And Then Some

I haven’t been able to write on Frail Deeds lately because the annual Grampa-Abuela Summer Camp for the granddaughters is in full swing. I only have time now because it’s raining outside and the girls are conducting some sort of make-believe fashion show exercise involving a queen and two princesses (the granddaughters) assisted by their “stylist” (my Favorite Panamanian). It’s been a fun filled, if exhausting, camp so far and last night included a moment I’ll cherish forever. Before we get to that, I plan on making up for lost time away from prose by trying to capture what’s transpired so far. Luckily there’ll be a lot of photos to compensate for my limitations as a scribe.

My Water Bugs at Canobie Lake Water Park

My daughter, Wingman, and the FBR arrived Friday evening to begin the celebration. We planned a “welcome to the lunacy” party for Saturday on Deckzilla. The ABFA’s parents and the Keene Friend joined us as well to welcome my son, the ABFA, the BRS, and BR3. Great Aunt and the Cantankerous Friend were invited to come but she contracted Covid for seemingly the 27^th time and he was out cavorting on his bike for extended distances. We had a perfect day for the party and it was soul gratifying to have this bunch all together again. It’s the first time since Christmas. We were thinking about doing our annual family fantasy football draft but we have to find one more player since Great Aunt has bailed on us. The draft wasn’t missed because there was too much fun going on.

The House is Full

The FBR is Taller Again!

Abuela's Shoes Seized Agin

Wingman and Daughter

Saturday Party Time

I got to wear my garish new Army veteran shirt for the first time. I received it free from some internet company trying to interest me in a bunch of veteran themed clothing and other paraphernalia. The granddaughters also received their summer camp t-shirts from their abuela who labored for several days to create them. She endeavored to follow a Pinterest suggestion of having the girls create some art and then using saran wrap and an iron to fasten them to the shirts. The Neighborhood Mafioso was also having a party across the street for their granddaughter’s 21^st birthday, so my wife and I took turns sneaking away from our party to briefly celebrate with them

Keene Freind and my Tacky Shirt

Camp T-Shirts

Sibling Rivalry

Celebrated Both Recent Anniversaries

With Bonecrusher and FBR Photobomb

Ice Cream Cake

After the kids went down Saturday night, we had another one of those nights sitting around the table with family that cannot be underestimated when it comes to sheer joy. Wingman was up to his old tricks of exposing us to new games and the night slid away much too quickly. The girls were up early on Sunday morning and have lost nothing off their trademark “Let’s Avalanche on top of Grampa and Abuela to wake them up” move. In fact, since they’re all growing at an exponential rate, if anything, the move is more effective with their increased weight.

Sunday Mass, BR3 Got to Carry Holy Book Again

Sunday Breakfast

Front Yard Tree Infested

With Granddaughters

BR3 Hanging Out

Riggins Got Some Extra Attention

One Very Lucky Grampa

Once the parents departed for home, the granddaughters had us at their complete mercy. We responded by setting out for a friend’s pool, one of the only proven techniques to quell their insanity as they are all water bugs. They are the only individuals capable of getting me (and my tropically tainted blood) into a New England pool. The Czech Friends were there and we teamed up to help teach the FBR how to dive. She finally accomplished one to the general acclaim of all gathered. As usual, the BRS was immune to the cold water as the temperatures dipped a little bit. She must have Eskimo blood somewhere in her gene pool.

BR3b Jump into the Pool

Czech Assisted Diving Lessons

Success!

Wife with Our Fabulous Host

BR3 with Rare Chill Moment

FBR and BRS Floating

I made the tactical error of driving by a well-remembered (by the grandkids) playground on our way home. We ended Sunday with an extended stay at that location as they all demonstrated a remarkable level of upper body strength and balance (not sure where they get that from). Despite this increase in ability, they all insisted their grandfather was required to push them for extended time on the swings (their grandpa did not mind it in the least). They were appropriately exhausted at the end of the day and only put up token resistance at bedtime.

Playground Time

FBR

BRS

Obstacle Course

BR3

That was good thing, because Monday saw one of the big events of the camp – a trip to Canobie Lake Park. That turned out even better than I hoped. The last time I was there I accompanied my own kids when they were about the same age as their kids are now. I was astonished to see how much bigger the park is now. The parking lot is now the size of what the entire park used to be. The kids were in seventh heaven as soon as we walked in. There were height requirements for a lot of the rides which left BR3 off a bunch of them but the FBR and BRS were both in the zone, which meant I had to accompany them (not that I minded). One ride we could all ride involved a plunge down a huge incline into a pool that left everyone soaked. That became a theme for the day. Amazingly, my Favorite Panamanian, who professes to be allergic to all roller coaster type rides, joined us. She and I traded off for the day when the older girls had a ride BR3 couldn’t measure up for, we sought out one of the plentiful opportunities for the shorter one. She proved adept at mini-bumper cars, which is not a surprise given her proven chaos abilities.

