Delving

Train Whistle Reaction

I’ve done some further burrowing into my familial ancestry and it’s almost addictive. I can see why Ancestry.com is so successful. They provide some very easy tools to delve into the past and identify the names of my long lost antecedents. It also confirms the very white bread results of my DNA testing and the very, very deep roots my family has with both old and New England. So many of my family trees branch back to the great Puritan migration of the 1600s. It causes me to wonder what these devout pioneers would think of some of my antics. A thought best left to the mists of time.

One of the really cool things was tracing some of my mother’s ancestry back through her French Canadian father. They never knew each other but through the web site a whole new branch of my personal history was opened for me. I was even able to trace a number of the branches back to France itself. Interestingly a number of my English ancestors were involved in the Hundred Years War and one was a Baron who was placed in charge over a region of France where a number of my French ancestors derived from. They probably weren’t too fond of each other. Another of my English predecessors was the official portrait painter for Queen Elizabeth 1^st.  By far the most interesting strand though ends in royal blood and I’m not going to say anything about that until I show my sisters who I know will freak out.  Good stuff.

ABFA and BRS at Doctor's Office
Still Smiling

Switching from ancestors to descendants the BRS had to go to the doctors today because the day care folks thought she might have conjunctivitis. The ABFA brought her in and it turned out to be a case of a blocked tear duct instead which I guess is a better thing. She was pretty fussy last night when we talked until my Favorite Panamanian launched into her “Que Lindas Manitas Tengo Yo” song. The BRS immediately quieted down and paid rapt attention to her abuela. I clearly remember her singing the song to both of our kids when they were similarly unencumbered with age.

Off to the Zoo!

Since my daughter had a girls night out in NYC daddy-daughter time for the FBR extended into Thursday night. Wingman squired her through our nightly Facetime call which mostly consisted of demonstrating what a properly masticated grilled cheese sandwich looked like. We tried not to laugh as Wingman scolded her for chewing with her mouth open. They’re off to the zoo today with one of her playmates. Their reaction to the train blowing its whistle is priceless.

Finally, I got some semi-concerning health news this morning that I’ll have to discuss with Great Aunt soon. I don’t mean to be mysterious but I’m not sure its anything to worry about but I’m at an age where it pays to be hypertensive to anything classified as out of normal. I’ll know more after an appointment next Thursday and will share then. Luckily today marks the very First Friday of this Week which must be properly honored and adding to the celebration is the return from exile of my former most excellent boss.

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RECURRING CHARACTERS

BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law, formerly known both as MEF – Most Excellent Fiancé & MEG – Most Excellent Girlfriend; Wingman – my son in law; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt = my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school friend, also a “minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rdmusquetera (musketeer); Buddy – AKA the Wonder Pooch – family dog, a black lab – hates squirrels, died in 2017; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog, surrogate grandchild while awaiting arrivcal of the BRS; PanaGals – female relatives/friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latin friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Excellent Boss – my former direct boss at work; Voices of Inappropriate Worth - members of public who come to every Worcester public meeting to complain, all are on public assistance along with demeanor issues