Neighborhood Conclaving

We had a very fun evening yesterday, which was appropriate given that it was the First Friday of the Week. This was our first opportunity to hang out with the Neighborhood Mafioso’s since our stateside return. Our dance card had been thoroughly engaged with granddaughter activities which is a strong trump card. Yesterday was also the 75^th birthday of the Mafioso husband which meant recognition had to be undertaken. He’s a dedicated homebody so that meant we were crossing the street to celebrate at his home. Some of the best times in recent years have been sitting around their kitchen island as the birthday boy is one of the funniest people I know.

Fun Night with this Bunch

She Does Smile

We ferried our traditional Friday pizza over with us as well as a “couple” adult beverages. We soon found ourselves laughing, which always seems to happen when the four of us get together. The birthday boy and I must refine our beer smuggling technique because my Favorite Panamanian was on top of all attempts at subterfuge. This even happened when she and her counterpart were shopping together online. I know this happened because I found a couple items emailed to me when I opened my phone today, fruits of their search.  The best part of the evening was reminiscing about how the world has changed in our time aboard. We remembered living with front and back doors left unlocked for weeks on end, not even knowing if there were keys. That type of stuff gets scoffed at when we’re with the younger crowd. Being able to remember the shared experiences of our youth is always fertile ground when we’re with a group of similar age. I know those scoffers will be doing the same thing in their seventies, it comes with the territory.

FBR With one of Her Best Buds
Ready for School Spirit Day

The FBR was costumed for school spirit day yesterday which she took full advantage of, as you can clearly see in the accompanying photo. During the Family Facetime call, the BRS showed us her school project. She was required to research and then present on a famous American. She chose Walt Disney and when we complimented her on the poster she created, she then launched on her entire presentation for us. It was more than cool. BR3 was trying to hide behind a teddy bear but did translate a photo the ABFA had posted on Instagram. It was one of her final projects as she winds down her kindergarten year. It was a poster where she proclaims she gets grouchy when her mother denies her candy. Truth there.   

The A-Z watch continued with five movies, all keepers: X-Men Days of Future Past – watching the movies in the mythologically correct order, possibly best in the entire series with both old and new playing same characters in film; X-Men Origins Wolverine – interesting origin story even with the historically bad Deadpool; X-Men Apocalypse – great action film fighting an ancient Egyptian mutant; X-Men – the original and still holds up well; X-2 – rushed sequel but good to see the evil colonel get his just desserts.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course