Merry Christmas 2020

Merry Christmas! 

Santa Has Stopped By

2020, while truly the strangest year ever, brought a lot of happiness at Christmas time. From big breakfasts with mimosas to LEGOs to silly Santa hats we wish all of you the happiest of holidays from all of us!

The  Annual Ritual

Santa's Helper

Thanks Nana!

Meat and Mimosas

Mom! Get This to Work for Me!

That's A Lot of Pieces

Dinner is Ready

 

The Christmas Conjoining

Two wonderful occurred last evening. First, the alignment of Jupiter and Saturn, just one tenth of a degree apart, something that has not been witnessed at night in 800 years happened just after sunset.  

The planets aligned on the winter solstice this year, just days before the Christmas holiday. This could be the same astronomical event that the Bible reports led the wise men to Joseph, Mary and newly born Jesus– the Star of Bethlehem.

As is finished my evening run, people were setting up telescopes and chairs in their driveways looking up to the nighttime sky. It is a good feeling that we are still awed by by outer space.  Perhaps, by the next time this celestial event happens, we will have explored farther than the confines of our solar system.  I told the kids last night that it is my hope that humankind will set foot on Mars within their lifetime. 

With a good set of binoculars you could see the two planets and almost make out Saturn's rings. With a great camera you could capture both planets and Jupiter's moon - like the image borrowed above.

The second event, just as important, was a wonderful family photo at the United Methodist Church, with Betty and all three children. We have not been inside the church since the pandemic made gatherings of that size impossible. Although we attend on-line, it isn't the same as the sense of community and fellowship as being in person. 

As 2021 approaches we know that moments where we can all be together may be fewer and farther between. This photo is also evidence of TJ being taller than Samantha. He was not taller than her at Thanksgiving. It gives me both a feeling of hope for my children, as the first one is about to leave the nest, and melancholy realizing that they are growing up so fast. 

(sigh) 

 

 

The Big One Oh

Oh my how the times flies. Somewhere in the course of a decade Grant grew up to be a wickedly smart, deceptively funny, and well grounded (and at times overly sensitive) boy. 

 

Being the youngest, Grant has always been more mature than his peers because he was exposed to what his brother and sister liked. That's evident in the fact that he has seen both the entirety of "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation" on Netflix.   Still, it is wonderful to watch him transform from a toddler to a child to a boy. With all of our photos so easily accessible as opposed to when Samantha was a child, you can see him (them) grow in a matter of mouse clicks.

Grants big present was an electric scooter, similar to the one all of his friends have. Me being cautious, I made sure he could actually ride it before setting him out onto the streets of South Lakes.  After five minutes of making figure eights and getting bored with the pool parking lot, Grant signaled from under his helmet that he was ready for the big time and off he went. It was more of a big deal for me than him. When I come home now I check for a missing bike - TJ is out, and a missing scooter - Grant is off somewhere. 

 

By the way, both Lisa and I tried the scooter and it was a lot of fun.

Even in a pandemic birthdays matter. We hung the birthday banners, plural, and set out the decorations and bought new numbered candles. Grant picked out a massive ice cream cake because dad doesn't like cake. We were able to stand around the kitchen table and sing, "Happy Birthday." 

 

We are looking forward to the next ten years.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

It has been four years since I have seen my brother and about three years since we have spoken. His personal, downward spiral in his married life was juxtaposed against starting over in a new career that is both challenging and rewarding.  Despite numerous attempts to get him to come visit during his years of upheaval and starting over, it wasn't until now that he was able to show up on our doorstep.

My brother is, for lack of a clinical term, emotionally constipated. He is too guarded to admit his pain and struggle and let down the walls for me to get close.  We told some stories about growing up in Monroe, NY and the adventures we got into but it never went much farther than that.  He told us a lot of stories about his new job but he never asked much about us.  

Over the course of six days we treated him like he was on vacation and/or part of the family. We dragged him hiking up to Pilot Mountain and Mt. Airy. We made him watch a Star Wars movie, Rogue One - the best of any movie put out under the Star Wars name in years.  He toured UNC with Samantha, even visiting the "Old Well" - which was a first for me too.  He even sat through the Disney+ presentation of "Hamilton", which my daughter thinks is some kind of torture we visit on our guests.  Through it all he endured, never being negative or poo-pooing what we were doing.  At least he was a good sport.

