Universe Balanced

Yep, A Little Happy

The fact that I’m writing today tells you the house passed the initial inspection by the returning Favorite Panamanian. I realize now, if I hadn’t before, that I’m a really “married” old guy because it felt so right to have her back at my side. The car drive from the airport was decidedly livelier than anything else I’ve experienced over the past three months as she breathlessly caught me up on everything that had passed during our separation. I played a trick on her when I met her at the airport. I usually show up with a dozen roses and when she saw I didn’t have any she asked why not. I told her that I was so busy at work that I forgot. When she got to the car she found the roses waiting for her which had the predictable effect.

The Rose Surprise

The Entire Haul

Based on the state of the house I went with three dozen roses, the other two dozen placed in strategic spots at home. Since she hadn’t eaten for a while we stopped off at a Worcester restaurant for a late dinner. We were just walking into the restaurant when she received a FaceTime call from our granddaughter – again – a predictable reaction to that event. It was a very nice welcome home.

Sangria and Some Dinner

Surprise Dessert

Buddy was unsurprisingly apoplectic with her arrival although he did seem more interested in the rawhide bone – a Wednesday tradition. She was very subtle about conducting the inspection but there was no doubt in my mind what was happening. She was very pleased with the kitchen/bathrooms but – critical to my continued existence – all the house plants were still alive!

Her Last Surprise

Here’s a tip from an old married guy for those of you still embarking on the process. Find a way to make your spouse feel special, even after that initial period of romantic bliss. A few weeks ago my mother in law mentioned during a phone conversation how much my wife likes Spanish poetry. We’ve been married for over thirty four years and this was news to me. I shouldn’t be surprised because she’s a hopeless romantic on all levels. When she returned home last night she found a book of romantic poetry in Spanish waiting for her. Needless to say I was a hero and she didn’t even notice I failed to dust the furniture. The only downside is that I have to recite one of the poems from the book to her each night – everything has a price.

We ended the night back in our usual position on the couch laughing together at Modern Family while Buddy disintegrated the bone in front of us. These separations have become together as we get older. Despite the hectic past few days I couldn’t be happier to have her and the attendant supervision back at my side, universe balanced, indeed.

Impending Deadline

I’ve become kind of a joke around work this week. Nearly everybody that comes by the office asks me how the house cleaning is going. I may have been a little too open about the challenge of returning my abode to wifely standards of cleanliness. I’m actually in fairly good shape. I still have to lower all the toilet seats to meet female expectations; that might be the hardest upcoming habit to break.

I leave shortly to pick up a couple dozen roses. I’ve found the amount of disgust I encounter on these now annual reunions has an inverse relationship with the amount of roses I buy; sinking swimmer and all that. I did find it much easier to clean the smaller house this year although the Wonder Pooch contributed yesterday by having a pre-lunch gastro-intestinal incident in the basement. After some minor adjustments at lunch today I’ll have to pronounce the house ready (or not) since I pick up my Favorite Panamanian at six thirty tonight (commence happy dancing – at least until she sees the house).

I did get a chance to talk with this vision of loveliness last night who revisited some of the techniques her own mother used on us  at her age. When I remarked that she looked a little tired my daughter revealed that she was operating on only two hours of sleep from the prior night. This was a new development since she’d been doing good sleeping through the night. I could only smile because her mother – my daughter – as a baby use to fight sleep like it was her worst enemy. Justice comes in all shapes and sizes. 

Imminence

Okay, one day out from the return of my Favorite Panamanian. Guess what I was doing last night? I wasn’t patronizing the local movie theater or counseling Buddy on his food addiction. I was cleaning bathrooms, an important step in maintaining marital bliss. I am now a huge fan of Scrubbing Bubbles although I was the one doing most of the scrubbing. I’m not going to show any pictures because that would be kind of creepy but the bathtub that Buddy scandalized on Sunday is now a gleaming white. I was actually a little impressed with myself afterwards. Since I shower at the Y each morning after swimming it should maintain its appearance through the Queen of Cleanliness’ arrival.

My wife paid a visit to the architects who designed and are supervising the construction of our condo down in Panama. As with most people, they were impressed with her and sent her a collection of artist renderings of what the interior of our condo is supposed to look like when it’s completed next year. I think I could get used to a place like this, especially since it’s located at my favorite beach, ever.

