This is Father’s day, and so I called my father. This was after I spoke with my son – trying to call his father – who was not in (more later). Since we are separated by a few thousand miles, the phone call was as close as we could get today. Still it was good to talk and catch up on what is going on in there end of the universe. Bridge games that I remember from my very small years still happen. Apparently, however, the players have changed some (this is over a period of more than 40 years afterall), and so have the refreshments. Last night there were no mixed drinks (hard liquor) served and only a handful of beers. More soda and water. Now I remember the bridge nights for their sound, talking, laughing, and general cadence. I also remember the 2 Prize, given to the first person to take a trick with a 2. And I mostly remember that we would get to drink pop the day after the game. We didn’t usually have pop in the house, but they would buy it for mixers, and we would get to imbibe in the leftovers. (Pop only, not the hard stuff.)
My mind also referenced a recent post on my cuzzint Anne’s site and the following comments. This had to do with liking or not liking cottage cheese (it’s in there – really). I noted that I still don’t drink martinis, and it may have started from being given a sample of a martini from my parents (yuck). To which my father told the story of getting cream soda with a lump of ice cream at their Sunday dinners growing up. His father would not have that, but a beer instead. So my dad asked what beer was like, and was allowed a taste, “Yuck.” Unlike my not going for martinis, even in their resurrection as a popular drink, my dad does drink beer.
So – back to the present – Rey called to talk to the non-present dad, and chatted with me instead. Topics ranged from Pillars of the Earth to Chekhov’s Gun to Sofa King the Jones Act and an HL Mencken quote, “An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup.” [I have to take notes when I speak with Rey, because his brain moves a lot faster than mine.]
Dad Carl was not at home because he was out with the other child. They are having a day together. First up was Church of Baseball, er softball. They and another father and daughter met at a field and pitched and hit and chased after baseballs. Ashlan claims she threw about 200 pitches to Carl. No report on how many were in the strike zone. But apparently they all got a good workout. Next it was quick rinse and off to the Mariner game. Ashlan acquired two tickets in the second row behind the dugout. These are fantastic seats, and may have the added bonus of padded seats and access to the “club.” We are waiting to find out what this really means. I dropped them at the game, and will be picking them up at the end (I assume).
Yesterday was a different day. It ended with Carl & me at the baseball game (Ms win!), preceded by a walk to the game (7-8 miles), preceded by an afternoon spent looking at car sites comparing cost, size, mileage, etc …, preceded by a morning spent watching soccer, preceded by getting up at 3:30 AM to drive a friend to the airport.
While the others are at the game I am preparing to watch soccer and go through Consumer Reports on the cars I gathered for further consideration yesterday. All for now.
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