Anniversary -- Then and Now

Today we're celebrating our wedding anniversary. We were married 23 years ago on my parents' blueberry farm in Kentucky.

 Here we are driving off in my Mustang convertible, and you can tell by the look on my face, that I was ecstatic. So, I like to think that's one thing that hasn't changed after 23 years.
There are moments when I realize how lucky I am to have tied myself to this man who makes me happy -- on most days.
Here we are today before going out to brunch in a photo unwillingly taken by our 17-year-old son.

And here I am at the restaurant drinking a Kir Royale and pretending I'm in France. But, I'm still in Ohio. The drinks were the best thing about the meal, but that happens some times. Look how fabulous the drinks look, with the creme de cassis settled at the bottom. Should we have stirred them up before we drank them? the last few drink were awfully sweet.

Saturday Snapshot -- 22nd Anniversary

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post on Alyce's blog At Home With Books. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

It's not that I forgot it was my anniversary when I posted my earlier previous Saturday Snapshot below, I just didn't think about posting photos from my wedding 22 years ago.  The photos aren't the best, because I simply took a picture with my iPhone to post it here. But I think you'll get the drift.

Earl and I were married at my parents' blueberry farm in the Daniel Boone Forest in Kentucky. They lived in a log cabin and we were married in front of a creek that ran past there. The Tiger lilies were in bloom and the day was perfect.

This is me with my mom on the left and my mother-in-law on the right getting dressed in one of the loft bedrooms.

My dad walks me down the porch steps to Earl

The First Kiss

And here's the wedding party, Tracey, my best friend from high school, the priest, Erin, Earl's niece, me, Earl and Earl's brother Art. Small, but just right.

Two years ago...

Two years ago today, we were winding down to Grace's high school graduation.
Today, we're winding down to Spencer's high school graduation.
It all seems very similar, doesn't it?
Except, two years ago today, Earl and I were in France to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. This year, we are in Ohio.
I'm not saying there is anything wrong with Ohio. It's a nice place to live, but you wouldn't want to visit...
Here we are at the top of the Eiffel Tower.

It wasn't our actual anniversary until June, but we decided to avoid the crowds by visiting Paris in April. We also needed to go before we started making college payments in June.

Here we are on a bridge over the Seine. I'm never sure which one.
We even went to visit some friends in Nantes and then walked along the cliffs by the Atlantic.
The scenery is gorgeous and quite a contrast to the Ohio scenery.

How about you? Where were you two years ago? Are you in a better place now?

21 Years

I can't remember how I felt 21 years ago when I married Earl. I was nervous, excited, happy. I think I jabbered nervously and forgot to apply lipstick when my Dad came to that upstairs room to escort me down to the wooden porch, down a few steps to stand in front of a tinkling waterfall, tiger lilies blooming thick along the bank.
I can't remember how I felt, but this expression on my face explains it.

We drove my convertible from my parents' log cabin in Kentucky to the reception. That's a barn in the background, not the house! My best friend from high school, Tracey, was my matron of honor and Earl's brother Art was the best man. They rode in the front seat. It didn't matter because Earl and I had eyes for no one else.
Today, we went to Trattoria Roma and sat on the patio. We drank wine. We laughed. Earl said I looked beautiful, and I'm kind of amazed that 21 years passed so quickly. I don't mean to make it sound easy. We've had our share of days slogging through deep sand in the desert (I mean that metaphorically) and sometimes it feels like we're on opposite sides instead of the same side. Every time though, we return to each other with that loving look in our eyes.
As we left the restaurant, Earl took my hand in his and said, "Do you think we can have 21 more?"
I try to imagine us 21 years from now. My mind reels. But 21 years ago, I couldn't have imagined the life we created, the people we've become.
Happy Anniversary, Earl.