It was national Sons day and I missed it

Our latest birthday boy

Ooops.  That's OK.  I seldom keep up with those things.  I remember all birthdays of immediate family, and our anniversary. I will keep in my mind my sons' wedding anniversaries as well.  Other than that, I usually let such 'national such and such' days pass.  Personally I'm more interested in special holy days of the old world.  

Nonetheless, it's an excuse to catch up a bit.  With our second oldest moving out, and the older two busy with their lives and plans, we don't have the chance for the many family outings.  With that said, we recently had the chance for a little day trip to the north, around old Toledo.

The destination was Fort Meigs, a rather pleasant working museum and historical site that brings you back to the War of 1812.   A forgotten little war, it looms large in Ohio history classes because of the significant events that happened in our neck of the woods.  The fort is nice as a historical destination, because much of it hasn't changed over the decades, and you actually learn that Americans and Europeans did some decent things.   After a fun walk about and some interaction with reenactors, we went to Tony Packo's - a Toledo restaurant made famous by the character of Max Klinger in the TV show MASH.

This is also a chance for a shout out to my second oldest.  His birthday came and went this year, as he turned 25 years old.  Passing the one year mark of their bookstore, they're starting to look forward and plot out their future years.  Our oldest is prepping for continuing in school, his major of preference to be announced in the future.  Our third oldest continues on his path up the corporate ladder, waiting for that chance to take the next leap forward.  Our youngest is now in high school, if that doesn't make me feel old I don't know what will.  He's a tech junkie, and has recently become involved in our local theater group. 

Below are some pictures from the day.  Can't help but admit you get a little nostalgic for the olden days when such excursions were a regular event.  Much of that ended with Covid, and just the movement of years since then.  Still, it was a fun day, and our daughter-in-law ended up enjoying it as much as any of us.  All in all, happy times.  And the stuff of future memories. 

I love these little models you see at museums. I could look at them for hours.  This one is at the first stop once you enter the fort proper. 

If you're a reenactor or tour guide, you want our third oldest in the crowd.  He's the kind who will unload a boatload of questions and opinions about the topic at hand.  Though I can't help but think his sudden interest in early 19th Century American fashions was driven by the not unattractive young girl to the left.

Amazing.  He's a middle school science teacher.  Everything here was built by him. His main role is a traveling blacksmith, and that's his portable smithy behind him. He's showing us the plans for a wagon he plans on building in the old school way. 

My wife and the kiddos listening to Mr. Blacksmith.  It was fairly busy this day, probably the most crowded since we started visiting there when the boys were little. 

That's our third oldest giving a toss of the axe.  I think my second oldest might have broken something when he gave it a try.

Our youngest tends to cling pretty close to our son and daughter-in-law.  Naturally.  It's a big thing for him to see his first brother move out.  It comes as no surprise that he tends to follow closely when we are all together.

Don't know why, but they seemed especially interested in this particular cannon. 

I can think of a dozen captions for this.  I must say, the two compliment each other nicely.  We have been blessed by her coming into our family, and I think she is very good for our second oldest, who was always our quirkier and more enigmatic son.

Sometimes I like the pictures of them as they get ready to pose for a picture more than the picture they posed for.  Not sure what our youngest is doing.  Our oldest, no fan of heights, did not like the fact that this was on the edge of a hillside that dipped into the nearby river valley. 

Safely away from the edge, our oldest unintentionally strikes a pose that I managed to catch.  I've often said he was the best first child a parent could ask for.  While I love all my boys and enjoy my time with each of them, he has long been my right hand man when push comes to shove. Not as quick on his feet as his younger brothers, he's given to contemplation and spending a long time working things out. This picture seems to capture that. 

One of the reenactors who knew - everything.  His specialty was in leatherwork, but he seemed to be quite talented in a great many things. 

Speaking of wide range of knowledge.  Not only was this young woman a talented seamstress, she unloaded a history of Napoleonic era related to fashion trends in 19th Century America that impressed me. 

The obligatory drill exhibition.  They didn't do badly.  The all time best military reenactment still remains the Civil War demonstration we saw a few years ago at the Ohio Historical Center.

When we were there ages ago, I got a picture of him on a cannon, wearing what I used to call his 'cool baby sunglasses.'  Coming back I always try to get another picture of him on a cannon, just to compare.  He's changed in many ways, but his personality is still spot on the same.

Go West young man!  Or something like that.  I guess today it's go and embrace our Lebensraum.  Again, our youngest staying close to the young couple.  On the whole, they do well by him. 

Our youngest.  Try as we might, and despite the best efforts of his brothers, he still grew up nine years after the other three.  The world he grew up in was a universe away from that which his brothers knew.  As we have pointed out, my mom and dad used to help take care of the brothers when they were little, but when he was little he helped take care of my mom.  Something about this picture brought that to mind.

Speaking of liking the pictures of them getting in place for poses more than the pictures they posed for.  It looks like an album cover.   My son and daughter-in-law seem ready to make a bolt for it, while I'm not sure what the others are up to.  Something goofy.  My oldest is, perhaps, pestering his brother while our youngest is - cheering him on? But it's what fun memories are made of in any event. 

Finally it was off to Tony Packo's.  Our daughter-in-law's first visit. That's the famous 'Wall of Buns', in which hot dog buns are signed by patrons of all walks.  From Hillary Clinton to Charlton Heston to the entire rock group KISS to Leon Spinks and Alice Cooper, there are hundreds and hundreds to see.  A strange tradition started by Burt Reynolds, but fun just the same.  And good, filling food (even if the portions seemed to be smaller this time around).