I was at it again yesterday. I used to do thunder runs back to my hometown for my mental health (what little I possess). In the last couple years I’ve been given a welcome addition to my list of excuses to run home – the monthly luncheon for the stalwart class of KHS 1973. These worthies gather in commendable numbers each month for no other reason than it is fun to hang out with each other. It helps that the vast majority of us are now retired. One of my heartfelt goals upon retiring from the military was to find my way home. While I eventually discovered this meant being around friends and family and not tied to a geographic location; this monthly event combines the two.
I always love returning to my
hometown, if for no other reason than to torture my kids with another picture
of Wheelock School to remind them I went to kindergarten there. I think at some
point in the future they are going to block my number when they hear I’m going to
be in Keene. Yesterday’s gathering was representative of the shared pleasure of
the classmates. We met a week earlier than usual because we had a classmate who
defected to Alabama and was visiting for just this week. This opportunity to see
her brought in a few other classmates who haven’t been able to join us previously.
The time together slides by really quickly, which is another firm indicator
that a good time is being had.
Table One Yesterday
Since this is always a good time and
I am nothing if not predictable when it comes to socializing, we’ve added a corollary
event to the monthly luncheon. That would be the usual thunder run back to Keene,
with aspects of reconnaissance for the annual November pub crawl (that’s my
story and etc. etc). It gets expensive because my Favorite Panamanian uses this
opportunity to shop but more than worth it for the pleasure involved (for both of
us). You simply cannot put a price on the time spent hanging out with lifelong friends.
I’m not saying my wife doesn’t make a gallant effort at that, but, still, a win.
Keene Friend and the Cantankerous One joined me in walking over to what is now
called the Owl’s Nest but will always be know in fame and not a small bit of
infamy as Penuche’s. 
The Rest of the Very Cute Gathering
We solved most of the world’s
problems there before moving down the street to the Lab ‘n Lager. We were
joined in short order by the Kindergarten Friend who gave up his wrestling
match with a pool filter to join us. We made the obligatory well lubricated
call to the PCR who was more gracious than usual, even without the mollifying influence
of his better half beside him (or maybe she was). Keene Friend 2 also showed up
after a failed umpiring gig. We decided it was dinner time and made the customary
trek across the street to Margarita’s. It is at this point we usually try to coax
my Favorite Panamanian away from her pillaging. She replied, because of earlier
flower buying stops, that she had had only forty five minutes with old friend
TJ Maxx and that was nowhere near enough. She claimed not to be hungry either
which I doubted but, again, I only get 49% of the vote.
Still Penuche's
While the kindergarten friend had to depart,
we were joined by another classmate, who has been hanging out with Keene Friend
1 recently. She added a much-needed touch of elegance to our scruffy lot and
provided some hilarious stories about her time as security at the local
theater. In the funniest event of the day the wait staff at Margarita’s rose to
the occasion to punk the Cantankerous Friend. Last month they made an error in
bringing him tacos instead of his requested enchiladas. As he is wont to do, he
made a big deal about that when ordering this time claiming aggrieved status for
the prior month’s error. I whispered to our very cute waitress who nodded
sagely and arranged the moment. When the orders came, she flourished a plate of
tacos in front of him which had the seemingly impossible effect of making him
quiet. Not only that, but the waitress from the prior month’s error was also on
hand to twist the sword, clearly remembering this customer. The entire table descended
into laughter and the Cantankerous One got his enchiladas. A very fun time.
Keene Friend and Cantankerous With me in the Nest
I’ve got to learn to keep my mouth
shut when it comes to complaining about New England weather. Last week I
commented on Frail Deeds about how cold May had been. Earlier this week New England
dropped the hammer on me for my impudence. We had three days of record setting
heat, along with some tropical levels of humidity. It’s the first time in my life
I can remember having both the heat and the air conditioning on during the same week. New England 1 - Frail
Deeds Dancer 0. I expect a little freedom this weekend as the Maine Musquetera
is scheduled to arrive and I’m sure shopping will be involved. Since I wouldn’t
dare intrude on that activity unless a firearm was pointed at my head and even
then I’d have to think hard I’m a free agent. 
Lab 'n Lager with Kindergarten Friend
Saying Goodbye to Keene as we Shuffled Home
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 3rd 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; Upstairs Neighbors – American
couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course
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