Watching Over the Boys
January 2019
A couple of years ago our Queens
family took a winter break to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. This year
Matt & Anthea are off to Grand Paladium on Montego Bay in Jamaica . . . but
sans William & Miles. So the grandparents
are called into action. In my gerontology teaching I’ve referred to
grandparents as the “family national guard;” this doesn’t qualify as an
“emergency,” but we’re happy to answer the call and to add to our enjoyable
Christmas time with the boys. And now that they are older (13 and 11), they’re
relatively low-maintenance. Matt has also added a few perks for us: use of
their garage parking spot and a free week of HULU so I can watch football.
M & A fly out Friday 1/4 after William
& Miles have gone to school. We drive down during the day to be home when
they get back from school. Greeted by their rescue cat, Roxy; well, not exactly
greeted ˗ she’s watching over us in a favorite perch atop high shelves in the
master bedroom. But after being a bit standoffish when she joined the family,
Roxy is quite affectionate with us now.
We admire the boys’ “new” rooms now
that the adjoining studio apartment has been purchased to create a 3 bed-2 bath
space. Lunch at Vanilla Café across the street. Miles comes home first, walking
as usual from his school at 74th St. & 54th Ave. (he’s
a 6th-grader at IS 230: a “Magnet School of Civics in the
Community”) to their 87th St & Roosevelt building. He and
Marjorie head out to take the subway to his dance class at the 92nd
St. Y in Manhattan’s East Side. 
I stroll thru the Jackson Heights neighborhood,
finding photo ops of many Christmas decorations still up, including (later) the
brightly lit front of their building (the answer here to the traditional “When
Should Christmas decorations be taken down?” is clearly “Not yet!”). 
William
returns via a short subway ride from his Academy of American Studies high
school in Long Island City. He proudly shows me the computer he build from
components we helped fund for Christmas. Very impressive! We all enjoy dinner
when Marjorie & Miles get back.
Saturday is our busy day, and a rather
wet one; but warm, well into the 40s. Miles and I head out first to the 92nd
St. Y for another dance class followed by rehearsal for a production of “Annie
Junior;” dancer/singer Miles plays Rooster, Miss Hannigan’s evil brother. Miles
is greeted by friends who are prepping for the same exam he will take next week
(see below).
Having some 4+ hours, I head off in very light rain toward Central
Park after peeking in at Miles’ tap class. The rain becomes heavier as I reach
the reservoir, tho there are still many walkers & joggers out, including
strollers with rain covers. Opting for more indoor pursuits, I head down to the
Metropolitan Museum of Art, which I haven’t been to in quite a while.
A bit of
a wait in line to get in, and busy inside, but I have an enjoyable couple of
hours wandering and taking photo samples of the wonderful variety: Asian,
African, European, American, Egyptian, etc.; ancient to modern; paintings,
sculptures, period rooms. So much to see! 
When rehearsal ends, and after
rescuing shoes Miles left in his previous class space, we head off in very
light rain to rendezvous with Marjorie and William at Asphalt Green, a sports
facility several blocks away where William plays soccer. It’s indoor season,
today working on drills to enhance their skills. We’re particularly impressed
with William’s nimble footwork!
Afterward we head to “Dig Inn,” an informal
spot where bowls are filled from buffet choices; not “fine dining,” but plenty
hearty. A stop for treats at Vanilla Café on the way home, followed by a
spirited game of UNO.
Sunday is a quieter day. Marjorie
heads out for 10:00 Mass at Blessed Sacrament, 93rd & 35th.
The 3 Kings (it’s Día de los Reyes)
come down the aisle in all their finery. A very lengthy homily, all in Spanish,
and the service lasts longer than 1½ hours (not at all like our “1-2-3” Fr.
Walsh, with his usually 3 key points and 45-minute Masses). The homily is met
with applause from the congregation (it would be unkind to wonder: because it’s
over?), then Marjorie wonders why many people don’t take communion. She returns
excited about a big Nativity “city” set up along the outside of the church. We
all have leftovers from last night’s bowls for lunch.
Marjorie goes out again
to see “Book of Mormon” at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre near Times Square.
I do a
bit of nearby grocery shopping before the boys and I go for a walk on a nice
sunny PM, making our way to the impressive Nativity tableau at the church. Back
home, William and I help Miles set up a sample test for the Hunter College Campus
Schools exam he’ll take next week as part of applying to go to a school for
gifted students. Logistics prove a bit frustrating, and we don’t realize until
the next day that Matt had left some additional information (including the
answer key) that would have helped; oh well, Miles could at least see what the
questions are like. 
