Thank you for all the wonderful anniversary wishes! The day was simple one. As we often do, we talked about our wedding day, remembering the little and not so little things that made it so special. We exchanged cards, gave Scoutie a big kiss, and took off in the car for Woodstock.
If only I could use PicMonkey’s ‘soften’ effect in my everyday life. It rather nicely takes away all the hard edges. I think that’s a bag from IKEA in the back. We had the windows down (it was a gorgeous day) and the bag was apparently blowing around. It looks like it might attack me at any second!
We had lunch at one of our favorite places – the Garden Café. It’s a vegetarian restaurant with a delicious menu; so beautifully and imaginatively prepared. We sat outside and basked in the autumn sun.
That’s the dessert – a brownie with a chocolate sauce and a bit of ice cream. We shared it. We came home and watched the Red Sox play the Tigers. Unfortunately, Anibal Sanchez, the pitcher for the Tigers, was just too darned effective and the Tigers won: 1-0. That was the rather depressing end to the day.
I forgot to include this in my 15 Reasons post yesterday and it’s so important. So I’m going to cheat and add Reason number 16 that I love being married to Don: we are equal partners in this marriage. Neither of us has more say than the other. If we disagree with each other or have a big decision to make, we talk it out until we come to an agreement. I chafe at all the ‘Head of Household’ stuff I see on forms, etc. There is no Head of Household here (unless it’s Scout!) There are two intelligent adults who have both similar and different sensibilities. Our different takes on things can lead to a spirited discussion, to be sure, but I do not defer to Don, nor does he defer to me. We figure it out together. He is my equal partner and I am his. We like it that way.
From our wedding day – one of my favorite pictures.
Time for a little story about our wedding dinner:
After the horse-drawn carriage ride through the beautiful streets of Nevada City, the six of us retired to a private dining room where we had a lovely, intimate wedding dinner. Everyone ordered their choice of entrée. I can’t remember what I ate, but I do remember Don ordered spare ribs. We all laughed and talked and had a wonderful time. At some point as we were finishing up the meal, Don said, “I have a confession to make.” Uh oh. Ominous words on one’s wedding day. He was clearly upset.
Turns out that as he ate his delicious and messy spare ribs, he reached under the table, which was covered in a beautiful white cloth, for his napkin, also white cloth. He wiped his barbecue sauce covered hands on the napkin. Wait a minute. It didn’t feel like the napkin he had used before. He peered under the table and saw, to his horror, that he’d wiped his hands on my white wedding dress.
Yep. My wedding dress has barbecue sauce stains.
Well, I was a bit peeved at the time but in the end, I laughed, as did everyone else. I mean, I wasn’t going to wear it again, was I? And my dear husband, known for dropping food and getting stains on his clothes, obviously wanted to christen my wedding dress in his own unique way. We still laugh about it every year. The dress is in a protective bag and hangs in our closet, barbecue sauce stain and all. Like the cast I wore on my ankle that day, the barbecue sauce stain is part of our wedding story.
Happy Sunday.
What a funny wedding memory. Thanks for sharing one of your favorite wedding pictures. Glad the two of you got out and enjoyed your day. I love the updated picture of you and Don and the one of you in the car with your hair blowing in the wind. Have a great Sunday!
Thank you, Claudia! You have a great day, too.
I’m a little late but happy Anniversary..A beautiful love story..
Thank you, Missy.
Love that story, I say give him an A+ for using what he thought was a napkin. My hubby and boys just use their shirt sleeve. LOL
Yes, I have to give him that, Dawn. At least he was going for the napkin!
Hi Claudia, I laughed out loud at the unexpected. I thought you were going to say tablecloth! Enjoy your day. Doris
If only, Doris!
I can definitely understand Don and his messiness. Nothing makes it past my chest either! Oh, sweetpea, it’s so funny to realize a MAN has that problem also. Hubs never spills anything. I attribute it to my very small mouth also and hubs’ mouth is large!