Living Room

Master Bedroom

Kitchen

Master Bath

In all too far off California my daughter unveiled a new coif that approaches dazzling. I think all new mothers reach a point where they need a shot of glamor back in their life. The First Blog Reader seems to be contemplating a career in gymnastics, ably assisted by her/my Wingman.

The New Doo

Gymnastics with Wingman

I continued my march through rural Wyoming ably assisted by game warden Joe Pickett yesterday when I finished off Blood Trail by C.J. Box. Box has Joe back in his usual setting which means he’s thrust into a situation fraught with political overtones where his straightforward honesty is bound to create chaos. A skilled assassin is gunning down big game hunters which are the economic life blood of the area. Joe is the first to sense it’s more than it seems and breaks his good friend Nate out of jail to run down the assassin. A truly great read. Here are some of Box’s words from Blood Trail as Joe’s wife (an important part of these books) explains to Joe why he’s clueless at times:

“”Joe, you can be so dense sometimes,” she said, shaking her head, “can’t you see what’s going on?”

“No, obviously.”

“Those two are deeply in love.”

“That I can see.”

“It’s not just that,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Nate wants to tell you something but Alisha isn’t sure she wants him to. She thinks he’d be breaking a confidence with her, and he’s asking her permission to do that. Alisha can’t decide if Nate’s relationship with you is more important than his relationship with her.”

Joe was flummoxed. “How can you possibly figure that out? Is that why she’s so angry with me? And what relationship are you talking about with me? Sheesh.”

She shrugged. “Trust me on this.”

“How can I look at them and not see any of that?” Joe asked. “How is that possible?” 

“This is why you need me.” She said, smiling. “You can be as thick as a brick sometimes.””

Well, All Right

With My Sister and This Year's Bunny

My weekend of serial Easter partying culminated in a sunny afternoon spent with my sister and her fabulous in laws down in Rhode Island. My brother in law placed himself in a quarantine bubble as he fought off the vestiges of a lingering cold bequeathed to him by his wife. I informed him that was completely unacceptable since his designated part in each of these gatherings is to be the life of the party.

The Table

Another View - Sickly Bro In Law Bathed in Sunlight

The day was nice enough that the dogs remained outside so the one dog crime wave known as Remy couldn’t impact the proceedings. He had a lot of fun though chasing my namesake nephew and his dirt bike around the back yard. I think the saintly Miss Louise would be very pleased to see that her children continue the Easter tradition that used to take place at her house. There were the obligatory Easter baskets and my namesake nephew’s girlfriend’s young son the recipient of some well received plunder.

The Little Guy With his Loot

Our Superb Hostess/Elder Sister

My sister maintained another Easter tradition when she insured I had a chocolate Easter bunny. She took over that responsibility when my mother passed. An Easter hasn’t passed in the last 55 years, at least, that one of those two ladies hasn’t “forced” me to accept a tasty bunny. My favorite time at these gatherings is after the meal when everyone continues to sit around the dining room table and laugh together. The younger generation are now full participants and its fun to watch them confronting life with such courage and humor. I guess this must be one of the long sought after benefits of getting older – seeing the next generation flower. It also helped me ratchet back the missing of my own children – a tad.

Buddy Bemoaning his Fate

Buddy had a less than pleasing Easter himself since it involved a bath. I’d hoped to use the garden hose but it was still too cold. The bathroom tub was scheduled for intensive cleaning anyway in anticipation of the wife’s return. The only challenge was getting the still wet dog down two flights of stairs without the obligatory shaking with the attendant spreading fur and water throughout the house I’m desperately trying to raise to my wife’s lofty standards.

Nothing a Half Bottle of Clorox Won't Solve

Easter Out West

I did hear from the California delegation and was able to see my granddaughter enjoying her first Easter. She still doesn’t fit into the dress my wife bought for her back in November but she’s getting closer. She’s taken to mimicking her father in facial gestures and noise making, I am completely charmed. This will be my daughter’s last Easter without an egg hunt for a few years.

Almost Fits!

My wife called me amidst a Panamanian luggage packing crisis. For some unknown reason (although I’m willing to bet it has to do with her proclivity for shopping) she’s run out of room in her assigned luggage to ferry her summer wardrobe home. She didn’t appreciate my advice which I personally thought was hilarious. We’ll probably have to make at least one more trip down to Panama this year for condo construction related reason so we can rescue the items she’ll be forced to leave behind. Two more days and she’s home! Intensive bathroom cleaning tonight!