After Marjorie returns, dinner at a nearby place for fried
chicken & fish.
Monday brings a beautiful sunrise over
the 7 Train from our window. As Matt assured us, “both boys are good about
getting themselves to school.” We walk to school with Miles so we can attend an
honors ceremony he’s part of. Too early for that, so coffee and pastries at a
nice convenience store recommended by the friendly crossing guard. Back to
school for the awarding of honor roll certificates in the assembly hall. Miles
has made the higher Principal’s Honor Roll: a 95+ average plus meeting other
criteria. He seems (and should be!) very pleased. But ever the iconoclast (or
just forgetful), Miles is in gray when everyone else is wearing a blue shirt.
And a reminder of the vagaries of school life: a mid-ceremony PA announcement
of a “throw-up in Room 102.” The end of the ceremony becomes a mosh pit of
parents coming up to take photos.
We head back home to hang out the rest of the
day. Miles has a chorus rehearsal tonight, but we had already conferred with
Matt and decided it would be difficult for us to find our way out to the Long
Island location in rush hour traffic. And based on a troublesome forecast of
“wintry mix” tomorrow, I decide to head back to Albany tonight rather than
tomorrow (when I wouldn’t really be needed anyway). An easy ride out of the
city and up the Thruway, home about 9pm.
Marjorie oversees things on Tuesday.
She’s able to get together for lunch with childhood friend and sculptor Nene.
Matt and Anthea return from Jamaica on time at about 7:30pm. They had a fine
time and come back with gifts: Jamaican coffee, jerk seasoning, and a colorful
beach bag. On Wednesday Marjorie returns to Albany via train, arriving about
2pm.
Outings With My Boys
August-September 2015
It’s not unusual for Grandma &
Grandpa to be called into action to watch over (& have fun with) grandsons
William (age 10) & Miles (8). Our son Matt has a busy musician’s schedule,
juggling responsibilities as Percussion Department Coordinator at Julliard with
a performance schedule ranging from gigs with percussion ensemble Talujon to
regular stints in the pit of a Broadway show. Daughter-in-law Anthea is also
plenty busy as Executive Director of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestras. So we
weren’t surprised to have the boys coming to stay with us for a week in
mid-August. But a different twist this time: Grandpa will be flying solo for
several days when Grandma goes to Wisconsin for her 50th HS reunion.
Up to Guptill’s for ice cream after a storm left
dramatic clouds. I take the boys to the library to get some books; the boys
have some other reading with them, and Miles has summer homework (!) that we
work on together. The library also has an activity program where Miles has fun
making a super-hero cape (which he wears pretty much nonstop the rest of the
week) and they both make some strange concoctions that turn from liquid to
rubbery. They seem OK with the concept of Grandpa taking care of them for a few
days, tho Miles expresses some quite understandable concerns to Grandma: “Who
will feed us?” She assures him that dining has been arranged.
On Wed. we all get up very early to
take Marjorie to the airport. Later in the AM I take the boys to FunPlex in
East Greenbush: go-karts, mini golf ̶ Grandpa gets a hole-in-one! ̶
& bumper boats (where the boys get totally soaked for the ride home).
But imagine this: I neglected to bring a camera, so no photos of the fun!
The
next AM I spot an item in the paper about a music program for kids in a park
across the river in Troy, part of a series put on by the Troy Music Hall. It’s
a fun time, a local singer w/ lots of sing-a-longs. And I bring my camera this
time. 
Thurs. night is the highlight of the
week, and major creds for Grandpa! While Matt was here over the weekend he
& the boys were excited over a TV ad for “Nights of Fire” at Lebanon Valley
Dragway. Grandpa was initially skeptical, but agreed it would be an
“interesting” boys-night-out experience. So off we go on the 45-minute drive,
joined by 13-year-old Johnny (son of the jeweler/silversmith Marjorie works for
part-time) as my bodyguard & referee for the boys. We all score free
tickets: coupons from FunPlex for the grandsons, a woman from a sponsoring bank
hands Johnny & me passes at the track. And inexpensive food: burgers, dogs,
fries, drinks for 4 only $22! Well, there are some souvenirs purchased for the
boys.
And then the fun! A great variety of cars running heats ̶ my
personal favorite a souped-up green ’55 Chevy wagon that brings memories of my 1st
car, a ’57 Chevy. 
But the special attraction is dragsters with jet engines!
They range from a “Thomas the Train” look-a-like to a semi, and SO LOUD!!! . .
. mixed w/ clouds & smells of burnt rubber . . . shooting down the track at
speeds up to 280 mph!!
