Beach Landing

You’re right. I haven’t written in a few days (you are most welcome). I find myself back on Hampton Beach for a week, cohabitating with my son’s family in their annual beach front rental. In prior years, we’ve spent just a couple days here with them. Those have been so much fun that we took the plunge and decided on an entire week this year. Keeping in mind my recent dermatological adventures, I’ve reduced the number of hours I spend on the beach. The house they rent is more than enough of a pleasure in itself that the reduced thong watch opportunities are worth it. As I’m working on this, I’m looking out over the rocky shore of the Atlantic towards the Isles of Shoals. I’m reminded of my winter sojourn at the condo looking out at the Pacific while I type.

Beach Bunch Yesterday

Since my daughter and especially the FBR had such a great time last year, they also re-enlisted for another trip. They joined us late on Friday before we drove over on Saturday. The three granddaughters were reunited which is always fun to watch. They immediately took up where they left off last year, exploring the rocky tidal pools directly in front of the house. The local crab population is quaking and high alert with their return since they compose the most readily available quarry for the ladies.. My Favorite Panamanian had spent most of last week preparing a series of meals (favorites of both “kids”) and then freezing them (the meals not the kids) so she wouldn’t have to spend time cooking at the beach. The ABFA’s parents are also part of the mix which further enhances the fun.

Granddaughters in Search of Crabs in the Tidal Pool

Wife ad ABFA's Mom on the Deck

Granddaughters on the Hunt

Granddaughters Seized Control of ABFA's Surf Board

Wife and I

Sunday was my son’s birthday which was celebrated with the appropriate amount of pomp and circumstance. I got to watch the entire Red Sox game with him. A rare opportunity with his daughters in residence. Since it was his birthday, they were forbidden from complaining about the lack of cartoons on the screen. Luckily, they had a nearby beach and those tidal pools Likewise, my Favorite Panamanian was subjected to a series of indignities as her son repeatedly placed a cold drink can against her exposed leg leading to an appropriate levels of shrieks. I kept having to remind her that she couldn’t engage in her planned retaliation because it was his birthday. I also reminded my son that he was living extremely dangerously as I (better than anyone) know that she doesn’t forget and what she is capable of.

Successful Hunt

Birthday Boy

BR3 with her Abuela

Wife and I, Again

My son and the BRS have been bonding over the past year watching the old TV series, Supernatural. My wife therefore created one of her signature cakes with that theme, fake blood seeping over the edge of the cake (I know, we’re weird). The BRS and BR3 found an old lobster hat in the basement which they decided their dad had to wear for the cake ceremony. He took it in good humor, a girls’ dad to the core. Once the younger generation had retired for the night, we engaged in a lively game of Uno Flip around a table. The ladies, somehow, figured out a way to manipulate the game so only they won. It was still a lot of fun, as is any time when you get to hang around a table laughing with those you hold most dear. We were only missing Wingman for the complete set.

BRS and BR3 Helping Dad with Sword

Bonecrusher About to Descend

With the ABFA

With his Sister, mom, and Dad

On Monday, Keene Friend and his lady arrived to spend the day with us. They fit in immediately with the crowd, especially the ABFA (could have been the chocolates they brought with them). It was a great, leisurely day spent on the beach. I’m hoping my dermatologist is not tracking my activities too closely (my Favorite Panamanian is an acknowledged agent). Fortunately, that agent spent most of the afternoon scouring the rock field for shells because we’re supposed to be getting some rainy days ahead and she wants a craft activity of the granddaughters. It’s been a very un-July like brisk out of the sun but we still managed a very fun post-beach gathering on the deck liberally laced with Beachboy music courtesy of my daughter and her trusty portable speaker.

Trouble Brewing

FBR Posing on Beach

Joined by Cousins

Keene Friend and his Lady

The Daughter Waving

I’m away from my stationary bike and did not want to spend another week without working out after the week following surgery required it. There is also the inordinate amount of celebration I’m called upon to engage in (more than willingly I should add). That being the case, I’ve started taking long morning walks. It’s easy since the terrain is so flat, unlike my hilltop home. It has brought back how much I miss being able to jog, which was such a staple of my life for so many years (the whole Army thing about staying in shape). It’s been over ten years since I had to give it up due to balky knee. The walks reminded me of that lost activity, only much slower. Kind of like my whole life at this point, much slower but still so much fun. The fault of that can be laid at my incredible family’s feet, of course.

Watermelon Break

Deck Social Hour

Daughter Getting Hugs before Leaving This Morning

My View While Typing This

Daughter and FBR on their Way to New England

The Bloody Cake

BR3 Stalked by the Shadow

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