Celebration

Last evening we enjoyed dinner at a restaurant beside a small lake where a fountain propelled glittering silver spray toward the blue sky.  An inspiring water-view extended beyond expansive glass windows, and nearby shallows shimmered with refracted light. Other diners were seated outside on the patio beneath the shade of towering trees, but we stayed inside as a quieter option.

Our attentive server, Anne, pampered us with expensive Cabernet, crusty bread with well-seasoned olive oil, and salad featuring fresh herbs, walnuts, and juicy slivers of dried apricots. Then she presented us with two different fish entrees with gourmet sides, and topped off the meal with a decadent wedge of tiramisu and coffee.

We hadn’t eaten with such extravagant self-indulgence for months, and don’t plan to digress again similarly anytime soon, but it was a perfect way to celebrate.  While savoring each delightful morsel, we chatted about our most special mountaintops, and most challenging black holes, as a married couple. As the memories replayed, we marveled at how these various circumstances - victories, mistakes, and everything in-between - have enabled us to grow closer to God and each other.  These realities warmed us along with tall glasses of wine, a fitting way to celebrate our 43^rd wedding anniversary.