which was what made them so enjoyable. Matt heads off for a well-earned rest as I’m somehow now reading the last of the series. Here are some of Block’s words from All the Flowers are Dying as Scudder explains to his wife why she needs to stay safe while the killer is stalking them:

“If I lost you,” I said, “I really wouldn’t want to go on.” “Don’t say that.” “I’m not saying I’d kill myself. I just wouldn’t want to live anymore. You reach a certain age and it can get pretty grim, you spend all your time going to other people’s funerals and waiting around for your own. Your body and your mind both start giving up ground, and the best you can hope for is that they both quit on you at the same time. I can handle all that if I’ve got you keeping me company, but without you, well, I don’t know that there’d be much point. So I realize it’s a pain in the ass staying inside twenty-four hours a day, but do it anyway, okay? Humor me.”