Neither Rain, Nor, etc. etc.

Yeah, that old postal saying was in play over the last couple days. Yesterday marked the 40^th birthday of our eldest child and there was no way my Favorite Panamanian and I were going to let it pass unrecognized; at least by ourselves. She’s already done a more than credible job of celebrating the milestone with an epic trip to Scandinavia with Wingman last month and this weekend the Curbside Girls are renting a party bus to re-haunt Brooklyn for a night. With my wife’s malady earlier in the week, we thought we would be unable to make the planned, surprise visit to New Jersey to deliver her birthday card. With the able assistance of Wingmom we accomplished the surprise when my Favorite Panamanian woke up yesterday feeling better. We didn’t let the FBR know about our plans because she is a certifiable operational security risk, much like her mother was at the same age.

With the Birthday Girl and FBR Yesterday

Shortly After our Surprise Arrival with Wingmom

We had to contend with my old nemesis, the Connecticut traffic system, to reach our objective though and it was more than ready for us yesterday. Apparently, you need to close down the interstate to one lane when you’re cutting trees down fifty meters off the road. I had a full half hour to contemplate that idiocy as we waited for the traffic to move again. We arrived upstairs to reach my daughter’s work from home office in the attic. She was confused by the noise in the middle of her work day and was totally surprised when we appeared bearing balloons and an ice cream cake (her favorite). I also surprised her with an appearance at her thirtieth birthday at a Connecticut (that state again) wedding of a friend of hers.

The Moment we Surprised the FBR at School Pickup

Birthday Hugs with Wingman Supplied Flowers

Wingman Joins via Video Call

Wingmom had arranged a special birthday dinner for my daughter, prepared by the chef at the restaurant Wingman works as a manager. We picked up the food after totally surprising our little security risk at her school pickup. My wife and I hid behind some bushes and jumped out as Wingmom escorted the FBR to the car. She was stunned and then launched into her signature hugs, which was worth the trip (even with Connecticut involved). We arrived back at my daughter’s house for the birthday meal, followed by the ice cream cake. The FBR pointedly reminded me that I had forgotten to bring Bonecrusher to cut the cake (the girl forgets nothing!). Wingman joined us via video call for the singing; he’s out on the wrong coast in the midst of another reunion tour.

Cake Time!

FBR Offered her "Expert" Assistance

FBR with her Mom and Both Grandmas

The FBR provided the post dinner entertainment demonstrating some of the dances she learned from her summer camp counselors. It certainly appears that she’s inherited the dancing gene from both her mother and abuela. The event culminated with a rendition of the macarena performed by the FBR and her abuela, proving despite the absolute necessity of some cases, certain songs never die. After the FBR went to bed, my daughter did some prep work for this weekend’s festivities. After that she and I watched an obscure French movie from the 1960s. It’s the only condition under which I would watch such a movie but I thoroughly enjoyed it because I was sitting next my fellow cinephile, the daughter. I loved it.

Post Dinner Dance Recital

Joined by her Mom

The Semi-Epic Macarena

We took our daughter out to breakfast after seeing FBR off to school at the bus stop. She was campaigning for us to stay for Friday movie night but the daughter had friends inbound for her weekend spectacular so our plan was to hit the road after breakfast. I have a bone to pick with the weather forecasters (again). I was monitoring the situation earlier in the week and there was general agreement that there would be some scattered showers today which would thicken later tonight into solid rain. Therefore, I didn’t expect to be confronted with Noah level rain as soon as we crossed the Hudson River. Connecticut sucks bad enough but you factor in near biblical rain and we’re talking a serious worst case scenario. Note to self, the Saw Mill Parkway is not for the faint of heart during a serious rain storm. Despite the apocalyptic weather we made it home safe, if a little frayed by the four hours of very attentive driving. Totally worth it though to see the look on my daughter’s face when we surprised her. She knows she is loved (not that it was in doubt or anything). Happy birthday Heart!!!!

