Well, today Arlee and I celebrated #24.
As usual, each of us had "surprises" awaiting one another in the morning. Arlee got me a beautiful heart-shaped ivy plant and a singing Pooh Bear ("I can't get - "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine" out of my head now!); I gave him a box of sugar-free chocolates, a scented candle, and some pajamas.
We had our usual anniversary dinner together, this time at Monsieur Marcel, a really lovely French restaurant in the Farmer's Market. We started off with a light and refreshing Chef's salad (salad greens, grilled shrimp, raisins, garbanzo beans, sun-dried tomatoes, feta dressing and a house dressing). I also had a bowl of French Onion soup. Then Arlee had rack of lamb with couscous, and I had grilled chicken in a very tasty bleu cheese sauce accompanied with fresh haricots sautéed in garlic and olive oil. The mood was complete with a French accordionist who serenaded the jovial, not-too-crowded dining room. Coffee to finish off, then some wandering around Farmer's Market.
People sometimes ask us the secret to our "longevity." Well, it's really simple: More than anything else, we are just Best Friends. We enjoy each other's company and doing stuff together (even though we argue all the time - but that's part of the fun!); when we are apart from one another we always miss each other and are glad when we're back together again. If two people don't LIKE one another, being "good buddies" in addition to LOVING one another, I don't see how there could be much hope for a long and happy life together.
We've also grown more tolerant of one another's differences and such - realizing that the contrasts between us helps make things interesting and rarely dull. (He's ALMOST gotten over "the vacuum cleaners"...!)
We're making plans to spend #25 in Paris!!
Hope everyone had a memorable and magical Valentine's Day.
(P.S.: I posted pix in Vacuumland - Sandbox - Valentine thread, if yer interested)
