Lake Side Tributing

My recovery from my latest Mohs battle was going swimmingly when, on Wednesday, my Favorite Panamanian reminded me that we had a social engagement on Thursday. She and her accomplice in crime, the Neighborhood Mafioso, decided in June that it would be fun to attend a concert at the Indian Ranch at Webster Lake. At the time, not knowing about the future biopsy results, I agreed since it’s always fun hanging out with the Mafiosos. The group we were scheduled to see is called, Yächtley Crëw, which I took to mean some sort of tribute band. The mafioso had seen them before and attested to their quality.

Pre-Concert Dinner

The Mohs headache was reduced in scope by Thursday and I was finally able to shower and remove the huge pressure bandage from the side of my face. I was a little surprised at the size of the cut but glad to get that thing off my face, replaced with a much smaller gauze pad and tape. We joined another fun couple for the drive to the lake for dinner at a local restaurant, right next to the ranch. As we pulled up, I was reminded that Webster Lake is an easier version used instead of the lake’s true name, which is, Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. I know. A humorous translation of this Indian name is: "You fish on your side, I'll fish on my side, and no one shall fish in the middle.” The reminder came from the sign over our chosen eatery.

See, I wasn't Kidding About the Name

The food and company were excellent. We were just about to start eating when a group of beautiful younger ladies entered the restaurant. I know, as a dedicated married man sitting across from my wife, I’m not supposed to notice such things, but who are we kidding. I was scrupulously trying to camouflage my attention when my wife rose to greet them. It turns out one of the group was none other than the Mafioso’s own daughter. Neither she nor her parents knew that the other was attending the concert.

Indian Ranch Stage

We took so long at dinner (I blame my Favorite Panamanian for ordering that lava cake), that the regular parking lot was full. Our driver spoke with the attendant and got us in for a “special rate” at double the usual cost but right next to the venue. With three contributing it was more than worth it. I was genuinely surprised at how packed the place was. Apparently, Yächtley Crëw is one of the biggest attractions of the year. A large percentage of the arriving crowd sported yachting captains’ hats. We arrived early enough to get some really good seats.

With the Mafiosos at the Show

Again, this was my first time at Indian Ranch. I saw it from the lake once from a friend’s boat. I loved the location surrounded by pine trees with the lake visible behind the stage. The arriving crowd once again tested my abilities in camouflaging attention again, you gotta love summer temperatures. The band turned out to be another surprise because they were very good. They played a number of hits from the 1970s and 80s with a lot of flair. The crowd was truly into the performance, including my Favorite Panamanian who only stopped dancing in place a couple times. A lot of the crowd spent the entire time on their feet, singing and dancing along with the band. There were a large number of boats out on the lake also taking in the show.  

The Crew Takes the Stage

When the sun finally set, the setting was further embellished with a light show and the frenetic performance on stage. They played non-stop for over an hour and a half. At that point our driver asked if we wanted to leave to beat the rush. There were only a couple more songs scheduled and from the look of the packed and sold out arena, getting out was going to be a long term project if we waited, especially since we were parked the furthest from the road. Surprisingly, the ladies agreed and we made our leisurely way out. I know, if we had waited, it would have taken at least an hour to get out of the parking lot, instead of the two minutes it did. It was a great night spent with great friends enjoying some nostalgic music from our younger times, enthusiastically performed in a beautiful setting. My face apparently didn’t enjoy it as much (that might have been the accidental headbutt from my wife precisely to the incision site). As predicted by the doctor, that side of my face was swollen up yesterday like I had taken a punch to the face. My live in commander in chief directed that I take it easy this weekend. Some orders are easy to comply with.

The Friday Face

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