Andy has never been one to compliment me in anything I have done in life. Not when I started over and met Lisa, not when I was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel or Colonel, or even when I ran the Dopey Challenge or NYC Marathon.  However, during this visit I did find his weakness; food.  On Sunday we smoked a 13lb pork butt in the smoker and did ribs on Tuesday. Evidently, a grunted, "Mmphff," with a mouth full of pulled pork is high praise.  

And yes, in telling the stories of our growing up, he confirmed for my children that Andy and I were far bigger hell raisers than my three ever were.  He confirmed that we once raked the leaves into a pile and then jumped off the roof into them...and when that got dull, we set the leaves on fire and jumped from the roof into the smoke and flames. He told with flourish how we and our friends had dart fights in the basement...hiding behind furniture and zipping real darts at the other team.  Bike jumps, skateboards, BB gun fights; Grant would remark incredulously after each story, "how are you even alive right now!?"  

Thanksgiving 2020 in the midst of a pandemic was great. Lisa, TJ and I completed the 8th Annual Hobble Gobble with some friends and then went home to prepare dinner.  Everyone pitched in; we made two turkeys, one traditional that Lisa rocked on and one in the smoker that TJ liked.  Sam made a pie and Brussel sprouts. Andy made mashed potatoes. Betty provided some cheese and crackers and wine. Grant helped Lisa make chocolate chip cookie pie.  Everything was on the table by 3:00 so Andy could be on the road by 4:00 for work.

I am sure he had a good time. We certainly tried. We "wetted" the new bar I made with him in mind. We tossed the football, if only to remind him my kids have terrible hand-eye coordination. We watched a lot of Disney+. I know he appreciated being around his family in the midst of his life and the pandemic. 

 

The Coronavirus: Halloween

...and another holiday is corrupted by COVID-19. Halloween is a big event in this neighborhood. Parents bring their kids from other locations, drop them off at on end of the development and pick them up at the other. We have a big pot luck dinner in the cul de sac around the corner.  We decorate our house; this year adding the "ghost of the tree we cut down in March" inflatable out front.

This year, pandemic be damned, we started a 5k fun run after my running buddy and I thought it up out of the blue. I can attest that we had less than the NC mandated number for public gatherings. It was great to see people come out and enjoy a glorious day with mild temperatures.  It was my first "community organizing" event; the first of many in the future, perhaps.  After eight months of socially distancing and having events "turned off" it was a necessary release of doing something that wasn't exactly right, but certainly not wrong.

Sam and her fellow Cadets from UNC came down to help support the run by handing out water bottles, moving tables, and providing extra sets of hands to set up and tear down.  TJ and Grant both ran - with Grant running almost the entire distance!

Lisa put together her Wonder Woman outfit and ran with our neighbors Valerie and Becky while I ran around the course taking pictures for the Facebook page. I have to admit, getting the positive feedback was a nice affirmation of our work.

Later we set up for trick or treat. Let's face it, it was gonna happen.  Halloween was on a Saturday, with a full moon and awesome weather for crying out loud. There was no way the kids were going to stay in.  Lisa made over a hundred small baggies of candy and we set up a table at the end of the driveway. With a spotlight to shine on the tomb stones and decorations we had a spooky distribution of all the candy in the bags and then some of the candy the boys brought back with them.  TJ (a ghost) and Grant (a kids with a rocket pack) were joined by their buddy Evan M. (a specter) who returned to the neighborhood for the day.  

At 8pm we shut it down; folded up the table, turned off the spot light, and turned off every light in the house.  We went through 100+ pieces of candy. We got to see lots of cute kids who like the rest of us needed to get out and be a little normal for a little while. 

It was spook-tacular.

The Coronavirus: The Disney Photos

The lovely Boardwalk Resort, welcome home.

The last days of the creepy clown slide.

The boardwalk. Several people in this family ran there.

The attention to detail of the little things always sets this place apart.

Disney: "We want to make a Pandora attraction."

James Cameron: "Yeah, but how are you going to make the 'floating mountains?"

Imagineers: "Hold my beer."

Animal Kingdom; Africa. The true shame is the we don't pause long enough to appreciate what we are seeing.

 

The fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.

Droid repairs and spare parts.

How about a game of Dejarik holochess? Hint, let the Wookie win.

Black Spire Outpost shoppes.

Slinky Dog Dash, a great way to start and end the day.

