Return Sadness

My Favorite Panamanian and I have returned to the 508 area code. I’ve never noticed just how quiet our house is. Compared to the serial cacophony associated with my eldest granddaughter, this is understandable. That noise level was certainly missed as were the nightly hangouts with my daughter and Wingman. We wrapped up our trip in New Jersey over the weekend with Wingman slow walking us through some of the technological advances our new car offers but we were not tech savvy enough to take advantage of. We can now charge our phones by simply laying them down in the center console! Both of my children and their spouse serve as our inhouse IT department, sorely needed, a generational thing.

FBR Covering my Ears So I Don't
Fall Asleep while She Sings a Lullaby

My daughter and I were called into action in the puzzle department prior to leaving. The FBR directed that only she could work on a 500 piece puzzle and, as is her wont, she quickly assembled it only to find I had brought my hometown affliction with me. She was missing one piece! She was understandably upset especially when the adults were laughing at my assumed culpability. The puzzle was part of a package of 8 different puzzles and we assumed the missing piece had ended up in another puzzle’s bag. The daughter and I assembled the other seven puzzles under the only to find the missing piece still elusive. My theory at this point is that the cat ate it and recommended they check the litter box. This was, again, distressful for the FBR to hear as she once again wondered at adult sanity.

Daughter and I Trying to Find the Missing Piece

Much Like her Mother FBR Hates to Sleep
This Was Position She Ended up in One Night

While we were doing this my wife was creating a going away bake for our hosts. She baked up a double batch of peanut butter blossom cookies. Along with brownies, marble cake, and whoopie pies these Christmas cookies are the bane of my keto diet as I am completely unable to resist them. The FBR was very concerned I was going to eat all of them Saturday night while she slept. Her abuela promised strict security measures in place to prevent that.

Wife with her Creations

After Strict Inventory Control
My Role was to Place the Kisses

FBR Did her Part
Licking the Mixer

Departing on Sunday was difficult and not only because my wife was one of the people I had to get into the car in a timely manner – not a task for the faint of heart. The FBR didn’t want to let us go and asked repeatedly if we were going to miss her; talk about the ability of youngsters to understate! We eventually hit the road, about two hours after I wanted to, only to turn around as soon as we reached the interstate when my wife realized she had left her yoga mat and weights behind. We pulled back into my daughter’s house proclaiming the reports of our departure had been grossly overstated.

Yes, I really do Miss you!

Toughest Thing I've Done Lately

Umprompted, FBR Writing How Old She's Getting

We made great time on the trip home, arriving in a little less than three hours. I noticed that traffic was starting to get back to pre-covid levels. Connecticut tried its usual pranks to delay us but we outfoxed the Nutmeg state by taking the interstates instead of the usual parkway. I’m sure it will be prepared for that next time.

FBR Acquired her Mother's Phone
And Took These Pictures - Deskmates

Epic Grampa Pose

Breakfast Abuela

Silly Grampa

Still Silly

We arrived home to that very quiet house which brought the reality of granddaughter-less existence crashing down. After sorting through the accumulated mail and making a grocery store run we started to decompress. That was assisted when we realized it was the ABFA’s mom’s birthday and correctly guessed she was giving herself the best gift of all – a day spent with our other granddaughters, the BRS and BR3. We called to sing happy birthday (along with the requisite apology for my singing voice) and saw the BRS was in seventh heaven hanging with her best friend, my counterpart – the ABFA’s dad. It made us happy to see this bunch together and my Favorite Son was almost fully recovered from his hangover following Saturday’s fantasy football draft with his college buddies.

ABFA's Mom With BR3

And BRS

Today it’s back to pandemic routine. Part of the mail I picked up included the preliminary instructions for the two surgeries I’m facing in September, just because coming home wasn’t depressing enough. Apparently, ibuprofen is out of my immediate future. I was getting ready to leave for the pool this morning when we received a FaceTime call from the FBR. Part of our routine during the stay was to have her break into our room each morning to wake us up. My daughter said the FBR went into our vacated room, sat on the bed, and cried. We really enjoyed the call because my wife and I had just been reminiscing about how much we missed our FBR wake up calls from the past two weeks. The FBR, ever on point, also asked us if we had found the missing puzzle piece when we unpacked. I referred her back to the litter box.

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – granddaughter #3, 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; 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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn

Wind Down

My two-week sojourn in soul restoration therapy, courtesy of my daughter, Wingman, and the FBR comes to a close tomorrow. It is somewhat fitting that today is overcast and rainy as that kind of matches the feeling of impending separation. Of course, I have to follow the advice I always give to others when faced with similar circumstances – don’t let the melancholy of imminent separation ruin the time remaining together. That is so easy to do with this bunch.

