CONTROLLED CHAOS

I really like it quiet, but I really like it loud…

Said another way, a little ‘chaos’ now and then good for one’s soul.

Well, perhaps controlled chaos, which was our last couple of weeks, when grandkids came to visit, and we were on Queenie and PA duty again.

Which is tougher than it looks: A ton of unseen prep, and juggling the vacation wishes of the 6 visiting grandchildren.

And their parents, of course.

Not to understate the amount of prep, which is largely My Captor’s gig, but it approaches the complexity of the Normandy invasion. Trips to the Winn Dixie, return trips to the Winn Dixie, the occasional trip to Harris Teeter, another Winn Dixie trip – doing our part to drive the economy.

But my prep role the most important: Beer! Daytime beer, IPAs, and visitor favorites, all stocked and cold. And in today’s ‘kid’s healthy eating world’, even Coke products – finally.     

Katharine and crew arriving a day ahead of our return from the California wedding, and by our arrival had already knocked out 2 ‘spots’ – everyone has their dining spots to be visited when they’re here. Even the grandkids with favorites.

A recent phenomenon, but grandkid favorites not always aligning with our usual haunts, the additional outings complicating the “Are we eating in or out tonight?”, demanding meals that can be placed back in the fridge, or eventually frozen. Or preserved in rock salt.

Proof mankind evolves…

Emily and crew arriving a few days later, the groups overlapping for 4 days, each with 3 solo days.

I can see you doing the math – it was actually 12 days.

Throw in a couple of uncles for the weekend – a 14-house full.

I know 12 days sounds like a long time – it was.

The days with a pattern of relative predictability.

Emily’s boys in our room by 6:30 – or earlier – Katharine’s children up by 7ish, the day underway.

The bad breakfast news: The Winn Dixie devastating their donut section, moving to pastries only – are they now the Wagyu Beef people? – and the Harris Teeter a merely acceptable solution. But PA donuts one morning, with an odd “take a bite from each donut” drill – PA rules, I guess.

Visit activities included our neighbor’s pool, lunch out – with a couple of beers – a post-lunch IPA nap, a late afternoon trip to the beach.

And then dinner in or out – do I need to get the rock salt? – kids and adults off to bed.

Sleep, wake up and do it all again…

As usual, an amazing visit. Everyone got along, everyone had a fine time, everyone made it to their dining spots. Some more than once.

Communication and managing expectations a key: When a visitor ‘complained’, or wanted to override the group agenda, responding with “No, sorry…”, followed by a choice of: The sausage isn’t that spicy, the miniature golf course is closed today, or that’s bigger than your head – don’t eat it.

At the end, it felt the same, but it felt different. More complicated.

As the kids age, school and sports occupy more of their time, and visits tougher to schedule – this the only of the summer.

And in a sign of aging, our oldest grandchild now a teenager! But with teenagers being like ants, I know there are more right behind him.

But none of that was an issue during the 12 days – as life recently reminded, take nothing for granted, and we savored it like it was the last. Hopefully more to follow, but we’ll take what we get…

For 307 more posts like this –each with a wish for a quick nap – go to beersatthenifty.com. Your phone will display every post, and you can waste an hour or two.

ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS POST, PAIR WITH THE FOLLOWING ‘AGING HIPSTER MUSIC’:

I may have been the last one alive to hear of Laufey, a 26 year old Icelandic singer and cello/piano/guitar player, who is “bringing jazz to Gen Z”. Her music beautifully arranged, and sounds like the classics. And she has a new album out, which is quite good. Some adds to the BATN playlist.