Breakfast This Morning

Two movies fell in my A-Z watch, both keepers: Geostorm, Gerard Butler once again saving the world, this time from space; and Gettysburg, incredibly long but faithful to the epic battle, love it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                     

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; 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; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Cold Moves In

I’m not talking about the weather either. Although that is finally changing over to beloved autumn. My Favorite Panamanian started experiencing cold symptoms during our stay with my son’s family this past weekend and it has exploded into a full-fledged, sinus cold. To be clear, my wife does nothing halfway. While I was concerned it might be a reoccurrence of Covid, that is not the case. She’s been poleaxed by the cold which has kept her pretty much bedridden for the past few days. We had accepted an invitation to dinner from our long-time neighbors in Charlton, whom we hadn’t seen in years, for tonight, but had to cancel that as well. There was also a planned surprise for tomorrow that will have to be shelved. I’ve been trying to be as supportive as possible as she rangers her way through this latest malady. She exiled me form the master bedroom to protect me and I find I don’t like sleeping alone despite the ability to watch late night television without attendant complaint.

2 Old Guys at Our Old High School

It's given me to thoughts once again about mortality. It’s not a subject that I dwell on but colds used to be something you just handled and moved on. As senior citizens they have to be treated with a lot more care. I figure I’ve got fifteen good years left (the good Lord willing, of course). It’s why I spend so much time working out, which seems to help pushing back the inexorable march of time. I still remember something my mother told me as she aged, which was to never get “fat”. Still, fifteen years isn’t a long time. I’ve been out of the Army longer than that. Things you think about when the mortal coil wanders ever closer to its expiration date. When I’m not playing a fairly incompetent nurse around the house I’ve been searching for things to do. I knocked out another puzzle in the Man Cave while watching the wretched Red Sox season dwindle to thankfully few games. My Favorite Panamanian felt a little better yesterday and sent me to the movies for an unaccompanied date night.

Latest Man Cave Puzzle

Expendables 4 was such a disappointment. What were they thinking putting Megan Fox in charge of a group of grizzled mercenaries. A plunging neckline will only go so far, even for someone like me and I guarantee I’m one of the guys it was aimed at. Fox also wears what looked to be massive amounts of cosmetic makeup, even when going into battle. The first couple movies harvested the good will felt by rejuvenating the geriatric set of 80s action stars. Jason Statham is now pulling center stage for this one, despite the plunging necklines, and he’s his usual dependable action star self but the movie suffers from the lack of the earlier movies’ attitude. Even the twist ending was highly predictable, just not a very good movie.

Three movies fell in my A-Z watch, all keepers: Gemini Man, when one Will Smith is just not enough; The General’s Daughter, one of my favorite author’s books brought to life, well done; and The Gentlemen, absolutely great, hilarious, Guy Ritchie movie.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                     

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; 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; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Granddaughter Restorative Powers

My Favorite Panamanian and I were feeling a little bit lost in the weeks following the granddaughter summer residency program. There were no early morning wakeups followed by hojaldra chants and I’ve haven’t had to lock the bathroom door once since they left. Still, it’s tough following up the almost constant entrainment provided by this energetic bunch. While my high school classmates did an admirable job of distracting us last weekend, we were bereft for the just past weekend. This was, of course, easily solved with a Saturday trip up to the New Hampshire seacoast to hang out with my son’s family for a couple days.

One Very Happy Grandpa

The days were both pretty rainy so we were limited to indoor activities for the most part but this made the antics of the BRS and BR3 all the more lovable since I didn’t have to chase them down. There was some chasing involved, however, as I was ordered to play the part of the tickle monster for a large part of Saturday afternoon. They established the couch as a “safe zone” and I was charged with frightening them if they ever ventured off. They eventually drafted their abuela as “savior” as they know I cannot deny the Favorite Panamanian anything and she could quickly rescue them from the clutches of the monster.

The Artistes at Work

Masterpieces Created

BR3 Protecting her Ice Cream from her Abuela

BRS and ABFA at Ice Cream Place

We ended Saturday afternoon at the local ice cream emporium where the BRS pitched a bit of  a fit. She tried to commandeer BR3’s ice cream when she arrived at the table and did not like being rebuffed. She sought counsel from the ABFA at a nearby bench. After the kids went to bed, my son and I watched some very entertaining college football games, including the last second loss by Notre Dame to Ohio State. Neither of us were fans of either team but we swore we could hear Keene Friend 2 scream in disgust 100 miles away when the game ended.

