Soul Restoration Activities

The Very Happy Granddaughter Conveyance Operation

I wrote on Friday that the perfect antidote for the very tough week at work was inbound to my location. I love it when I’m absolutely right about an intended consequence. That remedy, my “kids” and their families, was augmented by a surprise guest at the always medicinally infused First Friday celebrations. My former Most Excellent Boss made an appearance at First Friday and he hasn’t lost anything off his fastball when it comes to criticizing his bosses. It was a fun way to address the aforementioned tough work week.

Most Excellent Boss Returns to First Friday

The real medicine though showed up later when first my Favorite Son, the ABFA, and of course the BRS arrived for the weekend. They timed the trip to try to bridge the gap of the BRS sleep cycle. My wife and I donated our new master bedroom suite since earlier experiments with the BRS sleeping in the same room as her parents was declared a mitigated disaster. In future years we plan on having the BRS bunk with the FBR but I don’t think the world or the associated parents are ready for that yet.

Three Generations of Beauty
Daughter, Wife, & Mother in Law

And then Four Generations with the FBR

Somewhat later Friday night the New Jersey bunch: Favorite Daughter, Wingman and the FBR,  rolled into town with the FBR none the worse for wear from the long trip although the IPad had to be literally pried from her hands. Saturday dawned with both granddaughters fully rested and ready to reconnect. My Favorite Panamanian and I heard the patter of tiny feet above our heads from our temporary bedroom in the Man Cave. We came upstairs to find parents trying to referee the competing desires of two very strong willed young ladies.

BRS was in the House!

My wife was summarily ordered, by the FBR, to commence hojaldra cooking. It was fun breakfast with a lot of powdered sugar lacing the air. The BRS gave as good as she got in the hojaldra department. I reveled in the atmosphere of the entire family together again. I was placed in charge of granddaughter conveyance which meant I had to carry one wherever directed upon demand. I noticed whenever the BRS was in my arms the FBR was soon to demand to be picked up as well.

FBR with Soxfather

Saturday afternoon saw the gathering of a small group to welcome the alignment of stars that permitted everybody to be together for the first time since Christmas. Soxfather and Great Aunt arrived and the FBR was ecstatic that her newest conquest was available for ordering around. I’ve written before about the relationship Soxfather and Great Aunt had with my daughter and son. It’s so much fun to see the same antic laden relationship forming with the next generation.

Daughter BRS & ABFA

Son Grilling in Background

Happy Lady

My closest cousin also showed up on his way home from a concert. The cosmos has righted itself so we were able to drink beer together again. He had huge news as a long sought after half-brother has been located, courtesy of Ancestery.com. We went down to the Man Cave to send an email message to the newly acquired family member. We hope to get him down from his Canadian home sometime this year to meet his magical set of cousins.

Deckzilla Surfing Lessons

She's a Natural

Great Aunt in Background

Deckzilla proved to be a perfect place for the party as the threatening thunder storms once again spared the top of our hill. I cherished the time as so many of my favorite people in the world conversed and enjoyed each other’s company. Since adult beverages were involved there were the inevitable silly moments, such as me teaching the FBR how to surf on top of the cooler. Note to readers – I have no idea how to surf. My favorite son once again proved his mettle as an emerging grillmaster. There was too much food and nowhere near enough time to fully enjoy all the excellence in personality and character.

There was a moment that will go down in family lore for the foreseeable future. We were celebrating my son’s recent birthday which of course required birthday cake, or in this case, cakes. The only marble cakes available were in small sizes so, at Wingman’s astute suggestion, we bought two of them. My wife and I were escorting the cakes out onto Deckzilla winding through the crowd and trying to protect the candle flames. The BRS saw the procession approaching and slid her chair out in front of my wife. My wife, thinking it was just the chair gave it a quick kick to avoid tripping over it, never realizing the BRS was still holding onto it.

The Moment!
BRS Spinning Away from Abuela's Kick

There was an immediate shock to everyone seeing it, not the least of whom was my wife who was in peril of immediately dying from utter remorse. She’s one of those lioness types and would brook no harm whatsoever befalling her kids and certainly her granddaughters. That, more than anything else, made the moment so funny. That is of course once it was established the BRS was unscathed. Her other grandfather immediately leaped to pick her up but she didn’t even cry. The ABFA caught the whole thing on video and was in shock. I looked over when it happened and her eyes had white all around them. You can see my son’s reaction from the accompanying screenshot. I grabbed my wife’s cake so she could embrace the BRS. This led to a near second catastrophe as the cake started sliding off the plate. Despite the number of Coors Lites I had already sent downrange I executed a pirouette to save the cake which impressed an appreciate Keene Friend to no end.

My Son's Reaction

Of course I spent the rest of the party poking fun at my wife about the danger she represented to our grandchildren which did nothing to extend my own lifespan I’m sure. My friends and family started to worry about my health after a few of the more barbed comments. I’m very lucky she loves me as much as she does. The ABFA’s video of the incident captured the entire event and, with no hurt to the BRS, made for almost continual laughter throughout the rest of the party. My wife’s actions are now nearing legendary status from the ABFA’s and my daughter’s publication of it on social media. I tried to place it here but it’s too big a file. Like I said – a new family milestone to mark – my wife’s attempted assassination of the BRS.

Once the Dust Settled Bonecusher Was Deployed

Two Cakes Severed

Sunday should have been renamed as Sadday as it saw the departure of almost everybody. Before the partings though there was a memorable family breakfast out on Deckzilla where the BRS and FBR once again liberally laced the floor with liberal amounts of powdered sugar. It was a great way to mark the end of the reunion as first my daughter and Wingman headed south followed a couple hours later by the New Hampshire bunch. It was hard to be sad though because we retained the FBR in residence for the entire week. I challenge anyone to remain down after spending any amount of time with this dynamic three year old. Soul fully restored.

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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 3^rd 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