The Coronavirus: Disney Edition

Welcome to the Happiest Place on Earth*.  Yes, we went to Disney in the middle of the pandemic. No, we are not crazy.  Yes, we had a good time.  No, it wasn't normal, but then nothing in 2020 is.  Yes, Disney, just like city planning and crowd management, should be put in charge of the COVID-19 response. Yes, as always we experienced new and wondrous things.  No, we probably won't go back until the pandemic is over.

* Experiences may vary during a global pandemic

 

We had certain Must-Dos for this visit and we achieved most of it. We finally rode on Pandora, Flight of Passage.  Twice! You feel like you are riding a breathing, flying beast from an alien world; turning, diving, and soaring over Pandora. The 3D action and moving seats were a little disorienting for me, but the kids loved it. If you looked under your glasses for just a second you could see just how huge the theater you are sitting in actually is.

 

The Animal Kingdom Park was quiet at 25% capacity.  We were there from open until close and did everything we wanted to. We rode our favorite, Expedition Everest two time and brave the Kali River Rapids with Lisa who didn't get too wet.  An afternoon downpour only slightly alleviated the heat of the day.  For an added adventure we retraced our steps to try to locate TJ's lost iPhone only to give up and find it at Guest Services. Why didn't we do that first?!

Hollywood Studios did not disappoint us. Because we were staying within walking distance we got there almost 90 minutes before the park opened.  We actually entered the park an hour before it officially opened and were on rides 20 minute before Rope Drop. We visited Toy Story Land and rode Slinky Dog Dash and Toy Story Mania right away before heading to Black Spire Outpost on Bantuu, the Galaxy's Edge.

It was amazing how Disney transports you from a backyard of oversized toys to a galaxy far, far away in a matter of a few hundred feet. We were immersed in the sights and sounds of an active spaceport with droids, citizens, and the occasional First Order troopers.  First stop, Oga's Canteena for out of this world drinks. 

Oga's takes it's decor from the location where Han shot Greedo (first). It feels like a dive; where a blaster might get pulled out any moment to settle a dispute. The DJ seems like it just rolled off the assembly line with little programing in how to do its job.  The drinks were really fun.  Grants drink had dry ice in the bottom causing it to bubble and mist over the rim. It will be a Must-Do in any future visit. 

We got in line for the Millennium Falcon ride; walking around, under, over, and into the famed ship. There was so much to geek out over that I missed most of it until I looked at the photos later on.  Grant and I sat at the "chess board". Luke's lightsaber trainer is there on the shelf.  We got to go into the cockpit to fly! So geeky and nerdy and so fun that we did it twice.  No, we didn't get on Rise of the Resistance - next time!

The highlight, believe it our not, was not Star Wars land but Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway in the Chinese Theater.  We braved the heavy rain that seemed to be constantly on the horizon but pulled out the ponchos anyway. Without giving too much away, when the train pulled up and there were no real tracks expect what was painted on the floor I knew the next eight minutes would be amazing.  The eyes and the mind betrays reality.  I.  Love.  Disney. Magic... and so did the rest of the family on this ride. 

Dinner at Mama Melrose's was a great meal of homemade pasta and meatballs that got us of a another late season downpour.

Our stay at Disney Boardwalk was nice - walking distance to Hollywood Studios.  The boys made the most out of the pool while Lisa and I sat in the hot tub.  One hundred twenty degree water kills COVID-19, right?  It was the last time we will ever see that scary clown head at the bottom of the water slide. If you have been there you know what I am referring to.  It was dismantled and carted away the week after we left.  It as about time that creepy thing was removed. 

In the end we finished off with a bit of natural magic with rainbows in our hands from both autumn leaves the size of Grant's head to the sun coming out after a shower. It was nice trip because we needed to get way and Disney doesn't disappoint - even in a pandemic.

Afternoon Shower

 

The hot humid summer afternoons lend themselves to brief, but active, downpours in this part of the state. If there is a strong wind then the rain blows sideways so you can't sit on the back porch and watch. 

Other times the front slowly passes by and you can enjoy the sound of the rain come down, watch the sky light up, and listen to the roll of thunder. 

 

The Coronavirus: Fourth of July Edition

It is July. Somehow the whole month of June slipped by with two major birthdays, the end of the school year, and the start of summer - a summer without Camp - without a journal entry.  As history will show in the decades to come, we squandered our opportunity to "flatten the curve" with politics, ignorance, arrogance, and a "me first" (to the detriment of others) attitude that has extended our quarantine and our ability to get back to normal.