"We Want Hojaldras!"

BR3 Gets her Hojaldra

ABFA and BRS at Restaraunt

BR3 Escapes Again

Very Fun Lunch

Sunday dawned with the obligatory hojaldras before the ABFA had to leave because she had a football game. She was playing in the game, not watching. She is further cementing her status as the absolute best family athlete, scoring a couple touchdowns in the game. She won but she says she felt bad for the other team. Women. We celebrated the win by taking my son’s family out to lunch. More correctly we took them out so the BRS and BR3 could repeatedly patronize the restaurant’s bathroom while the adults ate. It’s a good thing they are as charming as they are. I’ve never enjoyed losing a fantasy football matchup as much as I did yesterday. My team was playing my son’s but we watched the Patriots’ game together in his thoroughly awesome home theater. Riggins was in charge of popcorn cleanup requirements. I spent part of Sunday pushing one of the granddaughters around the cul-de-sac in front of their house while the other one chased us on a tricycle. They would switch off between each lap but I was never relieved so this qualified as a bona fide workout, which is good because an unacceptable amount of cookies were missing after the football game watching. Even the long drive home through Sunday traffic in the rain couldn’t diminish the restoration of morale by the time spent with the granddaughters and their fantastic parents.

Meanwhile in New Jersey the FBR Visited the Slime Museum

Didn't Know that was a Thing, Figured to be in New Jersey Though

One movie fell in my A-Z watch, a keeper and new addition to the library: The Flash – this year’s movie was a real treat, especially all the unbilled cameos, really liked it despite the critics and whatever the actor might have done off duty

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                     

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; 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; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Two in a Row

For those of you still astounded that I completed a day of working on a do-it-yourself project without any donation of blood or other body parts to the effort, prepare to be further amazed. I was back at my next-door neighbor’s deck again yesterday where I completed the installation of the lattice work and once again my Favorite Panamanian is completely mystified because I emerged without bodily injury. She had to shelf the fully prepared first aid kit she had taken out. The neighbor was properly appreciative and gifted me with a case of beer afterwards.

The Gang Last Night

With the Maintenance Manager

There was also another mini-mini-reunion as several of my former co-workers came over for a Deckzilla First Friday celebration. Once again it was great to see these old friends, while I still miss the people, I certainly don’t miss the work. Especially after getting the latest run down of the challenges they face. One of them nonchalantly mentioned that her kidneys are failing, adding to a litany of other serious ailments she’s faced and conquered over the past decade. She’s like the energizer bunny and an object lesson to not go thirty years between doctor visits. I was especially pleased to hang with my former maintenance manager who had also faced a series of health issues as well as he looked spry and healthy once again. Speaking of reunions I received a couple more pictures from the official photographer, included below.

The Completed Project

With Keene Friend at old High School

Keene Friend 2 and the CRC

With Cantankerous in the Auto Shop

Three movies fell in my A-Z watch, all keepers: Gamer, non-stop violence in a future world of gaming gone amok; Gangster Squad, so much better than I remembered; and Gardens of Stone, of course I’m keeping it, I’m in it!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                     

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; 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; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Robert Frosting

New England’s most famous poet (apologies to all those 19^th century guys and gals who bored the hell out of me in high school) once waxed eloquently on the importance of walls, stating they made good neighbors. I’ve always loved Robert Frost, more for stopping by the woods or the road not taken than Mending Walls, but I needed some appropriately literary intro to my latest adventures with my next-door neighbor that started today and that’s all I came up with. While I’m disappointed being neighbors isn’t what it used to be with everybody a lot more insular, I don’t think we’ll every get back to Ward Cleaver type neighborhoods. That being said, we’ve really connected with our uphill neighbors, an elderly couple, immigrants from Syria. My Favorite Panamanian semi-volunteered me to build them a retaining wall a couple years ago.