Our wedding took place in Yorktown, VA. late in the evening. When we got to out motel, we didn’t realize until the next day, hubby locked his keys in the car! We had to break a window to get them. That’s our honeymoon story.
xoxo,
Connie
Truth be told, I spill things frequently myself! xo
I meant OUR motel room. Typos, the bane of my existence! :-)
Connie
xoxo
It can be the crazy little things that make for the best stories.
Happy Thanksgiving, Claudia; there are enough Canadians in your family tree to warrant the phrase, I’d say.
-Karen
Absolutely, Karen! Happy Thanksgiving to you.
Okay, that story has me sitting here at my desk laughing. The two of you were beautiful, and you are still beautiful.
Thank you, sweet Beverly.
You certainly can’t fault a guy for trying to do the right thing!! That’s probably why you have been married for 15 years…some things you just have to accept! (I like the equal partners too!). Great story! ;)
Thanks, Donna!
What a great memory of your wedding day – barbeque stains on your wedding dress!! I guess since he was the one with the ribs, he couldn’t blame anyone else. LOL Precious photos.
Have a great day. Give Scout a hug for me.
Judy
I will, Judy. Give John a hug from me. And yourself as well.
Happy Belated Anniversary!! I had to laugh out loud over this story, sounds like something my husband would do! A memory that always makes you smile, those are priceless. Someone burned a hole in my wedding dress at my reception with a cigarette. Just the sheer layer. I must have walked into it visiting tables. Glad it didn’t catch on fire!
Thank goodness it didn’t catch on fire, Cheryl!
If I met you guys separately at a party I would put you together as a couple. I hope I’m still so happy after 15 years.
Aw, thanks so much!
We have 2 Greyhounds who share the Head of Household duties at our house. They take it quite seriously. Never understood that distinguished title being given to one person. Even if they are an idiot they are the title holder because of gender?? Wow! Love your wedding dinner story, too. I had a dotted Swiss wedding dress and the sleeves were unlined. After the dinner, as we were chatting w/ guests, someone asked what the decoration was embroidered on my sleeve. It was 3 green beans I had somehow managed to get up inside of my sleeve!?! Who does that?? Have a wonderful day!!
Love the beans getting up your sleeve! That makes me laugh! Yes, we’ll say that if anyone is the head of household here, it’s Miss Scout. But only because she herds us everywhere.
You two are so darn cute!!!! And what a dress it was!
Hugs,
Meredith
Courtesy of my little sister! xoxo
What a cute story… You two have such fun memories, and as time goes by,
they all become more special. don’t know why, but they do. Love the photos
you posted today. You sure haven’t aged in 15 years. So sweet.
Oh, I think I have, but if you don’t think so, I think I’ll go along with you, Bonnie!
I can’t stop smiling…LOVE your sweet wedding story…
Thanks so much, Linda!
love the stories- I was away yesterday so belated wishes <3
Thanks, Z!
Ha! I’m not fully dressed until I be eaten!
Funny story… I, too, thought you were going to say table cloth! Lol
What a surprise… And a happy memory. I for one appreciate the honesty
That you fessed up and said you were a little bit peeved… That makes you
All the more my peer! Loved the story- Pat
Well, I aim to be honest here on this blog. I’m only human! xo
Oh another great story. I was sort of surprised that he had ordered the ribs to begin with knowing how messy they can be. That’s the type of thing I have to eat at home because there will be sauce everywhere! We got married in the park near our house, and we have huge boulders all over the park and neighborhood. I literally walked out from behind a huge boulder and up to the Judge that married us. One friend said that was the first time he ever saw a bride walk out from under a rock! All wonderful stories!
Well, he’s a guy and he loves to eat, so the ribs? Not a surprise!
I love that you walked out from behind a boulder, Annette! That’s a first – you’re an original!
Okay, I have a wedding story to share with you. We have been married 40 years this last August. We eloped. We drove from Oklahoma City to Gainesville, Texas and were married at the courthouse by a Justice of the Peace. He said, “I now pronounce you man and wife and my fee is whatever you care to give me,” all in the same breath. My husband handed him a 20 dollar bill and he asked if we wanted change. Hubby told him no. We still laugh about that.