The long summer is ahead of us and we celebrated the nation's independence over four long, fun days. 

We started on Thursday with a trip to Wrightsville Beach with the whole family.  The beach is an easy two hour drive from the house. We left early enough to get a parking spot and some seclusion on beach.  With a couple of beach chairs and a cooler of sparkling water and juice boxes we played for a good three and half hours before heading home. With everything from museums to movie theaters still closed the beach is a fun alternative that takes the better part of the day.

TJ is mastering the boogie board and Grant is learning to swim the surf.  If we had more time and if TJ was willing, I am certain he could surf.  Grant is just happy to be in the big waves as long as someone is there to hold his hand. Samantha just lays in the sun watching her small screen and texting people - a waste if you ask me.  She had fun in the surf for the ten minutes she put the phone down.  Passing the football in the surf back and forth and watching TJ dive for it I realized that this was what a good time should look and feel like.  The less time I spent sitting the more time it seemed like the kids were having fun.

Thursday evening we watched the first part of "Gettysburg" right up to the end of the Second Day on Little Round Top.  We finished the movie on Friday, on the 157th anniversary of Pickett's Charge. The boys and I walked through the tall grass over that hallowed ground last year. Trying to explain it to them then made little sense until they saw it on the screen.

Friday Grant took to the small pond in the back to fish.  Fishing has become his new favorite past-time.  He gets up early in the morning and grabs his pole, quiet and alone, but determined.  He looks up what bait to use, tips, and techniques...and it has paid off with some nice sized catches.  He still yells for me to help him unhook and release the fish - but it is a yell of triumph, "Dad, come here. I. Caught. A. Fish!!" 

By midday Lisa and I made the most of our $80 pool, with margaritas and pool floaties. Thanks to Covid-19, the community pool has a guest limit and you have to sign up in advance. We have to bring our own chairs and pool toys are not allowed. In my opinion the pool has always been a toxic soup to begin with; too many young kids who are not potty trained. It seems that every years I get some kind of nasty cold in the first weeks that the pool is open.  Without Camp for the boys and the need to get outside and cool off, our inflatable pool is great. You can even get a game of Marco Polo in!

On the Fourth of July we started the celebration of our national independence with a fun run in South Lakes that I put together, "Four on the Fourth," a four mile run through both South and North Lakes. We got our Red, White, and Blue on and met with about ten brave souls who were willing to forego sleeping in and brave the humidity - even at 7:00 am. This was the first anything I have organized - and quite at the last moment. Cris Plummer ran with a flag the whole time and his daughter Caroline, TJ's "twin sister," stayed ahead of just about everyone.  TJ did not disappoint; he ran all four miles without stopping and finished just behind me.  I think everyone had fun and we set the foundation for a bigger event next year. 

On the Fourth of July we sat down and watched Hamilton on Disney+. It's a brilliant musical that throws convention in the air by using a racially diverse group of actors to rap about the life of Alexander Hamilton.  Since our quarantine started we have watched a couple of Broadway musicals - or their movie adaptation.  Clearly, the boys enjoy the spectacle and do not tune out because they continued to hum the songs - especially the one from King George III - after the show. It even made me look up some things about the Founding Fathers I did not know about.

Mitch arrived by midday to join us at a cook-out with our neighbors, Becky and James, and some others in South Lakes. They moved in over a year ago. They are young and cute and have a dog, Sierra, that Lucie loves to play with. There is a twenty year age difference between us. They are at the start of so many things; home ownership, careers, and they don't have any kids yet. We are half way through so much of that. I don't know if I envy them or not.

Everyone smoked ribs or pork or chicken and we delighted the taste buds with too much food and too much to drink.  Our contribution was two racks of applewood smoked ribs and homemade blueberry and apple pies that Samantha made.

The night ended with everyone in the neighborhood lighting off fireworks. Since every town everywhere cancelled their fireworks displays it was up to individuals to fill the gaps. And we succeeded. It seemed like there were explosions everywhere, all the time. The boys took off on their bikes to race down to the big pond to watch. We finished with some sparklers, spent, sweaty, satiated, and satisfied.

This was not normal for us - or anyone - but it was a lot of fun.