Twenty-Two

I'm not the romantic sort.  Goofy and fun?  Yes.  Maybe you've gotten this vibe already.  So when my 22nd wedding anniversary came around, I of course was not prepared.  And as I sat next to my husband of 20 something years who I'm grateful did not die falling off the roof back in October (completely ridiculously unromantic understatement), I might have said, "I'm not getting you an anniversary gift cause we're just going out to dinner right?"  To which he replied, "I already got you something".  Cause he's an incredibly thoughtful, romantic, nostalgic gift giver and I SUCK!  Clearly I don't deserve him.

Two days before our anniversary, my brother is in town and the kids and I are showing him the sights while my husband is slaving away at work to support us.  As we're meandering through the tourist trap that is Manitou Springs, I had a thought.  I should look for something for Craig.  Cause nothing screams "I was thinking of you" quite like shopping with your brother, in a town best known for pot, a couple of days before an important benchmark occasion.  Despite the odds, I found it.  Some old brothel coins "Good for One Screw".  And a lucky rabbit's foot.  Do you see the theme here?  Did I mention I suck at this?

The next day we hosted a party for Jade and 25 of her closest friends featuring gluten-free and animal cruelty free foods at our house.  Then, the next morning, the big day started off with a weary, tired, but heartfelt "Happy Anniversary".  And that's when we exchanged gifts.  Mine first.  Luckily, after 22 years of marriage, my husband totally gets me and thinks this is a cool gift.  He's especially impressed with the rabbit foot. What can I say?  I'm a very lucky girl.

Now, it's Craig's turn.  He got me tweezers to put in the car.  The rear view mirror is the single best place to pluck eye brows.  He knows this because I'm obsessed with mine and if I don't maintain them they resemble caterpillars.  When he met me 26 years ago, I pared my mullet with my au naturale brows.  I'm going to take this as a sign that he appreciates the effort that goes into their cultivation.  In typical Craig style, he researched the best rated tweezers and had them delivered to the house a month in advance.  He's really quite awesome. 

That night we went out to the grand opening of Brother Luck's new restaurant.  See how the luck theme runs through this?  And my husband did not die falling off the roof.  Did I mention that?  I'm still humbled and completely amazed by all that we've endured.  Together.  Especially at a time when the odds seem so stacked against marriage.  There's one thing that has always been there from the beginning.  And it's not romance. Sure, it's been there. But, it's fleeting.  The constant in our marriage has always been humor.  Even in the worst of times.

So what better way to celebrate than with the watermelon pop rock salad?  Sweet, but spicy.  Nutritious with a sprinkling of junk food.  Delightfully, completely unexpected.  A metaphor for our marriage.

And here we are 22 years later and a soft camera lens later.  Because that's how we look best these days.

 Twenty two years from now, Sky will be taking our picture from the moon to get the most flattering photo of us together.  Hopefully.