Better Behind the Wheel Than Upon a Keyboard. Spending a Morning with the Nephews from Manlius

Casey, Jacob, Sean-Man, and Dixie drove to the other side of Syracuse in hopes of scoring Chic-filet on (which was a success) and getting some quality time with Karal. Cousins on International Dog Day and a festival of lawn chairs sitting in the garage. The humidity returned, as did the rain, but there was a window of time to take Sean around the block a few times in the Hulk. It's always obvious when a kid grows up on riding lawn mowers and 4-wheelers. They have more control of how a vehicle handles and moves. 

I laughed watching Sean fold into the driver's position as he's bound to be the tallest of the whole Crandall/Barnwell/Isgar set. Then I had to think, "Wait. That must be what I look like folded behind the wheel. We're practically the same height." Maybe big guys like us should be driving trucks so we look more comfortable. 

By the way, Jacob has the better musical talents.

At night, I got the fortune of the Scott, J.D., Butch garage-gathering of Budweiser and Southern Comfort. I will forever be amazed by the number of phases that garage has gone through with company, booze ,and neighborhood storytelling. Butch and Sue have been staples in the 'hood but the people have changes. The drama has altered. The tales move on. It remains surreal to grow up in the middle of it, to leave for college, to return, to spend a decade in Kentucky (only to return to the backyard pool), to earn a doctorate, and to visit now from CT. 44 years of Amalfi Drive and its fables.

Butch's garage knows. The lawn chairs and garage cans know. The wooden fence and bushes with bees know.

The grass would know, too, but it never has a chance to grow real tall as dad continues to mow it every day.

And Amalfi continues.