This is the week of granddaughters when I get to hug all three of them inside of three days, not together, but close enough. The big event, however, and, I hasten to add, big enough to motivate me to submerge myself once again in Connecticut travel, was the birthday of my first born. We loaded up the car and departed yesterday morning. We left only thirty minutes later than I hoped which is not bad considering I had two Panamanian ladies to get into the car. Connecticut was every bit as tiresome as it usually is and this time they added in sporadic but no less spectacular thunderstorms to assist in traffic congestion.
We
still made fairly good time and arrived at my Favorite Daughter’s New Jersey
home in mid-afternoon in plenty of time for my two business zoom meetings. Then
it was off to pick up the FBR from her kindergarten. She spotted us from across
the parking lot and broke into a dead run to deliver one of her patented FBR
hugs. We then convoyed over to Wingman’s restaurant to have a birthday celebration
dinner. The FBR is well known at this establishment which was obvious as people,
up to and including the owner, came by to pay homage. 
Birthday Dinner Last Night
Birthday Girl with her Mom and Grandmom 
And Wingmom 
FBR Hugs
We
sat in the tent outside, erected for pandemic restrictions but which still
offered a great place to enjoy the diner and especially the company. The owner
sent over a collection of appetizers on the house. Wingman has surreptitiously delivered
an ice cream cake earlier in the day. My daughter loves these and was a little disillusioned
when she received an earlier report that none were available. It was a sweet surprise
and added a fitting ending to our great time out celebrating this very special
lady.
With her Bisabuela
Wingman's End of Table 
4 Generations
A
return to the house brought the gift opening phase of the celebration where the
FBR selflessly offered to help her mother open her gifts. She then pointedly looked
at her grandparents, knowing we never arrive without something in tow for her.
She zoomed through the clothes, barely glancing at them until she got to the toys
which my Favorite Panamanian had unsuccessfully tried hiding under the coffee
table in order to get a reaction to the clothes. The FBR sniffed them out however
and kept glancing under the table as yet another outfit came out of the clothes
gift bag. My wife eventually admitted defeat and the FBR was soon cavorting with
a paw patrol figure in a big green robotic suit.
Surprise Ice Cream Cake
Back Home to Open Gifts
It
was also a day to reflect back on that day several decades ago that my daughter
arrived on the scene. I consider it the longest day of my life but I’m sure it
pales in comparison to my wife’s day as she as the one enduring twenty hours of
labor before our daughter appeared. I marvel at the vibrant woman and mother
that little being has grown into. As is the case with my son, I could not
possibly be more proud of her. For those of you who accuse me being a Cro-Magnon
(you know who you are) I will have you know I raised an ardent feminist who I
love to the depths of whatever heart I do possess, Happy Birthday Heart! 
With FBR Assistance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile Back Home The latest Development out Front
They Cut up the Newly Installed curb to raise the storm drain backing
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; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course; 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
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