Date Night Surprise

For those of you with excessively dirty minds (guilty), no, I’m referring to a completely innocent experience. It was with my Favorite Panamanian, but was completely above board and in public, so there. We executed our usual date night. My wife was so pre-occupied with texting on her cell phone during the ride to the cinema that she didn’t ask what we were seeing until we were sitting in the theater. That’s when I broke the news to her that we were seeing Young Washington, the biopic about George’s early years. She gave me one of those wifely looks that said, rather eloquently, “I’m not going to like this and how did you get me here?”. As with most wives, she conveniently forgot that she never inquired.

The surprise. She loved it, as did I, see review below. We rolled into the theater on a rainy Tuesday afternoon, and the parking lot was strangely full. I figured that, it being summer and raining, that parents were escaping the hell that is young kids trapped inside with a trip to see the latest Hollywood attempt to extract money from them. I think this week’s effort involved minions, whatever the hell they are. While I’m sure that was part of the crowd I was surprised to see the Tuesday matinee showing of Young Washington was absolutely packed, with both young and old (again, guilty). Another surprise, at the end of the movie, the large crowd actually started clapping. I know this is standard in California, home of the movie industry, but this was the first time I’d ever seen it happen in New England.

That got me to thinking (yes, I know, dangerous territory). The crowd and its reaction was a comment on Americans. There’s a burgeoning majority of us that are still very proud of our country, despite the efforts of the far left (Democrat Party) and their enablers, the news media, to damage that. I think that’s why they failed so miserably in 2024 elections. The Democrats mistakenly believed we, as a country, were ashamed of ourselves, but that couldn’t be further from the truth and for the very obvious reasons that life in our country provides daily for those open enough to see it. They and the Russian and Iranian internet bots will never be able to address the deep-seated love most Americans feel for their country, despite all its obvious warts. They continue down the same path today embracing socialism which has failed so spectacularly in so many places. The most obvious evidence of how wrong they were/are is the fact we actually elected who we did as president. Again, maybe I read too much into it, but it warmed my heart to hear that unexpected applause.

Finished Another 1000 Piece Puzzle

My Favorite Panamanian, a naturalized American citizen claimed the movie made her proud of “her” country, ‘nuff said. She certainly has not forgotten her own roots though. As is wont to happen whenever the Panamanian Mafia gets together, like last Saturday, they have so much fun together that they plan another follow-on event. This Saturday they’re getting together on Deckzilla with each bringing a Panamanian dish and creating more when they arrive. I should probably warn the neighbors that at some point Saturday evening, dancing will break out on Deckzilla. This should be fun.

FBR(r) with her Curbside Cousins

Speaking of fun (I was wasn’t I?), the FBR recently attended a get together of Curbside cousins (see picture). I was so glad to see that and that those incredible Curbside girls are passing on their deep friendship to the next generation. One of the things I’ve re-learned since returning to New England is how important the friends I made as a kid are to me. The Cantankerous Friend and Keene Friends are the most obvious examples but there’s been so many I’ve reconnected with since my return that has made all the difference for me. I’ve heard rumors that the PCR will be returning for the monthly KHS 73 luncheon in July and I may have to abandon a day at the beach to properly welcome him home. More on that in the coming weeks. Also, a shout out to the Cantankerous Friend who will be riding his bike (no surprise there) in the annual Northern New Hampshire Prouty bike ride, for which he has raised $12,000 for cancer research. He’s not always arguing.

Young Washington was a huge surprise for me. I knew Washington’s history of his early years but this film expertly portrays them for what they were, exciting. Washington is nearly always portrayed in his later years, leading the Continental Army in a powdered wig, but here we see him as a vibrant young man being forged into the leader who was so instrumental in establishing our country. It shows his failures as well as his successes and his early over weening ambition. It’s telling that the class system so endemic to the British (still is) was dismissive of him despite his early support of the royal government. We see him rising above the petty class snobbery to embody what the country is about, hard work combined with courage. The message isn’t over the top and lets Washington’s actions speak for themselves which is why I found them so effective. I’m sure the elitist professional film critics won’t like it, but when the movie ended, the entire audience stood and clapped in appreciation. That was as eloquent a statement of the quality of the movie than I can think of.

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