Neighbor Inspecting the Work we Did Today

They, since they have Deckzilla in their view all the time, decided to expand their own deck this past summer. In late August the neighbor came over and offered me $300 to install the chicken wire barrier and lattice work under the new deck as I had for Deckzilla to keep the rabbits out. I told him, in no uncertain terms, that I was insulted he offered to pay me and that a couple beers would suffice. We, however, had the granddaughters inbound at that time and when they left, it seemed to rain every day. This week has been dry so I wandered over there this morning and started work this afternoon. I’d forgotten how much fun (not) it was to crawl around amidst the spider webs and mud underneath the deck to staple in the chicken wire.

Our 7 Year old Teenager Last Night

I was more or less coated with dirt in short order, so much so the Favorite Panamanian made me disrobe in the garage before entering the abode. I got most of the chicken wire and a start on the lattice work done today and will finish it off tomorrow. In a major surprise, one my wife believes is worthy of reporting to the Vatican as evidence of celestial overwatch, I didn’t shed any blood or injure myself during the work. Surprised even myself with that. We finally connected with 2/3s of the granddaughters last night. BR3 was causing extreme supervision from my son as she careened around the house with a fresh bruise on chin. She’d fallen off a tricycle and then jumped off a wall at day care reinjuring the same impact point on her chin. While bruised she hadn’t slowed down at all as my son was forced to try and keep up with her during our call as she circled the house seeking out mischief. We didn’t get to speak with the ABFA or the BRS since they were at dance class. The FBR was maintain her almost teenage-like personae during our second call. She was alone with Wingmom as her mom was out with friends and Wingman had just started the latest tour with his band. She’s raising “nonchalant” to heights a seven-year-old should not be capable of, so much fun.

Date night this week had the Favorite Panamanian and I at the cinema, believe it or not. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 wasn't very good, although I loved the first movie. Nia Vardalos goes way too far in search of laughs as her crazy family heads back to Greece after the death of her father. I couldn’t keep track of all the different subplots and they were never woven together in any kind of coherent fashion. There were plot holes you could march a phalanx through and way, way too much Andrea Mitchell. The cute joke of the initial film has been worn to a nub and this just wasn’t that funny outside of a couple scenes. Pass on this, we should have.

Three movies fell in my A-Z watch, all keepers, as I begin the “Gs”: Galaxy Quest, still unbelievably funny, may be the best parody film ever made; Game Night, fabulous comedic cast with a great concept; and new addition to the library, Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 3; heart warming send off to the galaxy’s biggest reprobates.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                     

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; 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; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Apt Downpour

Yesterday’s weather was thoroughly appropriate to my mood after a weekend full of a little bit too much fun and attendant celebration. There was a steady rain Monday which cast a fitting pall on the day as morale took a nosedive after spending the weekend with the most excellent graduates of KHS 1973. I huddled in the Man Cave, not feeling sorry for myself, but allowing the feelings of the weekend percolate. There were so many small moments, maybe just a quick passing conversation with a half remembered high school acquaintance, that made the weekend so much fun and thoroughly memorable. I don’t think I’m the only one feeling this way either as I read some of the comments online. It’s weird that it took fifty years for some people to enjoy high school but it was certainly worth the wait as I want to go back to those days. The weekend days, God forbid high school itself. We have a where’s Waldo test for you. See if you can find me in the class photo from Saturday. Hint, I’m standing next to Keene Friend 1 and the Kindergarten Friend. Extra points for finding Cantankerous and the PCR.

Stalwart KHS 1973

The past week with my Favorite Panamanian and her vertigo has provided a preview into what may be waiting for us in the coming (hopefully distant) years. She’s only been able to drive on a couple days so I’ve been responsible for driving her everywhere and doing more around the house. The driving isn’t bad as I take my trusty kindle with me which allows me to read in the quiet car while awaiting her outside medical appointments and/or shopping. My Favorite Panamanian has bemoaned the new reality as she used to use these excursions to pursue her shopping urges and doesn’t feel right to ask that of me (yet). Here’s to hoping she feels better soon. I've restarted jigsaw puzzles as I have a huge stack and we ended up doing it together which allowed for some very fun together time. Is it strange we stull enjoy that after 41 years? We haven’t heard much from the fam over the past few days as we’ve been decisively engaged with cerebrating. The ABFA sent these pictures of the BRS and BR3 starting dance school, way too cute. I also heard from Great Aunt and Soxfather’s sister after I trounced them severely in Fantasy Football but I’m going to keep that boasting to a minimum as both my starting running backs are injured. I’ll probably get my ass handed to me this week.