FBR Sorting SIlverware
Loves Helping Abuela

We had another memorable First Friday last night with Wingman’s incomparable pizza and maybe a few adult beverages. This was followed by FBR movie night where we saw the animated Tarzan movie. My Favorite Panamanian campaigned for me to demonstrate my now retired Tarzan yell but cooler heads prevailed. I didn’t want SWAT descending on the house. The FBR and I conducted an experiment on who could eat popcorn faster – I think I’m still the champ.

Wasn't Hard Work - At All!

I Remain a Fashion Explosion

Card Shark

Playing With Same Barbies Her Mother Did Thirty Years Ago

Going to Miss Her, So Much

The FBR has also mastered the slinky down the stairs project. This meant we only had to do it 748 times over the past two days. I can deny her literally nothing. I think Pee Wee the cat was a little stressed with the constant sound of the slinkley descending the stairs repeatedly. The FBR decided “slinky” was too mundane a name and re-christened it – slinkley. I’m going to really miss our early morning wakeup calls from the FBR and the almost constant heart tugging chatter. I have, however, been banned from assisting her with puzzles for the time being. I guess she didn’t like the competition.

Slinkley Descending

BRS HAppily Back in School

And Rocking a New Hairdoo Each Day

During last night’s First Friday family Facetime call the BRS was able to coo in pleasure when seeing Pee Wee the cat which the FBR always manages to carry off for her cousin. The BRS was coming off her triumphant return to pre-school and the ABFA reported the BRS was a complete success although her mom missed her more than anticipated. I don’t think this officially qualifies as a case of Stockholm Syndrome but its close after the 5 months locked up together in Pandemia. I can’t wait to see this other patch of granddaughters next week, hopefully.

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – granddaughter #3, 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; 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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn

Bike Carrying

We’re almost at the end of our visit to New Jersey with the FBR and her parental units. It has been everything and more than we could have hoped for. The soul truly feels replenished, something only extended time with close family is capable of. As you can see from the attached photo the FBR still enjoys decorating her grampa. She crowned me king of the couch for a game that involved throwing a clay rainbow at a slinky posed on top of a Lego box. I’m not exactly sure of the rules but just went with the flow. She has an amazing imagination which has to flow from wife’s or Wingman’s side of the family.

Couch King and my Scepter

My favorite Panamanian decided what this visit needed was an early morning walk with the FBR and her grandparents around the neighborhood. I’m not acquainted with her exact reasoning for this but was smart enough to keep my mouth shut (38 years of marriage and counting) although I did point out, several times, that she’d been complaining about her knee yesterday. The FBR wanted to show us her expertise on a balance bike which she has nearly outgrown. Don’t tell my wife, but I really enjoyed the walk, seeing the early morning denizens of my daughter’s New Jersey neighborhood and other wildlife. The FBR decided she’d had enough of the bike about halfway through the walk and I spent the rest of the experience carrying it. When we returned home, I told Wingman about this and he said the FBR had gamed me. She’d tried this with him in the past and was told she had to wheel the bike herself. Grandparents have different rules, of course, which the FBR is more than keyed into.

Stopping for a Photo Op This Morning
Unfortunately too Near a Dog Mess

Back on the Road

I finally got around to changing my employment status on Facebook to list my new job as Area Vice President and received a number of comments, brokering on incredulity. I thought I’d been up front about the news but apparently number of friends and family were caught off guard thinking I had fully retired. I had every intention of retiring just a few weeks ago but at the last minute my boss offered me his job, at least part of it. I end up supervising the other GMs that were my peers up until my semi-retirement. I’m still home, at least I will be next week, enough to concern my wife. This will work out well for September when various doctors start carving on me.  

Dazzling Abuela with her Moves

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – granddaughter #3, 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; 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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn

Cake Monsters

My Favorite Panamanian finally got the hint the FBR and I had been dropping for a couple days and made the cake I talked about in the last post. The FBR claims she made the cake but beyond the intense licking of the spatula I think full credit rests with my wife. The FBR and I had taken a cake mix down form storage and left it conspicuously apparent in areas my wife was known to traffic. Eventually she got the hint and the resident cake monsters (FBR and myself) were served. She did make one tactical error though in allowing the FBR to apply the sugary sprinkles. Wingman noticed what was going on in time to save the cake from collapsing under the weight of the sprinkle coating.

Sprinkle Laden Cake

The BRS was a complete success at her first day back at day care/preschool as these pictures will attest. After no histrionics whatever on day 1 she decided her mother had had it easy enough and pitched some histrionics yesterday during drop off. By the time we caught up with them last night she was fully recovered and lecturing her dad on a number of subjects. During our nightly call, the FBR will assume control of the iPad and ask her cousin if she wants to see something. The BRS’ answer is always yes and they usually end up admiring Pee Wee the cat. BR3 looks on with bemused understanding for her very busy sister and cousin.

