Some of My Most Memorable Anniversaries

 TEXAS ROADHOUSE

John told me I had to be ready at 3:30 on the dot. 

“3:30 on the dot?” that was an odd time. 

No kids were home.

I asked several times if I could call Rusty or Calvin or Clint to see what they were up to, he wouldn’t let me; so I said I need to know how Ian is, and he said he’s fine, not to worry.

Then I insisted I needed a clue so I would know how to dress. He looked me up and down and said, “Just like that”, but I was sure what I was wearing wasn’t good enough, so I kept probing. 

“Do I dress for hiking, going to town, or something more dressy like attending church?”

He said, “Going to town. You look fine.”

I dressed up.

Well, low and behold at 3:30 a big long black limosine backed down our drive.

Wow, my eyes got wide, and my mouth dropped open, wow! 

It took us to Texas Roadhouse, where we’d never been before.

I found out later that the limo, privately owned, could only go to our destination as he had a previous reservation for a school prom couple, but he was free to take us one way.

When we walked up to the restaurant’s hostess counter the lady said, “Oh, yes, Mr. Bays, your table for 7 is ready!”

Ah, ha! Then I knew the boys would be joining us….

Later, about 20 minutes, here came all 5 of my boys! Sweet.

They confessed that dad said to dress up and, boy, did they!!!

They were all in suits and ties and laughing as they turned the corner to our table…I was grinning ear to ear!

A very proud moment!

I felt like I was in a tub of happiness.

We had a good time, too.

At one point they were all laughing over some silly story and they were all trying to talk at once so that when the waiter came up I couldn’t hear his question. So I flipped my hand and said, “Shush!”

The guys immediately buttoned their lips and the waiter laughed, “I can see you have them all well-tamed.” LOL.

Tamed, LOL, that’s a good one.

As we were driving home up Highway 37 this motorcycle pulled up beside us. The driver was just a’grinnin’. It was Rusty in a black tux with his blue tie flying over his shoulder.

What fun!

How many years had we been married? 27

It was a wild night.

It’s a great memory!

    ****

    OUR 37TH ANNIVERSARY WAS APPROACHING. 

And I kid you not, this is a true story. I started the conversation.

“You could cook me a romantic meal.” At this suggestion  John responded with, “Me? Moi? Cook?”

On the television, the Frasier sitcom series was playing, the star, Frasier, had just said to his brother, “Oh, Niles get a grip! You’re not being asked to do anything that none of us hasn’t done before in our own kitchens in our own homes. Now quick, kill five eels.”

Looking over at my darling hubby, while the sitcom Frasier gave way to a commercial break, I checked his demeanor. I turned the conversation a bit, gave it a curve ball, with a reminder, “You know our anniversary is coming up soon?”

And, I kid you not, I’m not lying, this actually happened, I saw it, I saw it all.

HE SHIVERED! From his head to his feet, he shivered!

His shoulders shivered first; that shiver traveled down his arms, down his chest, and circled his waist. His whole body did a “someone’s just walked over my grave” cold chill!

His eyes looked at me and, he got that dismayed, disbelieving look, “I didn’t do that on purpose.” “Honestly, I didn’t.”

I busted a gut! I laughed my head off! I laughed and laughed and couldn’t stop laughing.

    ****

    “GOOD MORNING, YOU’RE SOMETHING!”

It was 2022, we’d been married 41 years. Upstairs to me, John brought the usual “Good morning!” hot cup of tea. I knew he was coming, so I surprised HIM with a big hug, “Happy Anniversary.” 

Still hugging, he turned us three quarters of a turn, and said, “That IS today!” 

I laughed, “What was the turn for?” 

“Checking the date.” It was there on the mirror behind me. He and a family friend made for us as a wedding gift. “I was something back then.” 

Again I laughed, “You’re something alright. You’re something today!” 

Big giggles from two old farts!

    ****

    MY FIRST WITHOUT 

MY FIRST ANNIVERSARY without John, was to be spent with Sister Carolyn Webb, age 89, who wanted John to do her funeral. She very dearly loved John, in her words, “love, love, love.” But Calvin and I found out she was going with her daughter to Tennessee to see her 3 great-grandchildren she’d never met. 

Calvin had taken the day off. “What to do?” I left it up to him, it was his personal time off anyway. We decided to go truck hunting.

I was tired of carrying my big black patent leather purse, I’d been using all these months. It was roomy and helped me keep track of my new-to-me financial business, but I was ready for a summer-time change, so I went to my small stash of purses, some never used, some lightly used, and one surprise.

There it was. Light floral colors, protective plastic covering still around the handles, and adorned with a price tag. Memories rushed in. John and I had been to Scrounge Around, an indoor flea market, I’d admired it, he bought it, it was to be a Christmas gift. When I found it in his drawer, I tucked it away with my closet stash, not wanting it for Christmas — it was too soon. He’d only been gone 23 days.

But there it was. On our anniversary. I rediscovered it on our anniversary. An anniversary gift from Dear Hubby after all.  I love it!  Nice!

GOOD WILL AT THE GOODWILL

It Was Goodwill Sunday

You know how you think you're the only one that does it?  
I used to think that about myself.  Growing up with asthma there'd be times I would hunt a place to sit down.  I thought I was the only one that did that.  

Sometimes I'd even clear space on a bottom shelf in a store to sit on.  One time during a Black Friday in the 90's me and an African-American lady named Marilyn sat in the armchairs of the furniture section of Meijers and visited!  Well, here ya go, I'm sharing a photograph I took yesterday; a confirming photograph (some 30 years later) of how "I'm not the only one".

  

Meet Barbara, Dinah, and Jeff!
They looked so spiffy, all dolled up, and sparkly!  Oh, the sparkles!  
First, I asked if I could take their picture. "Yah, sure", "Go ahead," "Whada she say?"  

Barbara's blouse was all silvery glitz.
Dinah's had shiney rhinestones all over it, and her bracelet, watch, and necklace all sparkled with different colors.
When I told Jeff his vest shined, too, that it was shimmery, he said, "Wha?"

So, I showed him the photograph on my phone and wife Dinah leaned right to explain.

A bit louder, Dinah said, "She said we're bright and shiny."  

With a cheeky grin he tipped his head down, "She's talking about my bald head!"  

They had been to church, had their Sunday dinner, and came to the Goodwill to sit in the air conditioning to finish their drinks. They, also, had picked the softest seats in the store, chuckle.

I should've taken another photograph because there were three, did I say 3?  Yes, I said 3, carts; one for each of them, with purchases stuffed to the brim!  And they were so happy, so content with themselves.  I asked, "Are you neighbors, friends or what?"  

"Yes", "Uh huh," "I can't hear her."

Are you relatives?  Giggles and chuckles, "Oh yes",  "We're family, yep, we're family."  And a big grin from the far end.

Jayden, my 9 y.o. grandson, was with me.  We were on the hunt for a side table, and he was going to check the toy section.  Jayden, in his blue shirt, gave a low wave, and said, "Good bye, have a good time."

They smiled,  "He's a good boy."   "Isn't that sweet?"  And, "Whada they say?"

Raising my voice a bit and with my own wave said, "Have a good day!"

Chuckling, I thought, "Good will for everyone.  Good will at the Goodwill."