Category Archives: anniversary

anniversary, road widows

Our 10th Anniversary

I still remember so clearly, right after we got engaged, being asked when we thought our wedding would be. Without hesitation I said January. It wasn’t that I dreamed of getting married in January, it was purely practical… with my husband-to-be a touring musician, I knew January was the one month that my odds of having him home was greatest. He wouldn’t have to sub-out his gig to get married, and we’d probably actually get to spend anniversaries together.

It worked up to, ironically, today: our 10th Wedding Anniversary.

We got just a little winter precipitation, so I marked the occasion in the white, soft snow.

The week leading up to our wedding, the artist he was playing for had rehearsals. It was one of maybe five times in the last 10 years that I stomped my foot and refused to “compromise.” My groom would be in Texas with me… they had a year notice about our wedding and they could just figure it out. (And they did, and it was fine.)

Our second anniversary, my husband left that afternoon on the road. But he was home for the first half of the day, and we celebrated then.

Otherwise, our anniversaries have been everything from trips, to fancy dinners, to a quiet night at home, to a night out with friends. All of them together.

I took the photo for this year a few days ago while we were out so I could play with a camera I had rented for the holidays. We’ll take a second photo after he gets off the road and we celebrate the special milestone in our marriage.

My husband was so surprised when I encouraged him to take a drive that took him away from home on our anniversary, though.  This is a big one! Why would we be  apart on it?

It’s just our life. Bills still need to be paid, and our life happens to be one that requires us to be apart to “make ends meet.” We’ve missed plenty of holidays (with the exception for Christmas and New Years Eve… see that whole moments-of-not-compromising thing) and birthdays. We’ve never gone to a wedding together. We do what we have to do to take care of each other.

And isn’t that what we said in our vows on that warm January afternoon 10 years ago? We vowed to take care of each other. To love each other. In sickness and in health. For richer or poorer. We do what we have to do to take care of each other… and that often means being apart on special events.

Photo by AJW Photo

The most special event, however, was definitely the event 10 years ago, when we said, “I do.” Since then, life has been an adventure. As I look back over the last decade, I focus on the good stuff and learn from the… not so good. We’ve had our struggles, but they’ve made us stronger and taught us more about ourselves, each other and life itself.

I know I couldn’t ask for a better partner with which to navigate life. And as we continue to build our life together, we will continue to be stronger and fall more and more in love every day, every year, every failure and every success. Because we are a team… and we are always stronger together. Even if it means having to be apart now and then.

Christmas 2016

I love you, Craig. You are my world, my rock, and love. Happy Anniversary! Here’s to many, many more years ahead. Hurry home…

anniversary, nashville, review

Stepping back in time

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Last week, my husband and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. 8 years, ya’ll!

PicMonkey Collage Anniversaries

Every few years we stay home for our Anniversary, because its actually an extra special treat to just stay home for the night. This year, though, I wanted to get dressed up and go out. I guess after being out and watching everyone having fun from behind the bar, I was ready for it to be my turn.

A friend had told me about The Patterson House, a speakeasy where you were guaranteed to have a special experience. I’d been interested in it ever since she told me about it, but I never had an excuse to go. Our anniversary, however, presented me the chance to go.

Now, before I go any further, I want to note there are certain “eras” I’ve been fascinated with all my life. Victorian era, the roaring 20s and the 50s have always grabbed my imaginative side. Since moving to Nashville, though, the 20s and prohibition have really struck a chord. Especially working in Printer’s Alley, where stories of the alcohol flowing right through prohibition stand out as some of my favorites.

So it was with this flutter of excitement in my stomach that I got dressed up and we headed to Patterson House. I really wasn’t positive what to expect. I’d looked at pictures online from other patrons, but they didn’t REALLY paint the picture for me.

The Patterson House

We followed our GPS to the address listed and luckily snagged a parking place fairly close to the building. We walked to the somewhat nondescript door with only the name on the window. We entered and found ourselves in a small waiting area. A heavy drape separated the waiting room from the bar/dining area. We requested a table for two, and we were immediately seated…

…and immediately transported back in time. It tickled every single one of my daydreams about the 20s. Oh okay, no one was in flapper dresses, and there weren’t any cigarettes on fancy holders. But it was as close as it possibly could be.

The Patterson House

Our server was excellent, and she patiently went through how the Patterson House worked. She explained how the drinks were made from scratch, and how the menu was laid out by alcohol, then classic cocktails, and of course food.

I forget what my husband ordered to drink, but I ordered a “Juliet & Romeo” — an amazing Gin drink that I thought fit for our anniversary dinner. It was like nothing I’d ever had before, and I found I loved it. In fact, I ended up ordering a second after dinner.

The Patterson House

Our meal consisted of sliders, grilled cheese and tomato soup, and tater tots. Sounds simplistic. Tasted delicious. Ended up being perfect.

I found myself time and time again just sitting, taking it all in… letting my soul be refreshed my something so different. Letting my imagination run wild, like it once did as a kid. I swear my eyes had to be glowing the entire time we were there.

I excused myself to find the restroom, and much to my delight I found a print of paper boys at the end of Printer’s Alley hanging in the stall I chose. It was an image I’d seen a million times, but it just added to the magic of the night for me.

Wedding rings

When we left, my husband commented that it was like I’d had some sort of spiritual experience while on our anniversary date. I told him I wouldn’t necessarily go that far, but I definitely got this wonderful reset that I’d been looking for and needing. I was allowed to go on a little vacation, even if only for a few hours as my imagination met reality.

It was, frankly, amazing,