the next gen of george boys...

the next gen of george boys... 

                     

   

  The original George Boys (in my lifetime) were my dad and his four brothers.  Two of the uncles each had a boy and one had a daughter.  

  I was one of four brothers.  My brothers and I had eight boys and four girls, plus, there are step sons and daughters too.

  The next generation has produced a mix of George boys and girls.  My son Jeremy, and, his wife, Nora, have two George Boys, Leo, 11, and, Dallas, 9.  Those George Boys had quite an adventure last summer.

   Paris, France is a little over 4,517 air miles from New Port Richey, Florida, but, that didn't prevent our grandsons and their mom and dad from attending the Paris Olympics.

  HUH?  What's up with that?

  Leo and Dallas and their parents spent 21 days in Paris and Greece.  I thought it would be interesting to find out what the boys thought of the trip and to see if I could envision what they saw.

  Regina and I drove to Florida last December for a three day visit.  Sunday night, December 8th, I invited the boys to go with me to Ottaways Ice Cream Parlor in downtown New Port Richey.

  We found an open table outdoors and it was there I got the scoop.  Leo had a large cup of Rocky Road and Dallas spooned chocolate ice cream from a cup.  I munched my own Rocky Road while giving the boys an idea of what I was trying to do. 

  All three of us were excited about the project and I turned on the recorder and started asking questions. 

  Were you looking forward to boarding the plane?  How did you feel about that?

  Leo started things off.  I was pretty excited, but, I was also nervous.

  What made you nervous?

  Not being able to sleep on the plane.

  I was nervous because I wouldn't be back home for three weeks, Dallas said.  But, I also stayed up on the whole ride on the plane, but, it was okay.

  When you landed in Paris, you got into a car and did what?

  We drove to Normandy to see our foreign exchange student, Leo said.  We hosted her about four years ago. Her name is Garance. 

  She is really nice. 

  Leo continued his narration.

  The second day, we drove south and saw some German bunkers and a humongous canyon.  We also saw a French author's house and he had beautiful gardens. We had amazing ham and cheese sandwiches on croissants.  

  I had a steak,  Dallas added. 

  I did not enjoy the duck fat, Leo tossed in.  I am not a duck fat person.

  Me neither, Dallas echoed

  Duck fat?  I will have to look into that.  Okay, you got to the Olympics.  What was the first event you guys saw?

  Boxing, Leo smiled, where I experienced pickled Sushi.    

  Was pickled Sushi good?  I've never had it.

  It was okay, Leo judged.  

  Boxing is where me and Leo got on the big screen, Dallas voiced proudly.

  That's pretty cool.  Did you smile?  Leo added more. 

  One day we went to Lafayette Square and it was mom's birthday and we went on a cruise down the Seine River.  We went shopping too and saw a bottle of wine that was made in 1899 and a $34,000 bottle of Louis the 13th Bourbon.  

  We also tried very fancy chocolates, Dallas grinned.  

  When you were at the Olympics, did you see and watch all of the camera people and television people?

  Yes, we did, Dallas nodded.  And, for the swimming, the guy had to run to keep up with the swimmers. 

  How many events did you see?  

  We saw three events and technically, this doesn't count, but, we really saw four because we saw biking when we were taking a walk, Dallas explained.  

  What was the fourth event?  You saw boxing, swimming, biking, and, what was the other one?

  Table Tennis, they both said at the same time.

  I have always been amazed at how fast table tennis can be played by experts.

  It was incredible, Leo said excitedly.  They served about 10 feet in the air.

  After you left Paris, you flew to Greece, correct?

  Yes, confirmed Dallas.  We also saw an island called Kefalonia.

  Leo commented on the difference between the color of the Gulf Coast water and the Ionia Sea surrounding Kefalonia.  

  It was amazing.  The water was perfectly clear.  Much different than Florida. 

  Did you have a favorite city you visited?

  Athens, Dallas said.

  What made Athens your favorite?  

  Olives, he quickly offered.

  I'm going to say Paris, countered Leo.  Because of the Eiffel Tower and they had a huge Lego store.  

  Tell me something you didn't like at all.  

  Dallas remembered a strange incident.  In Paris, we had this weird cab driver who kept getting the wrong address and laughing at my dad.  It was really weird.  

  The smell of the market in Athens, Leo scrunched his nose for emphasis.  It smelled like fish and dead meat.  It didn't smell good.

  During the Table Tennis event, I jumped seven stairs and sprained my ankle, Dallas boasted as he smiled .

  Wow, I hadn't heard about that.  Did you need medical attention?

  Dallas shook his head in the affirmative.

  Do you have a favorite memory from your three weeks in other countries?

  My favorite memory was eating bread, Dallas volunteered   

  Where?  Greece or France?

  France.

  Walking down the Eiffel Tower, Leo chose over other favorites.  We took the elevator up and then we walked down.

  Wait, Dallas exclaimed.  No, my favorite memory wasn't the bread, it was the Eiffel Tower.  

  Would you go back to any of those countries?

  I'd go back to Paris, thought Dallas.

  I'd go back to them all, Leo surmised.

  Well?  What's next?  What country would you like to see?

  Italy, because I want to see Rome, Dallas jumped in.

  Denmark, said Leo.  I want to see Copenhagen and the Lego Headquarters.  

  Coming up:  another oddities, observations & ?'s; a George Brothers' dinner, and; another POS.

  And, finally.  I wasn't a follower of President Jimmy Carter during his presidency though it is difficult to oppose or argue against accomplishments like the Camp David Peace Accords.  

  It was only after he left public office that my admiration for the man grew.  There aren't a wealth of role models in politics, entertainment, business, or, public service today.  However, Mr. Carter has to rank right up there close to Numero Uno in my lifetime. 

  HUH?  What's up with that?