"Where would you like to go for our anniversary dinner?" David asked. He probably already knew the answer. I said the same thing I have been saying for 61 years, "Anywhere you want to go."
Our Anniversary is next weekend, the 23rd of October, but we start planning early.
So he started trying to think of somewhere that was special, nice, but where we don't go often. We talked about the Lake of the Ozarks, which used to have some really nice places where we have eaten before. Things change a lot there so uncertain as to which is still open. Bentley's, J. Bruner's, The Brass door, The Potted Steer, Blue Heron and Hooks, were some of our favorites.
After talking about it, I believe we decided to stay closer to home this time, like last time. This COVID virus threat has interrupted life so much!
I'll share some of last years adventures with you.
I didn't know where we were going, but we ended up at Oscars in Jefferson City. What a good choice! That actually is now one of our favorite places. The steak is always cooked perfect, as well as everything else, and our waitress, was so cute and full of fun.
Last year, we had a lot of fun celebrating our wedding anniversary week. We spent it making day trips, checking out different places in our area, not too far from home.
David checked out points of interest on his computer then we decided to check out the historic swinging bridges and covered bridges in our surrounding area. So we have lots of great pictures and the weather was perfect, 75 degrees in October!
Like always, we got up early, got our routine work done, and made day trips, taking lots of pictures. The beautiful fall colors were getting our attention this week as well.
We carefully ate out each day and left a memory wherever we went. We have a lot of laughs on ourselves.
In one restaurant the waitress asked David, "Would you like biscuits or toast?" He said, "Toast." She said, "Wheat or White?" He looked right at her and said, "Toast." She tried not to laugh and looked at me. I repeated it to him, then we all laughed. I laughingly asked her not to be asking him those kind of hard questions. He told me later he didn't understand what a 'weeterwhite' was.
In another restaurant, we were through eating and I wanted to take home the steak scraps to our Lady the Wonderdog. The busboy came over and he was a nice looking young man, I assumed from another country. I still can't believe what I did! I spoke one word slowly at a time, exaggerating my lip movements, and asked for a 'to go' box. He just smiled and said, "Do you need a big box or a little one?" I'm still laughing, and embarrassed. If he couldn't speak English, no matter how slow I talked, it wouldn't have mattered!
We left another waitress near Eldon wondering another day. I asked for a box to take home the fatty steak pieces to our dog. When she left David said, "Aw.. you shouldn't call our Lady a dog, she's our baby." So when she came back I corrected it I told her it was actually for our baby. Priceless look on her face. We gave her something she can tell at home.
And we have laughed about our youngest son, Eric, in his first fancy restaurant experience when he was young. The waiter said to him, "Soup or Salad?" He thought a minute and said, "Yes." He thought he was offering a super salad.
We talked about how times and attitudes of people have sadly changed. When we got married we recalled how neither one of us would eat that last piece of pie, chicken or anything else. It just wasn't the thing we did. Growing up, I would never eat the last of anything, in case mom, daddy or little brother Gary might want it. David was the same in his home. I'm sure it was, and probably still is, the way of people of our age are even now.
We were raised in a different era of time I suppose. I hear the younger married women talk now, and I can't believe my ears! They actually HIDE the last piece of cake, or whatever they think their husband might want, so they themselves can have it later! Where have we heard this before? "Men will become lovers of their own selves.." These days young people are taught the so called, "NEED for SELF love," and you know where that comes from.
I'm thankful our daughters-in-law's were brought up in church, and before this attitude became prevalent. They put their husband's first, just like their mama and I do.
Some people might not understand, even think this is silly, but I know it is just a normal way of life for a lot of my readers. I always try to give David the best, and he does me as well. When I cook two of anything, steak or whatever, I try to see which piece looks the best to give him. If he catches me though he will want to switch!
I'll confess in this story, but I will probably never get by with it again. When we cut a watermelon I always cut the heart out to give him.
Many years ago I heard someone say, "I do my 50 percent.. but he doesn't!" Can you see a problem here? How about planning to give the one you love 110 percent? or you'll be too busy trying to "even out" things all the time to ever be happy.
Life moves on faster than we would like and here we are. They say we are senior citizens! Our middle son Randy, who likes to tease, calls and says, "Just checking on the old folks." I always say, "That's nice, but why are you calling us?"
I heard the Carter family singing a song that I've sang before myself. It says, "But love grows cold, as love grows old. And fades away like morning dew." But that just isn't true! If you have lived a lifetime with the love of your life, and watched him struggle with age, and health; if anything it makes your love and tenderness for him grow.
I know he see's me getting older too although he would probably deny it. When I go in the kitchen to cook and I see him watching. When our eyes meet he says, "You don't need to go to a lot of trouble. I'll eat whatever you fix."
We made last year a week of having laughs, celebrating, and living each day the best we could. Now we are looking forward to our 61th Anniversary and treasuring each of the fleeting days we have left. (Psalm 144:4) Since I'll be turning 77 in a couple weeks, it helps me realize just how fast time is moving.
That reminds me of when David, and our grandson Ethan, was having a bible study when he was younger. David read in Psalm 90:10. Where it says the years of our life are seventy, or by reason of strength eighty. Ethan said, "Grandpa, you are living on overtime!" We think of this often and laugh.. little feller nailed it.
So let's remember to cherish your days, friends, and your love ones and make them smile when you can.
So now we have 61 years of treasured memories. Raised three sons, Daniel, Randy and Eric, and seen each of them, and their families make us proud. Now they have all given us great-grandchildren!
I've loved him from that first time we met and he came to visit me at my parents house to play his guitar and sing me Johnny Cash love songs. We have shared a lot of adventures, crossed many bridges and made so many memories. Now as we continue to grow old together, our looks may change but our hearts are still young.
Time has somehow breezed by, and as I look at my husband now I think of the song words, "I've watched the gold in your hair turn silver, and your eyes grow dimmer with each passing day and the clutch of your hand is getting weaker. All these things mean it wasn't yesterday. So darling, happy anniversary. You've made my life for me. Thanks again for all the memories. My darling, happy anniversary."