That Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

 I'm the outlier in my family, with a birthday in July, and anyway, my favorite Denis Leary says all men should realize there comes a time in a man's life when he his birthday is no big deal -- and that time is about age 10.

But beginning around T Day, we have D1's birthday, followed by the adorable 4 year old's, and then Wifey's which she shares with, as Mike noted yesterday, his OTHER favorite Jew, and then our anniversary, after NYE, and finally D2's birthday, which is the Day the Music died. Of course, Baby Man has a July birthday, too -- my fellow outier.

Anyway, this makes the time from Late Fall to Late Winter the busy time around these parts -- we're right in the middle of it, now. Yesteday we celebrated Wifey's birthday, and she loved it.

We assembled at 330 at Casa Juancho, a Spanish place in Little Havana that's been there longer than I've been in Miami, and I moved here in 1979, They began opening on Xmas 4 years ago, and we took advantage. Jonathan did all the ordering -- paellas of vegetables, seafood, and two large steaks for all to share. The men each had 2 drinks, and the 4 year old and his baby brother were delightful.

I sent a video of the 4 year old savoring his flan to Dr. Barry, to cheer him up on account of he's working the PICU this week, and he responded that he truly has never seen a child enjoy food as much as our grandson. He's correct.

HIS little boy turns 27 today, and will be fetched at FLL by his Irish twin brother and Donna. The plan is to meet at Mo's, and I will drive to Aventorture, as Allison calls it, on account of the untenable traffic, to meet at Mo's for a birthday breakfast. Wifey told me last night that she MIGHT arise in time to come, too, though I knew that dog was NOT going to hunt, and sure enough, Wifey is PTFO, as expected.

The rest of the week should include watching an absurdly timed (2pm) bowl game for our Canes, on Thursday, and then a visit Friday to Gulfstream, where my bro in law Dennis will meet Paul, Lou, and me, to go over the end of the year Firm's business and slowly lose money to the horses. We do this most  years, and it's a fine time.

NYE hopefully includes a visit with dear friends for dinner, but that may be a game time decision based on some health issues. If that falls through, Wifey and I will just chill.

And our plans on NY DAY is a trip to a place where it's all happening -- the Zoo! Joey got us pedal cars, and he, the 4 year old, and my consuegros will take the little guy around. Last time we were there, he thought every animal was an "oso especial," or special bear. Now he knows about lions and giraffes and rhinos and such. After that, hopefully Wifey meets us for a NY Day brunch at LOL. It ought to be a fine way to ring in 2024.

Next Wednesday our marriage turns 37. Wow. Lots of years there. Wifey wants to see the Van Gogh light show Downtown, so of course it's closed Wednesday. So we'll probably just have a quiet dinner to talk of days past, days of present, and days hopefully to come.

Three years ago I was assembling Team Wifey, on account of getting her through a terrible health scare. Big Man willing, no more of that in store.

So off, soon, to Aventorture. Scott's plane ought to be landing, and I have to make my way. Paul may "sneak over" to join us, though he's in the midst of hosting a lot of Patricia's family in from Peru.

Indeed -- that most wonderful time...