Yankee Doodle Dandy

(Photo courtesy of Janeane Reis)

Happy Summer, everyone.  This is Sam Tofias, your Boston roving cub reporter.  I’m writing today’s post because my Gran is still too exhausted from all of the holiday festivities to type.  She delegated the job to me.

(And btw, that’s Dad, Mom, Gran and yours truly in the photo above.)

The pic was snapped on Fourth of July when I was in town celebrating my first birthday with the Chicago branch of my family.

It was quite the occasion- if I do say so myself.

(Photo courtesy of Natasha Tofias)

But the visit didn’t start out on a propitious note.  When we got to Logan Airport for the short hop in, just as we were boarding…

Uh oh.  An announcement.  There was a mechanical delay because a new airplane part had to be flown in from La Guardia.

Five hours later, we were still on the ground.  Mom and Dad were pretty impatient, but I got to know every inch of the gate area. It was neat.

But once we finally hit O’Hare, it was party, party, party.

(That’s right.  I’m a swinger.)

Of course, I did my Chicago thing- lunch at Portillo’s with Mom’s friend Janeane, her nice husband Chris, and their cute daughters, Alexandra and Caroline.

And I caught up with Uncle Kenny, Aunt Mary Lu, cousins Eliza, Suzie and Delia, went swimming, went on long stroller rides, you know, the usual Chicago summer fun.

That’s Mom and me with Uncle Kenny and Cousin Delia.

And speaking of Portillo’s, like any good half-Chicagoan, I love the food here.  Gran says I am a “major fork.”  (I know she got that expression from one of her favorite book’s, Prizzi’s Honor.)

Here’s a clip from the movie that Richard Condon made from his great novel. Enjoy it while I grab a quick snack.

Now here’s my grownup cousin Eliza with us at the baby pool. I’m wearing my scuba suit.

(Uncle Kenny thought I should take up synchronized swimming. Hah hah.)

But the main event was on the Fourth itself and I was pumped.

There was a big – like 700 people big- celebration at the country club. It had pony rides, a bouncy house, arcade games, stilt walkers, clowns, a barbecue, a DJ and fireworks.

And it was all for me.

My Grandpa Bill was there- along with my aunts, Julie, Patti and Amy, my cousins, Hannah, Alex and Claudia, and other assorted guests.

Gran brought my courtesy Uncle Norman.  Uncle Norman was the perfect escort for Gran because he has known my mom since she was a child and he has lots of friends at the club. He is suave, sophisticated and socially adept.  He is also very funny.  This last trait came in especially handy because…

Grandpa had invited all three of his wives.  Yep, there was Wife #1, Wife #2-  my Gran- and the current titleholder, Wife #3.

And they were all at the same table.

Hmmm.  Were the fireworks going to be confined only to the night sky, I wondered?

Nope, my Gran was a real pro.  When she found out, she just laughed and told Grandpa Bill that only he would have the nerve to bring three wives to the same party.

Grandpa laughed too.  He still thinks Gran is a card.

All the wives were on their best behavior but I was a little disappointed that they didn’t get up and sing this.

But they did sing “Happy Birthday” when my mini cake was brought out.

    
(Photos courtesy of Janeane Reis)

Wow!  The whole table jumped up to take my picture.  I had more paparazzi than Prince George.

The cake was my swan song.  I was pretty tired by then and gave Mom and Dad the signal to pack it in.

Earlier in the evening I had done a lot of this.

(Do you think Eddie Arcaro started this way?)

Hope you all had a star-spangled holiday, too.

Until next time, this is Sam Tofias wishing you the very red, white and blue best.

And here it is.