BRS 

BR3

Puzzle Wife and I Knocked Out

Last week we snuck out for an extra date night to see the Blue Beetle. While this super hero movie certainly has its flaws, and it does, it’s saved by the very appealing cast. I’m married to a Hispanic lady and we both laughed continuously as we heard so many of the sayings and issues that arise when our respective cultures clashed over the years. The movie focuses on a Hispanic family’s trial and tribulations as the son unwittingly becomes a superhero pursued by Susan Sarandon (good work if you can get it). George Lopez is hysterical as the weird uncle and steals every scene he’s in. The message of family permeates the plot and serves it well. Abuelas are tough. Loved the movie.

Three movies fell in my A-Z watch, two keepers and one not so much, as I finish off the “Fs”: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Zero Mostel and a young Michael Crawford, too funny; Fun With Dick and Jane, I love Tea Leoni but Jim Carrey is not funny in this, discard; and Fury, best tank movie and one of best war movies ever made.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                     

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; 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; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Monumental

I’ve written many times in the past about the superb quality of the class I graduated from high school with. If there as any doubt as to those seemingly preposterous claims, they were effectively silenced with this weekend’s performance of that prestigious group. I’m speaking of the 50^th reunion of this assembly of most excellent people. What kind of graduating class can assemble nearly 50% of their members fifty years after graduating. Not only dd they assemble but they assembled ready to party. We had a scary start to the weekend when my Favorite Panamanian suffered a fairly serious relapse of her vertigo. We were sitting in the kitchen just prior to getting into the car and she felt the room start to swirl around her. Luckily (note - tongue firmly in cheek) I have extensive experience with the “whirlies” from my college years so I could offer some less than well received advice. She cautiously agreed we could continue on to Keene but any chance of dancing was thought to be extinct. Oh, yee of little faith.

Our Saturday Night Table in the Foreground

Keene Friend with the Thursday Sighting of the PCR

We arrived at Keene Friend’s house, where we were staying for the weekend, and my wife was feeling incrementally better. There had already been a PCR sighting the day before when that Pittsburgh worthy and his ever-understanding spouse arrived in town. We took Keene Friend out to eat for his birthday and picked up the Cantankerous Friend enroute to the restaurant. We followed this up by traveling into town for our first event of the reunion weekend, a Reunion Eve ice-breaker held at Margaritas.

Friday Dinner

Arriving at Margarita's

It was immediately apparent that Margaritas would be challenged by the sheer number of gray-haired partiers that showed up. They had set up a modest two tables near the back and expected that to suffice. We established firm control of the rear third of the place and didn’t relinquish it until late in the night. There was quickly a line at the bar to obtain drinks that to stood for our entire stay. Ther was an obvious lack of effective management as the overworked bar staff was never reinforced and the waitresses never wandered into our area. I guess since they’re used to the college town patrons, they didn’t realize they had a ready source of good tippers in our group. As with most things, our group adapted and overcame the challenges.

Wife with a Classmate of Mine

The Gathered Bunch

Talking with Some of Those Ladies

Dominating Margarita's

Wife with Keene Friend

We set my Favorite Panamanian up in area with couches while we did the reunion thang. That included the usual hesitant approach and tentative identification of friends we hadn’t seen in fifty years. The hesitancy was thoroughly vanquished as the feelings of comradery that seems to permeate all gatherings of these classmates asserted itself. I’m sure the other patrons in the bar were impressed with the sheer amount of talk and laughter emanating form our sanctuary. I got to speak with some of the beautiful ladies I mentioned in my last post under the steely eyed gaze of the nearby Favorite Panamanian. Two of the coolest aspects to the night, other than the ladies of course, was how many people said they’d read Frail Deeds but more importantly more wanted to know about the annual birthday pub crawl. Opportunities abound. The best aspect of the night was my Favorite Panamanian feeling better.

