It seems I've been preparing to celebrate our Silver (25th) wedding anniversary for the past year. My imagination brought me to so many places that we could travel to for a couple of days. But reality reminded me that it was just that - imagination, not because we don't have the time, it wasn't like that. It's because my husband doesn't travel.
When our friends, who live in Ontonagon, a two-hour drive West North West from us, mentioned that they had a small summer home that was vacant and available, along the shores of Lake Superior, I hoped this was the place for an anniversary get-away. We go to visit our friends, Ron and Vicki, at least once a year, so I hoped this would be a place my husband would agree to go.
Yes? You'll go? October 8, 2013 was the day. We started our anniversary trip at 10:00 a.m.
We packed for an overnight, a dinner out with friends, and brought fresh goodies to share.
Along the way, we saw many beautiful views of the changing fall leaves. This is an area of our Upper Peninsula that my husband once worked in, and so the 'travelogue' began.
When he wasn't telling me about where he worked or cruised timber or fished, there was a nice quiet. It's not that there wasn't anything to say, but the quiet moments were so enjoyable.
Would you like to get some lunch? At a quaint little shop, with a table for two? No, it wasn't like that. We picked up some food at a gas station-grocery store-deli and sat in the warm sun in the car. The food was wonderful, but not as enjoyable as the moments spent with my husband, away from daily responsibilities and distractions.
The closer we got to our destination, my imagination took over my thoughts again. A story-book romantic get away for two; a cozy fire to relax by, with the wind whirling outdoors; or a hand-in-hand walk along the beach at sunset or sunrise; chocolate strawberries and fresh coffee for breakfast in bed. But it wasn't like that. It was so much more.
We drove right to their house and visited. We made plans to pick them up for dinner, then went over to the little house near the lake. We knew we should take advantage of the unusually warm afternoon. We took a walk to the shore, being drawn by the sound of the waves, and the fresh air. He sat on the bench while I looked for rocks and walked along the beach.
Soon it was time to get ready for dinner. Was it a sit-down dinner for our silver wedding anniversary? it wasn't like that. In our blue jeans and casual attire, he with his tuxedo tee-shirt, we picked up our friends and drove over to Henri's Bar where we had had fun nights and awesome food. We're not drinking people - it's the homemade food that makes you think you were at a sit-down dinner in a 5-star restaurant. We've had the 'build your own pizza' when it was so busy we nearly walked out without a check; or their 'all you can eat' buffet. We ate on the deck and the wasps nearly drove us in.
The Tuesday night special was wings. But we discovered that the construction workers ate them all, so we ordered off the menu; and visited, laughed, and remembered that 25 years ago, my husband and I combined two families and started on a new adventure.
We spent a quiet evening alone - no sports on TV, no switching between channels, no radio, no conversation. I read and he relaxed. A romantic night in front of a cozy fire? it wasn't like that, it was so much more. This quiet had given us time for reflection, for peace, something we probably didn't realize we needed.
I'm an early riser, so took advantage of the warm fall morning, and walked down to the beach. Again, I was lured by the sound of the birds, breeze in the trees and this time, the waves, crashing to the shore. I was not disappointed by anything. This morning on Lake Superior was so refreshing, and rejuvenating!
When I returned to our little house, my husband was still sleeping. A cup of tea, a magazine and quiet. Thank you, Lord, for this special time. After breakfast, my husband and Ron got together and Vicki and I went to visit a friend of hers. I'll tell you about that in a future post. We enjoyed a nice lunch with our friends, thanked them for their generosity, and headed on to the next place on our anniversary get away.
We traveled up the shoreline to Lake of the Clouds, where the view was so amazing. Though the colors were a little beyond peak, the warm sunshine, breeze and peaceful nature surrounding us, was just wonderful!
The roadway back down was so beautiful, we were just in awe of all the surroundings. We took another highway back home, watching for deer, and so the 'traveloque' began again.
A few days later we gathered with close family at one of our favorite restaurants, then were treated to cake and refreshments at our daughter's house with more family and friends.
Our silver wedding anniversary - full of beauty & awe, peace & quiet, warmth, love, family & friends - who could ask for more - we are indeed blessed!
When our friends, who live in Ontonagon, a two-hour drive West North West from us, mentioned that they had a small summer home that was vacant and available, along the shores of Lake Superior, I hoped this was the place for an anniversary get-away. We go to visit our friends, Ron and Vicki, at least once a year, so I hoped this would be a place my husband would agree to go.
Yes? You'll go? October 8, 2013 was the day. We started our anniversary trip at 10:00 a.m.
We packed for an overnight, a dinner out with friends, and brought fresh goodies to share.
Along the way, we saw many beautiful views of the changing fall leaves. This is an area of our Upper Peninsula that my husband once worked in, and so the 'travelogue' began.
When he wasn't telling me about where he worked or cruised timber or fished, there was a nice quiet. It's not that there wasn't anything to say, but the quiet moments were so enjoyable.
Would you like to get some lunch? At a quaint little shop, with a table for two? No, it wasn't like that. We picked up some food at a gas station-grocery store-deli and sat in the warm sun in the car. The food was wonderful, but not as enjoyable as the moments spent with my husband, away from daily responsibilities and distractions.
The closer we got to our destination, my imagination took over my thoughts again. A story-book romantic get away for two; a cozy fire to relax by, with the wind whirling outdoors; or a hand-in-hand walk along the beach at sunset or sunrise; chocolate strawberries and fresh coffee for breakfast in bed. But it wasn't like that. It was so much more.
We drove right to their house and visited. We made plans to pick them up for dinner, then went over to the little house near the lake. We knew we should take advantage of the unusually warm afternoon. We took a walk to the shore, being drawn by the sound of the waves, and the fresh air. He sat on the bench while I looked for rocks and walked along the beach.
Soon it was time to get ready for dinner. Was it a sit-down dinner for our silver wedding anniversary? it wasn't like that. In our blue jeans and casual attire, he with his tuxedo tee-shirt, we picked up our friends and drove over to Henri's Bar where we had had fun nights and awesome food. We're not drinking people - it's the homemade food that makes you think you were at a sit-down dinner in a 5-star restaurant. We've had the 'build your own pizza' when it was so busy we nearly walked out without a check; or their 'all you can eat' buffet. We ate on the deck and the wasps nearly drove us in.
The Tuesday night special was wings. But we discovered that the construction workers ate them all, so we ordered off the menu; and visited, laughed, and remembered that 25 years ago, my husband and I combined two families and started on a new adventure.
We spent a quiet evening alone - no sports on TV, no switching between channels, no radio, no conversation. I read and he relaxed. A romantic night in front of a cozy fire? it wasn't like that, it was so much more. This quiet had given us time for reflection, for peace, something we probably didn't realize we needed.
I'm an early riser, so took advantage of the warm fall morning, and walked down to the beach. Again, I was lured by the sound of the birds, breeze in the trees and this time, the waves, crashing to the shore. I was not disappointed by anything. This morning on Lake Superior was so refreshing, and rejuvenating!
We traveled up the shoreline to Lake of the Clouds, where the view was so amazing. Though the colors were a little beyond peak, the warm sunshine, breeze and peaceful nature surrounding us, was just wonderful!
The roadway back down was so beautiful, we were just in awe of all the surroundings. We took another highway back home, watching for deer, and so the 'traveloque' began again.
A few days later we gathered with close family at one of our favorite restaurants, then were treated to cake and refreshments at our daughter's house with more family and friends.
Our silver wedding anniversary - full of beauty & awe, peace & quiet, warmth, love, family & friends - who could ask for more - we are indeed blessed!