Framed by a beautiful sunset. A great Guy Night! Then I’m
amused on the drive home as the 3 boys have quite a thoughtful discussion about
the “common core” testing in schools. That brings the evening from ridiculous
to sublime.
Not
quite so much excitement on Friday. In the AM we head to the State Museum in
Albany. The boys enjoy wandering thru the exhibits on the Adirondacks & NYS
rocks & minerals. 
The boys also have
fun in the children’s “Discovery” area. I win a rousing game of checkers w/
William.
Then out on the Empire State
Plaza, & up to the 42nd-floor observation deck w/ panoramic
views of Albany & the Hudson River. Not quite a NYC skyscraper, but the
boys seem impressed nonetheless. 
We look down on the Governor’s Mansion where I
point out the swimming pool behind the house; Miles is skeptical that it all
belongs to the Gov. The day is capped off by swimming & pizza at the Kings
w/ Johnny’s parents Theresa & Glen and the other 2 triplets Sally &
Char; & I mustn’t forget their pug Melvin, who is quite excited about the
aquatic activity.
Sat.
brings an end to my fun times w/ William & Miles. After a quiet AM, a
rendezvous in Williamstown w/ Daddy.
Part
2 of my “outings w/ the boys” was late August. For my birthday/Father’s Day
Matt got us tickets for an early round of the US Open tennis. We’d done this
before, but not in more than 10 years. I was a long-time tennis player &
still a fan. Matt asked me to come down a day early to take care of the boys
again. I drive down Monday AM 8/31, Anthea at work & Matt heads off for a
Julliard staff meeting. After I get
better acquainted with their rescue cat Roxy, the boys & I head out on a
steamy afternoon.
Lunch at Bagel Café
then a fairly long walk to see William’s new school: a brand-new building just
for 6th-grade classes. We’re pretty heated up now, so a refreshing
stop at Rainbowberries for frozen yogurt to which the boys add many toppings
from chocolate sauce to gummy worms (YUCK!). 
For
the evening a surprise: we’re going to a Mets game! I’ve been to the new Yankee
stadium, but not to Citi Field, and I especially enjoy night baseball. William
joins us.
A short subway ride, pretty view of the nearby Arthur Ashe tennis
stadium as we walk to the game. Thru the pretty entry foyer.
Our seats in left
field give good views, including a bit of choreography on the infield. Bbut very steamy on a hot, muggy night w/ no air moving.
We
walk around exploring the facilities. There’s a plaza w/ food places &
pretty views behind the scoreboard. The Mets win 3-1 on 2 HRs ̶
while we’re in a very slow line to get food! Oh well, William is able to
see the action & we enjoy the ambience.
Afterward a beautiful view of the lighted stadium from the subway platform.
A short subway ride, pretty view of the nearby Arthur Ashe tennis
stadium as we walk to the game. Thru the pretty entry foyer. 
We
walk around exploring the facilities. There’s a plaza w/ food places &
pretty views behind the scoreboard. The Mets win 3-1 on 2 HRs ̶
while we’re in a very slow line to get food! Oh well, William is able to
see the action & we enjoy the ambience. 
Afterward a beautiful view of the lighted stadium from the subway platform.
And you can watch players on the practice courts; we see Rafael Nadal & Venus Williams.
We watch parts of featured matches with high-seeds
Simona Halep & Caroline Wozniacki. But like the Mets game, our seats are
very steamy. 
We wander more around
the pretty grounds, which seem more expansive than when we were here before. 
We’re done mid-afternoon. I drive back to Albany with fine memories of summertime fun with my boy & his boys.
Grandma & Grandpa Camps
More summer fun continued at "Grandma & Grandpa Camps." I'll give a more abbreviated summary for 2016-2018. 
Miles participated in a dance camp at Siena College that included his tap dance solo at the finale. 
a minigolf outing plus ice cream treats, 
entertaining acrobats at the Colonie library, and tie-dying at our kitchen table. 
2017 saw repeats of the dance camp 
The boys (and their mother Anthea) got more exercise at a trampoline park. 
Their time with us included some Albany icons: "Nipper" (the famous RCA dog) 
a giant tulip,
the USS Slater, 
Also along the river were replicas of the Nina and Pinta.
Artistic experiences included a visit to MASSMoCA, 
cartooning with Brett,
and "Hats Off to the Track" with Colonie Seniors. 
The 2018 edition started off without Grandpa (on a cruise) for the first couple of days, which included a visit to MassMoCA 
and more cartooning with Brett. 
And then off to their day camps at Siena College with lots of gear. 
As usual, dance camp for Miles, 
Soccer camp for William. 
And a good time was had by all!
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