It's getting "chili" in here!

This has been a fantastic couple of weeks for us.  We celebrated our 40^th anniversary, with a wonderful, short-stay-long-weekend trip to Seattle, to visit our son and daughter-in-law, did a few things there we have never done before and had a great time. The Pacific Northwest is certainly beautiful and so very different than Indiana!

A favorite was the ferry ride over to Bainbridge Island where we spent much longer than we dreamed we would, tasting wine and eating cheese.  Of course, Pike Place Market is a “must-see”.  We hiked down Post Alley on our last morning, stood in line for 20 minutes for some unbelievably good crab and lobster chowder.  We also split a lobster roll that tasted incredibly fresh.  It was a great trip indeed.

 

Our son works at the Museum of Pop Culture, otherwise known as MoPop, which is super fun.  We took in the Space Needle, of course, and visited the Dale Chihuly museum.  I thank my days at a local art/education museum for providing me with a pretty good base to appreciate studio glass. Chihuly’s work is mind blowing.

Home only a few days we hosted our annual chili party this past weekend.  Both daughters were here early to help me get ready, and I could not have done it without them. Delayed by rehearsals for the Nutcracker in Indianapolis, one granddaughter arrived just in time with her dad and brother.  The holidays are fast approaching, and the Nutcracker will soon be put to bed.  Of course, not until the performances are complete! Our granddaughter’s first year in the production brings a new appreciation for this timeless ballet, and the anticipation of her “debut” as a wooden soldier ripples through her, to her mom, to me.

   

The Annual Chili Party was a success…rain kept us inside this year but we have plenty of room since the remodeling.  We laughed, we spilled, we ate way too much, we admonished kids, we let them be.  I love seeing the family together. It is a chance for the first cousins, and now their babies, to catch up, without the "extra" of a holiday and all that it brings.  

These past few weeks also brought sadness as I lost my older brother to ALS.  He was dear to me, and a sweet guy.

 

I recently committed to posting a “days of love” photo or video or happy-stance on my Facebook timeline.  I have heard from several of you that you enjoy this happy post habit so I look forward to giving you more!

Squeeze the ones you love. 

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A fine-tuned machine are we.

My goodness, days can fly by when there are kids around.

Having stayed with grandkids, or had them stay with me, parts of the last couple of weeks have left me wondering where October went.  I would barely get breakfast in ‘em when they would be asking for lunch.  Forget trying to leave the house with them in tow.  I am tough, but not that tough. The sticky squeezes, however, the snotty kisses? To die for.  Seriously, the best.  My last couple of weeks of grandmother in charge was magical, wonderful, filled with laughter.  One of my favorite moments, and it’s silly, was after asking my two-almost-three-year-old granddaughter if she was really opening her candy right now she replied “No, you are” and shoved the bag at me.  I laughed so hard.

Now we prepare for some adult time.  We are flying to Seattle this week for a bit of a get-away to visit our son and daughter-in-law, and also to celebrate our *gulp* 40^th wedding anniversary.  We really don’t know how we got here.

 

Forty years ago I was swooning over the bridesmaids dresses which were a lovely spice, rust color knit material called Qiana.  Pure polyester.  With white lace trim.  Oh, the girls were stunning.  The gentlemen were decked out in a more pastel shade of rust…if there is such a thing.  Not peach, not salmon, not cinnamon.  Pastel rust is the best descriptor.  Charming, yes? Ah, the seventies...may they rest in peace. 

We had a wonderful wedding, fun, and one of the best receptions ever.  Our friends and family asked us to have it every year, in a small little building at our local park.  With 120 guests sitting elbow to elbow and a live band.  Great times.

Much like the days of the last two weeks, forty years have flown by. We have had great days, good days and not so good days.  Celebrations of every sort, as well as fights and disagreements, fits of laughter, and of tears.  We established ourselves. Wedged ourselves in.  We know who the other is, and accept each other.  Over the span of forty years, we tested, we fine-tuned, we adjusted.  We don’t fight now, that was some of the fine-tuning.  We have moments, now.  Moments when he is lucky he is still working while I talk myself all around an issue or aggravation.  This week it was his leaving my car empty of gas.  Oh, there was a lot of “You never this" and “I can’t believe that" in my head, while I stood at the gas pump, in the rain.

 

When he got home that night and I asked how his day went, he replied “The worst part was hearing from you…sorry about the gas”. 

It’s okay.  Guess what? We’re going out for dinner. You’re buying, and we’ll take my car.  

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