Provincetown

best 24

Mr. Dub and I were married on November 11th.

I love our anniversary date, because we share it with the Veterans, and it's always a holiday.

 We spent a relaxing weekend together on Cape Cod to celebrate.

 Just Dub and me (and the camera).

He frequently teased me because I am wont to photograph EVERY.THING.

He challenged me to photograph this broken lock.

 So I did.

I think it's a fine picture.

I call it "good lock at the pier."

 One of our favorite stops was Fish Pier in Chatham.

We ate REALLY fresh seafood

and watched the seals playing in the harbor.

We did a lot of walking on beaches

and reflecting on our time together.

Twenty-four years goes by pretty fast.

I called him this afternoon at work to wish him the official

"Happy Anniversary"

he didn't even skip a beat

when he replied

 "Best 24 years of  my life."

I agree.

(he came home with two dozen roses)
24=score.

honorees

 We attended a lovely banquet to honor my parents.

 It was a beautiful night, and good to be there

to hear such nice things said about Mom and Dad.

 Aaron's tribute to mom's generous nature was especially touching.

 The Northborough Interfaith Clergy honored them for their service to the community, and especially to their family and their church.

They're pretty great people, and the BEST parents.

on my birthday

 I stood for a long time staring out of my new kitchen window. I have a new and greater appreciation for the phrase

"Let there be light!"

 The temperature was perfect.

 I enjoyed a lovely drive to visit some folks who were really happy to see me.

 After dinner there was pumpkin cheesecake. And laughter.

I may have nudged the green numbers piped on...and Big Wilma will always be a favorite term of endearment--my kids make me laugh.  Laughter is a terrific gift.

EVERY year is a jubilee year

Today I woke up 49 years old!

My brother says it's my jubilee year.

I say EVERY year is a jubilee!

How can I not feel jubilation when I am enveloped in a village that should be called Creme de la Creme?

I'm treating myself to a long shower and a drive.  Perhaps there will be a stash of chocolate along for the ride.

Huzzah!

nobody told me

When I was little and dreamed about being a grown up, I never imagined including in a description of my day some of what I now consider to be my happy reality:

I eat handfuls of dry Honey Smacks from the box and call it breakfast.
All six beds in the house rarely get made on the same day.
The laundry seems to take on a life form all its own; multiplying and replenishing the earth.
I look at the toppling piles of paper and things to do, throw up my hands and mumble "you win."
Lunch means grabbing the remains of someone's unfinished breakfast, and sipping the not quite empty water bottle discarded from yesterday's sports bag or backpack.
A trip to the grocery store is my most exciting outing of the day.
A phone call from a child or a friend triggers delightful belly laughter.
I count sincere and vigorous laughter as my workout for the day.
If the dishes get washed, it feels like winning the Super Bowl.
"Come on baby, light my fire" means being married to someone who will call and offer to do the grocery shopping on his way home from work.

Any more you would add to the list?

Mr. Dub turns 50

 We kept busy most of the day with soccer games and then party prep while we waited for Mr. Dub to return from Stake Priesthood meeting (in Ludlow, MA--90 minutes to the west) where, on his birthday, he not only chose to attend, but he spoke as well.

At 10:00 pm he pulled in, and enjoyed birthday calls from sons.

 We had singing and cake sometime before 11:00 pm.

It's never too late for a party with cake!

 Dub's mom came through with her traditional birthday fig cake;

it was mailed from Virginia.  This year's cake was especially tasty.