It's Like the Fun Never Ends

We hosted D1's boyfriend Joel and his family for a brunch, and with bright sunshine and lovely breezes in the dining room, it was a magical afternoon.

They left, and D1 and Joel stopped by D1's friend Hannah's house for a post T Day get together the girls have been enjoying since they were in high school. Next up on their agenda was a spa day at the Joel family hotel on Brickell.

D2, Wifey, and I took delicious afternoon naps. I slept soundly as Michigan beat OSU, and Va Tech beat Virginia. Ah --college football on T Day weekend as I napped with an overstuffed belly -- it's great to be an American.

Around 630, the fun would continue. Norman's wife Deb surprised him with a limo trip to the Palm, and Wifey and I were the first pickup. We'd been in limos before, but this one was something: an enormous, stretch HUmmer, with lights and sound --the thing parked in front of our house and took up, it seemed, 1/2 the block.

It had room for 18. The four of us chatted, and congratulated Deb on pulling off the surprise. Like me, Norman is suspicious and a keen observer --it's very tough to get something by him, but Deb did.

Next stop, Miami Shores, and Norman's partner Scott's fiance Liz's house. Liz and her FSU daughter serenaded, with a beautifully harmonized rendition of happy birthday, accompanied by acoustic guitar. Norman was moved. We then took the short drive to the Palm, where we met another Norman partner and friend, Glenn, and his son in law, a last minute fill in for Glenn's wife. Also at the bar were the couple who introduced Norman to Deb, but as Gary is one of my competitors in the legal business, I'm contractually prohibited from discussing him further. Plus, he lives on Palm Island, which tells me he does much better than I do...

Ha! They are lovely folks.

Deb reserved a private room, which I didn't even know the Palm had, and we drank some healthy sized martinis, and ate delicious steaks. We also laughed, a lot, as we told tales of trips, and old cases, and the delightful humor that is living each day.

Glen is a retired cop, and teller of salty tales, and somehow the conversation turned to an aging man's "veiny" testicles...that became a recurring subject among we classy and educated parrtiers...

The 6 of us then re-boarded the enormous Hummer, and we headed to one of Liz's friends, who was hosting a house party for HER 50th. She lives in a funky, 50s era building on North Biscayne Bay --right next to where they film "Dexter."

The party was in full swing, with great 70s tunes playing, and Norman, Scott, and I soon realized that, with the exception of one other fellow, we were the only men there.

I kept my inner "Beavis and Butthead" in check, and didn't say, our loud: "Heh, heh. Cool! Lesbians!"

But Wifey insisted on lounging on a sofa, continuously petting a little kitten, which lead to more laughter when we got back into the limo.

Next stop --the bay walk near Liz's house in the Shores, where we got out of the limo to admire the view of the night, as the Bay waters crashed onto the sidewalk. It was truly magical.

We dropped off Liz and Scott, and somehow stayed awake for the ride back to Pinecrest.

I told Deb that the answer is "Pretty gross at first, but as time passes, you sort of get used to it, as long as you don't focus too clearly on matters at hand." She asked what the question was. I told her it was "What's it like to sleep with a 50 year old man?"

And so Norman has joined the club, and his initiation was sterling and spectacular, and Wifey and I were privileged to be a part of it.