A Fine Fourth

So we asked our lovely neighbors Sarah and Madeline, to let out our dogs, and we were then off to the Grove for July 4, 2016. We arrived right before Jeff and Lili and 1/3 of their daughters, Samantha, and checked in as I rolled the filled cooler through the lobby. We went to the room, a 2 bedroom suite with a gorgeous view of Sailboat Bay and Peacock Park, and I mixed Lili and myself some adult beverages. The party was on. The Ds arrived with Joey, D1's man, and then our old neighbor and friend Diane came in. I brought out a clock radio from one of the bedrooms and played an oldies station, and the number grew -- Allison and her twin girls, Mike, Loni, their boy Chris and his girlfriend Rachel, and then Chris's long time friend Kyle. The room was packed, and the Ds and Joey left for the pool, while those remaining, heat sensitive as we are, stayed inside the AC and drank. Rather heavily... Wifey went in for a nap, and soon the Grove cooled a bit as the sun set. We had reservations for 16 at Glass and Vine in the park, but the number dwindled to 9. Poor Diane had to attend to her fiance in the hospital, and Mike's body was not yet in drinking shape following a long camping trip -- his crew opted out. Still, the dinner was delicious -- Glass and Vine has become my favorite restaurant. The fans cooled us, and the night was lovely. At 9 the fireworks started, and Allison's girls and Joey and D1 walked closer for a better view. We finished dinner and walked back to the hotel. A Chinese couple stopped me, and asked where the fireworks were. I told them they missed the show by 20 minutes. They walked away forlorn... We made it to the room just as the thunderstorm began -- it was great to watch the spectacular lightning from the 11th floor of the hotel. The Ds fell asleep -- just as they have on so many July 4ths over the years...although they're grown women, they still look like 2 kittens in the bed together. I stayed up and watched a few episodes of the "Twilight Zone" marathon playing on SyFy. Of course, I was up at dawn, and met Allison and her girls for breakfast. All in all, a delightful 4th. I'll provide my DadBer service tonight and tomorrow -- D2 leaves for NYC tomorrow afternoon. It's terrific having her home -- it was a lovely weekend.