July 4, 2017, at Stately Tanner Manor, Washington, DC: A New Hope

Have I told you that I’m now a grandfather?  No?  That’s odd.  I’ve told everyone else several times.  More than several times, in some cases.  Yes, the lovely and talented Ella Grace Boyd was born to Liza and Michael Boyd five months ago.  Now that Liza is back at work, Nancy (aka Nonnie) is the Nanny and I (aka Papa (or Papa-Q)) am the Senior Assistant Nanny.  We are taking an active part in her education, and I am in charge of her barbecue education.

We, of course, had a barbecue to celebrate Independence Day, the anniversary of  our throwing off the British yoke and of my retirement from the Justice Department.  You can go to the “Categories” links on the lower right of the main page and click on “My Barbecue” for a step-by-step description of how I go about cooking the pork butts.  But back to Ella.

There are a number of rules about food and infants.  Being excellent parents, Liza and Mike obtained doctor approval for Ella’s introduction to barbecue.  I pressed my index finger against a particularly succulent piece of pork (unsauced) and put my finger near Ella’s mouth.  She went for it, and loved it.

After several minutes I was able to extract my finger intact.  Next year will be a treat.