I’m very proud of my grandkids tonight.  All of them had separate parties going on: E had multiple parties elsewhere, Y had several friends over, howling like a dog opera in his room (middle schoolers!), and K had herds of friends, upstairs and downstairs, in every room, playing various games, baking, and eating pizza and snacks.  I didn’t even attempt to count heads.   The thing is, they were all nice and polite and intelligent.  And K did a great job prepping and hosting.  It’s good to see all the kids making so many nonconventional friends.  It’s like a queer, neurodivergent safe house.

Most of all, I’m proud of my son for providing such a welcoming place, despite the fact that he’s severely depressed and overworked.  Both he and I didn’t have anything like that growing up, so it’s good to see him making sure his kids and their friends can feel secure and comfortable having a place to be themselves.  He even trusts them enough to hold down the fort while he goes out for some personal respite time.  That’s after wearing himself out cleaning, repairing, filling, and preparing to cover the pool for the winter, lugging the last of the heavy sukkah poles into the woodshed, shuttling kids around, and other chores.

Last but not least, Loucious was in his element–so many people to welcome and love!  It was mutual.