What a cute story, Claudia! Sounds like you were married by Sheriff Andy Taylor – in Mayberry!
Yes, it does, doesn’t it?
I hadn’t thought about it that way but you are right. He took being nervous out of the occasion.
That is a discount wedding, Claudia! Sounds like the Justice of the Peace was a very cool character! xo
Claudia, those Texans know how to have fun! I doubt you could even get the license for $20.00 today. We took our own pictures later with a timer on the camera so it was a very discount wedding. We did take a 5 day honeymoon through Texas and Arkansas.
Memorable story for a perfect day! Happy Anniversary (one day late!).
Thanks so much, Chy!
What a wonderful way to start your marriage! Don being Don and you being relaxed and not wigging out like most brides would. At that moment, the success of your marriage was guaranteed! Love, J
I’m proud to say that I am about as far removed from one of those Bridezillas on reality television as one can be. Life’s too short for those shenanigans! xo
If only more couples would realize that a partnership needs to be between two equals..there would be much fewer divorces..you are a wonderful couple..I am so proud that I “know” you..Hugs
I’m proud to know you, too, Nancy!
Great story Claudia…thanks for sharing!
You’re very welcome, Debi.
What a nice story and beautiful picture. Happy Anniversary!
-Lynn
Thank you, Lynn!
I agree about your view on marriage. It has to be a partnership. I can’t imagine it being anything else. But you can always tell the marriages that it isn’t even.
That is so funny about the barbeque sauce. No wonder you remembered what he ordered.
Love all your pictures.
xo
Yes, I can tell when it isn’t even and it makes me cringe a bit. But to each his or her own. xo
My husband just saw me reading this and I had to explain blogs to him…… ok that was weird. He asks if things are tweeting. I guess he learned that word at work lol.
LOVELY story. Hope Don realizes he is lucky to have a wife with a great sense of humor . You guys seem wonderful together.
the funniest part is that the stain is still there…… that would have been a funny pic to include :)
Oh, I’m lucky to have a husband with a sense of humor, too!! Believe me!
I’m so glad you got out and enjoyed your day together, I love the pictures, especially the wedding picture. And what a great story, it took courage for Don to admit his little gaffe to the whole group! I guess every wedding has a funny story. We were married in a hotel downtown. I accidentally locked our wedding rings in the room with the key on my way down to the where the ceremony was. The best man had to run around getting help to get in the room while I kept the groom and 60 guests waiting for 20 minutes. The Husband (to be) was pacing a bit!
XO,
Jane
I think those stories are what make a wedding day special, Jane! Love your story.
Happy Anniversary Claudia to you and Don. You are such a lovely couple. Love the story about the barbeque sauce. It’s moments like that we never forget. We always look back with a smile.
hugs
Sissie
Thank you so much, Sissie!
The stories are what make your day unique and special to both of you!! Thanks for sharing the story…made me laugh!
Happy anniversary! Glad you had a lovely day together and were able to enjoy the day outdoors. I love the story about Don wiping his dirty hands on your wedding dress…that is hysterical!
Best wedding story e-v-e-r. What a hoot!
Happy anniversary ! I really enjoyed you wedding stories. I wish you many more years of happiness.
Claudia- What a charming and wonderful story. You were a beautiful couple then and you are still a beautiful couple-stained clothes and all. I hope you have many, many more years of marriage. Blessings- xo Diana
Another reason to give thanks this weekend,so uplifting,Blessings<3
Happy Belated Anniversary. I love the story of your wedding dress.
The Red Sox game just ended and my thought was what a small world it has become. I was thinking how strange it is that I knew how happy you would be…a woman I have never met who lives thousands of miles from me. Crazy, isn’t it?
What a funny and cute story! You are indeed very blessed. Happy Anniversary and many, many more!
This is such a sweet story and you are a beautiful couple, both then and now ! Lovely photos! :)
I have not visit your blog for a couple of days, so, a bit late but: Happy Anniversary!
Your wedding dinner was in Nevada City? CA??? That’s right up the road from us here! Between that and our Dearborn Heights connection, I’m surprised we haven’t run into each other before! One of these days, we might find out we have!