Family Deck

In the early years of Frail Deeds, I wrote each year about the family Thanksgiving gathering I happily attended. This tradition dated back to the 1940s in my father’s family. The tradition continued with the location migrating, due to aging generations, over the years from Keene, NH to Palmer, MA, to Belchertown, MA, and finally to Hancock, NH. A couple years ago the tradition came to an end mainly because the next generation weren’t completely onboard. Some of the most cherished memories of my youth involve this holiday assembly of my Father’s Family. This happened because the newest generations didn’t, as I did, grow up with the original aunts and uncles (including my dad) who made the get-together a seminal event. The last of that magnificent set of brothers and sisters passed away within the last ten years and we kept it going as long as they were around, although attendance dwindled.

Cousins on Deck

Since then, my generation of cousins set about establishing our own Thanksgiving traditions. This is a long-winded introduction to explain how I spent my Saturday. Last year, the final host, whom I refer to as the Cousin-in-Chief, decided to call for an assembly of cousins in late September in Hancock. It was a huge success as we were able to enjoy ourselves out on the deck that was usually unused for the cold November gatherings. We decided that we would continue the September gathering in lieu of the former Thanksgiving one because this would not compete with internal family holiday plans. We were summoned for last Saturday and were blessed with perfect weather. The drive up from Worcester was additionally consecrated by the foliage which grew more colorful as we made our way north. This has always been my favorite time of year in New England and I’m a little miffed that we have our European trip later this week which will cause us to miss some of it. Sacrifices must be made.

View on the Drive Up

Attendance was down a little this year as a couple health related issues arose in the last couple days before Saturday. One cousin had to be medevac’d to Boston along with her slice of the family. Others had unplanned work creep up as well as grandchild babysitting summons. That still left a fun group to hang out on the deck. We spent the afternoon remembering those departed aunts and uncles along with various events involving them and our mutual grandparents. I learned some new information about those grandparents. I never knew my grandmother had beautiful blonde hair. For the twelve years I knew her, it was completely silver. This explains the blonde hair my son had and his kids possess. I had always wondered where it came from. I got to hang out with my favorite cousin when I was growing up as we were of an age together. He spends a lot of time in Florida now so it was special hanging with him for the afternoon. As it was for all those gathered on that deck, a very special afternoon.

My Cousin and I

Speaking of those towheaded granddaughters, the BRS and BR3 had their school pictures delivered this week. The BRS looked amazing, as she usually does. BR3 couldn’t help from demonstrating what we call her “maniacal look”, but it appears she tried hard to cover it up. Back at the Worcester homestead, my Favorite Panamanian has performed her usual magic in seasonal decorating. She had me cut down a flowering tree that had taken over a section of her vast garden complex in front of the house. She replaced it with an autumnal display involving hay bales, pumpkins and a lot of mums. When our upstairs neighbors were driving in earlier in the week they immediately identified our house by this display (they know my wife well).  

BRS

BR3

Seasonal Front Yard

Seven movies fell in the A-Z watch, six keepers: The Long Kiss Goodnight – this is a repeat as I upgraded to 4K, awesome action/comedy. Shane Black written, when you knew Samuel L. would be a star; Stardust – one of my favorite movies of all time, Deniro as a gay sky pirate still has me falling down laughing; Stargate – love this sci fi classic; Starman – Bridges dominates as alien in a human body; Starship Troopers – family favorite, son and I bond over this; Starship Troopers 3, Marauder – awful, just awful, disgrace to original film, eject; Starsky and Hutch – hilarious ode to iconic 70s TV show.

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