Arriving at Canobie

The Wet Ride

Last Time They Were Dry

Abuela and BR3 on Kiddie Ride

Chaos Agent at the Wheel

You Gotta do the Merry Go Round

BR3 and I

FBR and BRS Hanging Out

Quick Break for Lunch

BR3 Back Behind the Wheel

The lines for the rides weren’t too bad, except for the traditional roller coaster. The scariest ride we went on involved a roller coaster with a completely vertical lead up to the inevitable fall, straight down, then a loop, and some twists that had us traveling completely upside down. I was trying to put on a brave face for the kids, but they didn’t need it. They were in their element and loved the excitement. I’m glad they inherited something from me. The BRS was especially courageous, as was her sister. I thought BR3 would be terrified on a certain ride we were on together when it started to twist and turn, but when I looked over she was giggling in delight.

Picture of Us on that Vertical Drop

Late in the afternoon, we transitioned to the water park side. My water bugs were certainly in their element. The FBR and BRS immediately launched onto the lazy river and disappeared around the corner. BR3 was a little reticent until her sister and cousin re-appeared and lovingly loaded her onto an inner tube and escorted her for a couple trips around the loop. The BRS was especially caring for her sister, which was nice to see. Both the FBR and BRS demonstrated an incredible improvement in their swimming. We were eventually timed out as they started to close the water park section. The FBR and BRS were so enamored of that early ride that created the huge splash, that they asked to stay in their bathing suits and hit it again. When we arrived there, we found no line and the two granddaughters ended up going through the ride four additional times. The two completely soaked participants eventually agreed it was time to leave. They first elicited a promise to return to Canobie Lake Park next year.

Girls in the Lazy River

Escorting BR3

Headed Back for the Splash Ride

In the Front Row

Can We Go Again?!

Back in The Front Row

Splash Down

Yesterday saw us journeying south to Rhode Island to spend the day in the pool of our good friends there. They had a passel of their own grandkids visiting so it was a very fun day. They also had a trampoline which saw some interesting gymnastic gyrations from our bunch. They had so much fun with each other that I successfully avoided being summoned into the pool until it was too late in the day. I considered this a minor win. A major win was the huge ice cream send-off our fantastic hosts inflicted on us.

R.I. Pool Time

Using Grandpa to Dry Off

Ice Cream Time

We had to leave early to get back to Worcester in time to get to our next event, a WooSox game. We originally planned on going to the game on Friday which comes with fireworks, but that game was sold out (no five seats together available). So, we shifted to Tuesday and this is where the aforementioned cherished moment took place. After we found our seats, before the game started, I was in hot pursuit of the three granddaughters who were off in search of dippin dots ice cream when a nice young lady stopped me. She worked PR for the WooSox and said she noticed that I was a veteran because of the hat I was wearing. She said she could walk along with me as I continued my pursuit. She said the WooSox always recognized a veteran after the 4^th inning and asked if I would participate. I asked if the granddaughters could accompany me and she quickly agreed to it.

Great Seats

FBR Commandeered my Sweatshirt

Watching 4th Inning From Dugout

Great View

She asked a bunch of questions about my time in the military and then told me to meet her after the third inning. The girls, especially the FBR, were excited about the opportunity to walk out onto the field and kept a close watch on the game, asking me after each out if it was the end of the third yet. We eventually got there and walked up the spot. When the young lady wasn’t there, the FBR asked me if I thought it was a scam, and they had only been kidding me. Luckily the gal showed up before I came up with an appropriate response. She escorted us down to field level where we got to watch the 4^th inning right next to the home dugout.

Walking onto the Field

On the Huge Scoreboard

Struggling to Control Emotions

The time came and we were escorted onto the field and told to turn around, face a camera, and wave. I was expecting a tepid response and a quick exit so the game could continue. As the announcer introduced us, I was thoroughly stunned when the crowd delivered a massive standing ovation. I think how cute the granddaughters were was part of it but I know Massachusetts, despite its left leaning politics, is sneakily very patriotic. I actually choked up as the recipient of this attention and proud my granddaughters were there to experience it with me. I think I earned some cool points with them. They were all born well after my military service ended and have never seen me in uniform. I don’t like to make a big deal about my military service and I know the applause was aimed at all veterans, but I was the lucky one on the receiving end last night. I felt incredibly honored and was very moved.

Rewarded with Cotton Candy

Tackling Woofster

Getting Baseball Autographed

And High Fives

While we were away, my Favorite Panamanian fielded a foul ball as a souvenir which impressed the granddaughters even more than my ceremony. They swarmed the WooSox mascot when he ventured too close and got him to sign the baseball. I promised to get a case for it and permanently store it in their room at our house. BR3 is becoming justifiably famous for her one-liners. She demonstrated that again late in the game. She had crawled into my lap to watch the final couple of innings. During a break in the action, she loudly proclaimed, “You know grandpa, I really should be in bed by now”. The entire crowd around us erupted in laughter. BR3 reveled in her newly acquired notoriety. She rewarded herself by being carried to the car. I was volunteered to do the carrying. A fantastic night I’ll remember forever, especially since I got to share with my wife and three granddaughters.

FBR Trying to Keep Legs Warm as we Walked Out

Two movies fell in the A-Z watch (see above – been busy), both keepers: Say Anything – Gen X super rom-com, gotta love the boom box; Scarface – bad at times but almost hypnotically evil  

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