Fifteen.

"The grand essentials to happiness in this life are

something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for."

So I guess

I've got it all!

I had a G R A N D vision of how our 15th anniversary should play out...

A week-long trip back to Europe, or perhaps cruisin' the Caribbean somewhere...

(or an in-town hotel would do)

lots of 'US' time...uninterrupted, of course.

(for more than 2 straight minutes)

a couple of books I can actually finish

(and not have to read and re-read the first page 17 times before giving up)

Lots of sleep... daily naps, of course...

(and no human alarm to tap me & chant my name 20 times until I roll out of bed to make

'eggos with peanut butter, cut, with syrup' assembly-line-style)

A massage or two, shopping without an agenda,

rejuvenation, celebration, perhaps a 'new' ring after all these years

(blah blah blah)

Instead, we had a regular overnight date 200 miles from home in one of our favorite destinations... Santa Barbara

I showed Curt where my final resting spot will be (if I'm not twinkled first)...

really, it's the most lovely cemetery I've ever seen even though you can't tell through the marine layer. Yes, I think of weird things, but I've known since I was a teen that 'this is the place.' Morbid, I know. Or perhaps just efficient.

we had a lovely morning bike ride along the coast (heaven)

don't judge our fresh-out-of-bed look

I got my share of the ocean I have so missed these last few months

And the famous Jerry's Deli... as well as a nice anniversary dinner at Lucky's in SB

European antique shopping

and a movie.

Yup, we had a regular 'date' 200 miles from home. But we got some small-scale R&R

It was perfect & sweet

much like most of the last 15 years.

Happy big 15th, babe!

Wow, I'm a lucky girl.