Ours was overall outstanding.  We flew out the Friday prior to TG.  That week was the 31st anniversary of our first date.  I only know the week because it was the week before TG.  Otherwise that would be nowhere near my Man-RADAR.

Quick back in the day moment. Actually not so quick. I first saw my then future bride at the beginning of the last semester of my 11yr undergrad career.  That was 3 years and 3mos after my divorce from my serially adulterous XW was final.  A couple of months after the final divorce hearing I had sold my share of my company to partners and left to start Engineering school.  I first saw this super model tall, beautiful young woman in the hallway on campus the first day of that semester.  I was pretty much locked on that beautiful young lady instantly.  A week later my friends and I were in the student canteen when she walked in with a couple of other young women. I made a snide remark to my brother and the rest of our friends/study group that she was the next X Mrs Rags.  About a month later I went into the grad placement office for an interview with a major tech company.  In the waiting area just inside the doors to the office she was stretched out with the Dun and Bradstreet guide open on her lap taking notes. This was notably pre-internet/pre-cloud so that was when D&B was a large multi-volume book form resource.    I had to step over her very long legs.  She regularly wore sun dresses as we were in school in the desert SW.  I asked to be pardoned for stepping over her legs then checked in at the reception desk and took a seat. She and one of her classmates were talking while doing their research.  She commented that her child's father had once again lied about visiting and she and the baby had gone to the airport to meet his flight and he never got off of the plane.  In a somewhat cavalier fashion I piped up... "In that case how about dinner?". I got the sideways eyeball look and a scowling head shake. Then I got called in for my interview.  A couple of hours later when I left the grad placement office the admin called me back and handed me a note. It had a name and a phone number. About a year earlier I had dated a woman by that name who had moved to CA. I thought she had moved back. A few days later during a study group break I called the number.  It turned out not to be the women I had dated before.  It was the young woman I married 8mos later.  We celebrated TG less than a week after our first date. The rest is 31 years of history.

Anyway, back to near real time TG.

We hung out with mom and dad for the week before TG.  Sadly our kid backed out of TG at the last minute due to some health issues. Everyone was disappointed.  We are still trying to ascertain the details regarding the kid. I will update when and if we ever get that info.

Saturday prior to TG we went to my niece's home to meet our Grandniece. What a doll. Though.... I am not yet approved by her to hold her. Though her Great Aunt, my incredible bride was instantly a source for the baby to be enamored with.

We had Brunch with my brides work DH and his DH.  A wonderful time as usual.  Two amazing men who we are blessed to have in our lives.  I have a particular large and warm place for them in my heart as they are my go do resource and example on how to be dad to a no longer quite so young gay man. 

Monday DW had their monthly coffee AM with her work husband. This time in person. They usually do it via video call once a month.  We all tag teamed on cooking, shopping, etc... during the week.  Thursday at noon we loaded mom and dad's large SUV with food and headed to my brother and SIL's house where the whole clan was gathered except for my eldest nephew and his wife who were with her family, and our son who could not make the trip.

It was an incredible feast and we all had a great time playing with my brother's dog and the baby.  At dinner my SIL caught everyone off guard with a toast to my parents.  She thanked them for being the glue for the entire family, thanking them for making their home the home for everyone in the family, and showing her how to be a mom and and a grandmother.  Just wow.  My dad commented on that several times over the next few days before we left on Sunday.

On Friday a very good friend of ours from our Expat years visited us at mom and dads and stayed the night. She had wanted to meet my parents for years. She and mom and dad spent her visit discussing the family history in the Middle East and talking about things that they and our friend had done during their time in the region.  We of course participated in the adventure stories as well.  We  all went out for breakfast on Sat AM and our friend left mid day for her 3 hour drive home. 

We met my college BFF for lunch on Saturday and the three of us caught up.  His DD is finding her stride her Jr. year of HS and seems to have progressed past her behavioral challenge years.  Which is good to hear since she drove he and his wife nuts from birth until recently.

My brother booked a Hibachi chef at their house for Saturday late afternoon/evening and the whole family had a great time. My eldest nephew came down for the weekend. His DW was not feeling well and stayed home.  She struggles with social anxiety so this is not an infrequent thing.  I hope she works out her condition so she can attend the family get togethers.

The chef was liberal with the Saki and we all spent time being force fed Saki with a super-soaker and squeeze bottles by the chef as he prepared the feast and entertained everyone.  Except for the baby. She avoided the Saki.

After dinner we all congregated in the family room for football.  After the UT/A&M game, Hook E'm Horns!!!, my youngest nephew and his GF headed for the hot tub.  My brother sparked up the fireplace by the pool & hot tub and the dog conned everyone into tossing his ball in the pool. He is a retriever and he does what his breed indicates. He will go until everyone else is tired.  Mom and dad, my bride and I, left in the late evening when my niece, her DH, and the baby left. My brother and SIL grabbed a couple of bottles of wine and joined my youngest nephew, his GF, and my eldest nephew in the hot tub.  

A few months ago mom and dad mandated that the first Sunday of every month is the clan brunch at their house. Anyone in town or close enough to get there is mandated to attend.  We happened to be there this past Sunday.  So Saturday night mom went nuts doing her kitchen magic.  She made three different versions of individual sized quiche. One was vegetarian (SIL and Y-Nephew's GF), one was with sugar free bacon (for me and my bride), and the last was with pastry crust regular bacon for everyone who wanted it.  My bride made low carb pancakes, zero carb sausage, and zero carb bacon for she and I.  Interestingly that bacon and sausage disappeared first.

I am now officially a lard ass after 10 days of feasting with the pinnacle being the TG feast, followed by the Hibachi and Saki flavored gluttony on Saturday, then the feast of mom magic on Sunday for Brunch.

We caught a late evening flight home Sunday. The airport was a zoo on both ends.  It was good to get home and into our own bed though we both are in our recharge place in our room at mom and dad's.  As usual, they tried to put me on a plane while keeping my bride with them.

They will be here on the 20th for the holidays.  They leave on Dec 2. My aunt just called to ask if she could join us on Christmas day to be here on the 26th to celebrate mom's 80th B-day.  That should be interesting since we only have a 2Br condo.  Dad called and volunteered for the sofa.  Mom and her sister love each other but can only do about 2days together before things get a bit tense.  Hopefully that will not be shortened if they share a bed.

I hope everyone had a great TG and that drama was not a part of it.

Merry Hanu/Chrisma/Wanza/Dan STalkers. Enjoy the season. Which, including Ramadan, will include the first third of 2025.  

Love yourselves, your family, your friends and gobble till you wobble.

Sincere regards,

Rags