Anniversary Report

I really don't remember much about it, but I loved going to a matinee of The Host with Mark.  I took my time with the promised shopping at TJ Maxx (I bought 2 bars of sweet almond soap - I love that creamy, cherry blossom smell!), and, after a long search online, we remembered the little Gangplank restaurant and immersed ourselves in hot, delicious seafood.  They don't have crab legs or jumbo shrimp (but it is  butterflied) - it's not Red Lobster, but they have the best fish, clam chowder, deep-fried zucchini, and honey-buttered scones!  Oh my word, did we enjoy ourselves.  

And that, my dears, is my report on one heck of an Anniversary Day, lovingly felt and noted.

Other years, we've squeezed in  a little something, if we remembered (one year, we didn't realize we'd forgotten all about it until weeks later!), but this year, we had the luxury of time.  See...there is an upside to being unemployed!  We didn't have to spend much: we could just as well have gone to Barnes and Noble, then driven out to the dark hills to gaze up at the stars (we'll be doing that soon : ); it was the emotional weight of commemorating our day that was so fulfilling.
  

Our Wedding Day

In the past, we have celebrated every five-years:  the fifth year, we went down to the Salt Lake temple and joined with his family in being sealed for all Eternity (long, long story about that delay, but it worked out beautifully, to the day, so it felt like somehow it was meant to be that way).  Our sealer spent some time talking to us about his diabetic wife, and he was so compassionate with my needing a wheelchair to stay off my feet at that time.  I also remember Mark's father and brother Scott being there with us and expressing their love and support for us.  Seth was brought in and sealed to us, and we couldn't have felt more complete. 

Susan and Mike had kindly prepared a repast for us all, at their home.  It was a sunny day, I remember, and an island of peace for our family.

The tenth year, we went to SLC again, this time for a Clay Aiken concert.  We had Megan and Melinda with us, and we had a ball.  This was his big concert tour with Kelly Clarkson, and he was still full of enthusiasm about performing.  I'll never forget when he strode into the back of the stadium, singing, and we were all cheering wildly.  We were up high, to the left of the stage and visible to him and his band members.  The girls moved up to some empty seats and waved to them, getting a charge out of their responses.  Mid-concert, their rendition of When Doves Cry was awesome.  

Afterwards, we waited outside for Clay's bus with a crowd of excited ladies, and we filled the time by taking pictures of ourselves with a good sported look-alike:

   

And one of his assistants handed me a basket of goodies, one of many that he'd been given and gone through, then gave away; he had no room to keep the whole things.  I remember there were breath mints for his dog, and a string of red hearts, all lit up and wrapped around the handle.

As his bus pulled up, finally, he waved at the crowd.  I looked at him pathetically as he pulled away, but Melinda actually ran with the bus till it stopped at a light.  He was looking out the back and joked with her, making running motions, then waved goodbye as they took off.

I'm delighted that we got to see him before he became more world-weary.  Megan and I saw his Christmas Concert in SLC, later that year.  He seemed detached throughout, and didn't even look out the window as his bus pulled out afterwards.  I'd gotten to touch his hand as he walked by, during the concert, but we didn't get the same feeling from him.  He'd really looked at the audience before.  He'd been pretty sick the past fall, and was tired, but still, it wasn't just that.   Maybe he was feeling the pressure, especially from hiding his gayness from his mom.  I hope he's happier now.

Our last five-year anniversary, Mark and I got way-back seats to an Idol summer concert, mostly to see Adam Lambert perform.  He looked like a speck on the stage, and we couldn't hear over the screaming, but at least we could say we saw him live, right?  And we'd kept up our tradition, lol.  I think we'd done it all last minute that time.

We're already planning (fantasizing) about next year, when it will be our 20th Anniversary, plus we'll both turn 60 years old!  So far, we've joked about going on a 3-day cruise, but we don't even know where he'll be working or if he'll be working, so we;ll have all kinds of things to consider and explore by then.   Maybe we'll live near a big city.  If we're still here, we talked about flying to Las Vegas on Allegiant (so inexpensive!) and seeing Jersey Boys and eating at a buffet.   What fun that would be!

Or maybe we'll attend the beautifully ethereal Rexburg Temple. built not far from where the kids and I grew broccoli and squash the first year we lived there.  We joined a community garden, up on the hill.  I love that we did that.  (Most of it flopped, btw.) 

Whatever we do, I know that we'll be together, one way or another.   

That's just the way this family rolls.   ; )

At Mark's Niece Julie's Wedding, Susan Asked us to Pose, and We Were Glad to Oblige

Have a blessed day!

We love you!

xoxoxo