Speaking of Pee Wee; our long-standing duel appears to be over. I am sharing my daughter’s attic home office with her during our stay. Pee Wee has apparently accepted my daughter’s welcome of me into their heretofore sacrosanct location. In a completely unprecedented move the cat climbed into my lap yesterday and stayed there for nearly twenty minutes while my daughter looked on in open mouthed astonishment. Pee Wee used to run screaming from any room I entered.

Former Antagonists Now Working Together

Yes, I was a Little Nervous

Each evening during our stay we inevitably end up in the living room watching either a movie or just chatting with my daughter and Wingman. Over the past few nights we’re binge watching the last two seasons of The Office. These were the seasons after Steve Carrell left and I’d never seen them. I was surprised at how funny the show remained. It’s the perfect show to watch with others because laughter can be contagious and oh so welcome during these times.

Now They're Making Chocolate Chip Cookies

I may Have to Up my Exercise Game

My wife and the FBR have also decided to combine their talents in the daily card game. The game is five crowns and the FBR has inherited as well as been coached by the ultimate games-man, Wingman. She regularly trounces me the game and I'm thinking my wife  wanted to latch on to her success. They are too funny to watch together as the four year old card shark continues to school her grampa.

C'Mon Abuela - It Isn't that Hard

Another Winning Hand

Pee Wee Also Joined the FBR and My Daily Puzzle Making

At Least One of Us was Happy

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                            

BR3 – granddaughter #3, 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; 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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn

Mouth of Babes

Today marks a big day in the life of the BRS and a huge day in the life of her parents. The BRS returned to day care/pre-school today for the first time since most were closed at the beginning of the Pandemic. The BRS was left off without any tears and the ABFA was quick to point out that included the parental units as well. We’ll get a full report on her return tonight but having seen how frustrating it can be for youngsters to be away from friends for so long I’m sure she’ll be very happy. The ABFA also gets a huge break for not having to squire two of my granddaughters around the house for the entire day.

First Day Back!

And Very Happy About It!

Meanwhile Solo Daytime Hangs with the ABFA for this Girl

She Seems Happy About it

There have been some really funny moments down here in New Jersey with the ever quotable FBR. We were sitting around the table this morning, working on a puzzle (duh - a given) while my Favorite Panamanian was nearby in the kitchen listening to her daily papal mass. My wife was singing some of the hymns when the FBR looked over at me very seriously and said, “Abuela is kind of a church girl, isn’t she?”. When I could breathe again from laughing at the vast understatement of my precocious granddaughter, I confirmed her grandmother was indeed.

In the Pool With Mom

As we continued to work on the puzzle the FBR continued her incisive observations on her abuela. When church services were over my wife started making lunch preparations. The FBR leaned over to me and said, “Abuela is kind of a noisy person, isn’t she?”. Once again, once I could breathe again after snorting the contents of my water bottle up through my nose, I told the FBR she had no idea of the decibel level living with her abuela entailed. My wife and I both couldn’t stop laughing when I reported the FBR’s astute observations.

Very Happy Pair

Yesterday was the last day of my daughter’s vacation and she was bound and determined to spend some time in the pool with the FBR. I could tell from the reaction of Wingman and the FBR to that announcement that this was a momentous event. My daughter comes from the same school on water temps as her mother, my wife. If the water is not bath tub warm she isn’t going near it. After seeing the FBR’s earlier histrionics relative to cold pool water she bravely entered the water without comment although my wife and I could tell it was a complete exercise in self-control for her not to leap out immediately. We could also tell how much the FBR cherished having he mom in the pool to play with.

I Was Told in No Uncertain Terms
The FBR was Responsible for Batter Licking

I was in the midst of providing my wife her own kind of agility drill. We were seated in the backyard outside the pool when somehow her glass of cranberry juice spilled, all over her. Since I was in the vicinity, blame was immediately assigned. Later, after getting a refill for her glass I reached over to hold her hand and shortly thereafter felt a very cold splash on my arm. I opened my eyes to find the new glass of cranberry juice was once again spilled, allover her. It became a joke at this point and I don’t need to tell you who the butt of said joke was. Finally this morning my wife was making a cake in the kitchen (good place to do so) and I was doing everything I could to help (I did say she was making a cake, didn’t I?). In the midst of my well-meaning assistance I just happened to spill her latest glass of cranberry juice. At least this time she was far enough away to avoid it, so, progress.

She Did Prove to be an Expert

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                            

BR3 – granddaughter #3, 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; 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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn