Celebrating Five

This past weekend more than lived up to the hype I habitually place in my mind for any anticipated time spent with my son and his family. The added emphasis for this past weekend was the celebration of BR3’s fifth birthday. It should be noted that her parents offered her a number of off-site places to celebrate her birthday but she firmly stated that she wanted the party at home with her school friends. I thought that was kind of neat and says a lot about her great home. Her parents were less thrilled as this meant they had to get the house ready for all the party goers and accompanying parents. When you add two extremely active young daughters and a blind dog you have a recipe for a very busy dance card.

Celebrating BR3

My Favorite Panamanian and I journeyed up to New Hampshire on Friday to assist in that effort. We arrived to find Riggins, in addition to the loss of eyesight, had added a “Cone of Shame” (have to have seen Up to understand that reference). This meant a high degree of spatial awareness was required from all humans as Riggins meandered through the house bouncing off walls and legs. This added to the intricacy for the effort aimed at retrieving the tumbleweeds of Riggins’ fur that were circulating (any owner of a golden retriever knows whereof I speak). The smallest ladies did their part, cleaning up their playroom, although it required a parental threat to return that room to its original configuration as a dining room.

BR3 Opening Presents Friday Night

BRS and BR3 "Helping" to Clean Garage

The ABFA concluded the night’s efforts as she washed the floors just before midnight. Saturday was party day and also their usual events of swim lessons and dance classes. It’s so much easier being a grandparent these days. We stayed at home to complete party prep which included my Favorite Panamanian unveiling her latest birthday cake accomplishment. BR3 wanted a “Bluey” (whatever that hell that thing is) themed cake and, as usual, my wife delivered. She spent long hours Wednesday and Thursday creating another masterpiece. Every time someone sees one of her cakes, they recommend she start a business. We both quickly demure, knowing how much effort she puts in, and this will remain solely an intra-family activity. It was a very cool cake. The guests started arriving just after the final weeds were whacked and the house and grounds more than ready to receive them.

Wife with her Creation

There was supposed to be a bounce house delivered but, for the second year in a row, the weather caused the company to cancel. The predicted rain (other than a couple spittings) failed to materialize which allowed the party to take place outside for the most part. It was fun to see the young kids running around (do they ever walk at that age?) while the parents gathered to witness the maelstrom. We eventually got around to the pinata which seemed determined to maintain its structural integrity despite the repeated assault by the party goers. Eventually the strongest cousin was recruited and dealt the needed death blow followed by the shower of candy.

BR3 with her Gang

This was followed by the cake unveiling to an appropriate level of “Oohs and Ahhs”. The party eventually wore down after a generous infusion of pizza, cake, and ice cream. By bedtime the granddaughters were almost as tired as their grandparents and put up only token resistance to falling asleep. A very good day. We ended up down in my son’s home theater watching a movie on his immense screen (105 inches). It was a great way to end the day. Even though both my wife and I had recently saw the picture, we enjoyed sharing the experience with our son.

Pinata Time for BR3

BRS Got her Whacks in Too

Sunday started with the customary hojaldra breakfast followed by more swimming lessons. I was volunteered to attend church with my Favorite Panamanian and as luck (hers not mine) would have it, she found an announcement in the local church bulletin advertising a planned pilgrimage to Fatima and Lourdes. I got the serious puppy dog look from some of the most lethal eyes on the face of the earth, which I am helpless to resist. We’re going on that trip in October. I received confirmation just a short time ago that we were able to join the group. Looks like I’ll be in Europe for the fourth time in recent years. It’s almost like I’m back in the Army.

Cake Time

Forgot to Bring Bonecrusher

Best Buds

We returned home yesterday, tired (as always when spending time with what I call the energy vampires – they get more active as we become less). I don’t really mind Mondays as much as I used to, what with every day being a Saturday in retirement, but for some reason I scheduled a dentist visit for 8am this morning. It was only for a cleaning but there was the usual amount of indignity as something called a cavitron explored my teeth, followed by the scraping the hygienist really puts her elbows into. That being said, still smiling as I relive the weekend spent celebrating BR, who is now officially a “Big Girl” (her statement not mine).

BR3 and Abuela Sharing Beauty Tips on Nail Application Sunday

Three movies fell in the A-Z watch, all keepers: Pale Rider - Clint back as a ghost avenger; Pandorum – great sci fi/horror flick, back in love with Antje again; Parasite, supremely funny, well deserving of the Oscar win.

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

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 her single days in Brooklyn; Czech Connection – Czech couple who’ve become good friends along with their daughter (the Czech Shadow); 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; Seis Amigos - two couples from our condo complex and my wife and I; Soxfather – my brother-in-law (whom I miss more than I can ever explain); Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course