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| A Rare Peaceful FBR Moment |
Each time the FBR comes to visit my
wife and I agree that raising children is rightfully the bailiwick of people decidedly
younger than ourselves. We revel in the time we get to spend with her but it is
draining, even just sitting around watching her as she scrambles around in the
non-stop mode that his her default operational status. I think the draining
aspect is not being able to relax due to the vigilant oversight she engenders.
It’s a delightful weariness though that I wouldn’t trade for any amount of
money. Each day there is some special offhand comment or activity that further
cements her hold on my heart.
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| Swing Duty |
Last night was an acid test as she
woke up around 2:30am for some undeclared reason and was wide awake. I know
this because she decided a tactile inspection of my beard was required every
time I dozed off. Still, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. We tried out a different
playground the other day which again met her specifications although my right
arm is starting to get tired from swing pushing.
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| Pool Time Yesterday |
My wife took her to one of the Latin Mafia’s
homes yesterday so she could jump into the pool on a sweltering day. It’s
obvious the FBR has made progress since earlier this year in Panama and looks
ready to start active dog paddling. In the same vein a neighbor’s canine
wandered into the yard and the FBR was captivated. I know her parents are firmly
cat people but it’s also obvious the FBR inherited some of my dog loving genes.
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| Dog Lover |
After the pool they returned home just
ahead of some healthy thunderstorms. We had a real treat last evening as my favorite
cousin and his wife had been playing golf nearby and stopped by for dinner. In
what will go down as a landmark event, neither my cousin nor I had a beer when
we got together. This has rarely happened since we both turned eighteen oh so
many years ago. The same thing occurred this past weekend when we saw each
other in New Hampshire but we were at a funeral at the time so, excused. To my
credit I was ready with some beer and a determination to break my usual school
night alcohol prohibition but the cous is facing a medical exam that precluded beer
consumption, once again I have to declare, getting old can suck at times. His
wife mitigated our penance by cheerfully imbibing wine.
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| Great Dinner with Cousin Yesterday |
It was so great hanging out with them.
They are both retired now and have embraced the new phase of their life. My cousin
has taken up the game of golf with a vengeance and, always a good athlete, is
steadily improving. They were full of news about their family and the great circle
of close friends from their hometown that we’ve been lucky enough to hang out
with at times.
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| Cousins on Line |
One of the funniest times of the FBR
visit is the nightly call with the BRS. As soon as the FBR hears her cousin on
line she charges from whatever mischief she’s been contemplating to seize
control of the IPad. The BRS seems equally pleased to see her cousin on the
other end and they take turns making funny faces at each other. My son sent
along this video which shows the BRS may have been taking head banging lessons
from her Uncle Wingman.
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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; 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; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew
to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two
close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3rd musquetera
(musketeer); Riggins - also known as
the Grandpuppy, son's dog, surrogate grandchild while awaiting arrival of the
BRS; 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; 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; Deckzilla
Dude – senior citizen carpenter/contractor; 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
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