Banner Grandparenting Day

 So I fetched Wifey out front after I had an appointment, and we were off to Miami Shores. We brought the special needs Spaniel Bo with us -- figuring it would be a long day for him alone, and he was happy, sort of, to see his enormous puppy Betsy. We caught up, and D2's friend Stephanie the pilates instructor came, followed by D1 and her happy Spaniel Lemon. I took all three dogs out back and let them fun around, except for Bo, who sort of humps along like an old raccoon. 

D1 had a work call after Pilates, and so retreated to Jonathan's office downstairs, and D2 and I walked Betsy and Lemon. I realized the time grew short for my task -- fetching Little Man at school after soccer, and I left for North Miami, honey yogurt at the ready.

He loves the stuff, and I always bring it as his after school snack -- he slurps it happily as we drive home. He high fived the teacher's aid on the way out, and several kids yelled his name -- clearly he's a popular pre k kid at the school. On the way home we talked again of the animals that live on the frozen "toondra," as pronounced by his native Spanish speaking teachers, because, as the saying goes...Miami.

We arrived home, and he greeted his brother Saul, who was there with nanny Lizeth. It was a happy scene. Shortly afterwards, D1 and Wifey arrived -- Chick Fil A in tow, which brought happiness, and then D2 and Betsy arrived as well.

I had told the Ds I felt like something a bit more upscale than Chick Fil A, and so called in an order to Pinch, my go-to gastropub 4 minutes away. And I got to do my signature move -- arrive a few minutes before the order is ready, and enjoy a martini at the bar, checking out the diverse and colorful people of that gentrifying part of Miami.

I finished said drink, and brought home said food, and the Ds and I ate -- Wifey played with the boys. D1 had invited over old friends -- British Dad and Italian Mom, and their lovely 6 year old girl. They used to be Cavalier Spaniel friends when they lived in North Miami, but have returned to Southhampton and Majorca.

The Mom greeted Little Man with a long A pronunciation of his name, and he went into his room and wrote it out on a paper and nicely corrected her. My grandson is, without a doubt, a total character. He brought the little girl into his room to show her his toys, and, being a girlie girl, was less than impressed by the trucks and Transformers. But she loved the dogs.

I poured the Dad a Modelo, and had another finger of vodka, and we talked of Europe. He's not a Brexit supporter -- and was  telling us what a huge mistake it was. In Spain, the government is getting ready to put a 100% tax on all properties not owned by EU people -- luckily the Italian wife can avoid it.

So it turns out that Brits have a majority of moronic voters just like we do -- and they're seeing the results now.

Around 8, I told Wifey it was time to leave, and as we did, it was pouring rain -- Summer level intensity. A cold front was passing in, apparently.

We called my California sister and chatted during the ride home -- she's turning 77 in June and she and Wifey compared notes on the ravages of aging. I kept bringing the conversation back to more pleasant topics -- like the funeral we attended Sunday, and the one we had to attend Friday.

And that was precisely why, in stark relief, enjoying the grandsons was so exquisite. Time here is limited -- they give us hope and direction as we age and slink further into decrepitude.

But man -- that vodka helps...