The Old School

Front Entry Completely Changed

Keene Freind and I In Front of that Long Hallway

Saturday brought the day of the actual reunion in the evening. Before that there as an opportunity to tour our old high school to see all the changes and boy were there changes. It’s almost as if it had been a half century since we last walked these halls. There has been significant additions to the old building, including a massive vocational arts center. I could still make out vestiges from our day, including the long front hallway which seemed smaller somehow. The huge central cafeteria of our time had been razed and converted into an impressive auditorium. The building, repository of so many memories from that time, still provided the hoped for glimpse back to those days while still being infinitely changed. We celebrated with another birthday meal for Keene Friend where we were joined by Keene Friend 2 as well. My wife’s progress in the battle with vertigo showed some real signs of improvement. She had been shopping with the PCR’s wife while we were touring the high school.

Tour Starts Where Main Office Used to Be

Former Cafeteria

Saturday Lunch

In preparation for the evening’s big event, I, as required, underwent guidance on what I would be wearing. I opined that a short sleeve shirt and khakis would be appropriate. With my 49% of the vote, I ended up going with a long sleeve shirt and blazer. I took a little bit of pleasure upon arrival to see so many short-sleeved shirts in evidence. I wisely did not bring this up with my fashion guru, 41 years of marriage does provide the occasional insight. It took about twenty minutes to get into the actual event as we had to pass by the welcome table with the obligatory name tags with our senior year photos attached. Those were really convenient after the Friday night guessing game of who was talking to whom. We set up at a table with Keene Friends 1 and 2, the Cantankerous Friend and the PCR. The PCR was something of a social butterfly all night. He considered us as close friends and was more involved in hunting down people he didn’t see as many times as us.

Our Exceptional Table

Saturday Dinner

Country Club Transformed

The organizing crew for the reunion did a fabulous job of organizing and preparing the country club for the event. They even had two bartenders which reduced the wait time. One of the only formal events of the evening was the usual cat herding exercise of getting the nearly 200 senior citizens organized for the official picture. Once that was accomplished, a tasty buffet dinner was devoured and the dancing started.  In a major surprise the Favorite Panamanian volunteered that she felt well enough to dance. She even dragged the Cantankerous One out onto the dance floor a couple times. I was flitting back and forth linking up with old friends. One of the ladies stuck a sombrero on my head to take pictures in costume. We also had a picture taken of the attendees that spent time together at Lincoln Elementary School. Way cool, as was the entire night surrounded by my classmates.

Silly Photo Time 

With Cantankerous and Some of the Dream Girls

Lincoln School Alumni!!!

Cantankerous on the Dance Floor with my Favorite Panamanian

Our time at the Country Club had to end at 10pm but the organizers organized around that. They declared an official after-party at one of their homes. We’d been there on prior reunions for less declared after parties which had gotten our host in serious spousal trouble on those occasions. He claimed to have spent the entire week working at the direction of said spouse getting the house ready. They have a beautiful house on Beech Hill with spectacular views overlooking Keene. My Favorite Panamanian was back in her role as designated driver and we had a full car of well lubricated Keene Friends and the Cantankerous One. She remembered to turn the headlights on this time so there was no interaction with the State of New Hampshire’s finest, although the car was every bit as noisy as that well remembered event. She can now even kid about it, a little bit.

After Party

The get together was very well attended and a bit more low key than the country club had been. It offered the opportunity to talk at length with some of the people I’d only seen in passing earlier. I was struck by just how affable a group the classmates are. Despite having forged diametrically different paths in life following high school graduation, there is still a bond that cannot be denied and is easily celebrated. It’s hard to believe fifty years has passed but the adage applies. It certainly does fly when you’re having fun. That applies not only to the past fifty years but also to this past weekend. It was over way, way too soon. Love those classmates.

Three movies fell in my A-Z watch, all keepers: The Fugitive, possibly Harrison Ford’s best movie; Full Metal Jacket, Kubrick’s look at the Vietnam War, drill sergeant scenes brought back a lot of memories; and The Full Monty, seemingly absurd plot delivered in awesome manner.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                     

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; 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; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course