Yesterday was a weird
day emotionally during this Christmas prep season. I knew going into this
special time of year that this would be different. I mean, it is 2020 after
all. I’ve had dreams all along of having all three granddaughters in the house
on Christmas morning and looked forward to that beloved chaos which 2020 has
cheated me out of so far. That dream received its expected death knell yesterday.
I’m elated that my daughter, Wingman, and a very excited FBR will be able to
come up for the holiday. However, this means we’ll have to delay Christmas with
my Favorite Son and his family.
Since he still goes
out and about because of his work it wouldn’t be prudent to combine these two
far flung groups during this pandemic surge. My Favorite Panamanian and I will isolate
here in home for two weeks, starting Wednesday night to insure we’re safely
quarantined ahead of their visit. They will be taking similar measures down in
New Jersey. I’m very excited that this won’t be another iteration of our lonely
Thanksgiving as the FBR can truly fill up a house. At the same time, I’m a
little melancholy for the dashed dream of multiple granddaughters and a missing
son to help with the turkey. Christmas 2021 will truly rock.
It’s kind of sad but
also a comment on our times that this isolation won’t be a huge change in our routines
because we’ve been staying particularly close to home. I’ll be going out over the
next couple days to lay in supplies and tomorrow will be my last pre-Christmas
visit to the pool (which I will miss) but these are excruciatingly small
sacrifices for the joy of having at least one of my kids in the house for Christmas.
We’ll journey up to
New Hampshire after they depart for a second Christmas with my son’s family, so
this is actually a win on that level – multiple Christmases! 2020 must be hearing
its demise around the corner because it keeps throwing haymakers at us, weather
wise. This morning I awoke to something called “ice fog” which apparently coats
all road surfaces in, you guessed it, ice. I walked out of the garage and stopped
at the top of the driveway only to find myself sliding down towards the street.
I could hear several sirens down in Worcester as the multiple accidents this
created were dealt with. Of course, this was the one day of the week my Favorite
Panamanian had to venture forth. A visit to the hair dresser was absolutely
needed ahead of our quarantine (her words, not mine). I skated back up to the garage
to apply some salt and by the time she left most of the roads had also been treated.
There were no sirens involved.
So, we have a plan
for Christmas which I believe is in line with all governmental requirements
since we’ll be quarantining during the time before and after Christmas. I’m
thinking I just received the best gift the holidays could have delivered – time
with my daughter and her family whom I haven’t seen in person since our trip to
Jersey back in August. This is way too long a time; a sentiment shared by my
eldest granddaughter as well.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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; Kindergarten
Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; 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; 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
No comments:
Post a Comment