Three years ago on September 15, 2007, Kevin and I said "I do!" I'm just now getting to write about how we spent our three-year anniversary.
My initial reaction to this day was "Three years is such a short period of time and yet three years feels like FOREVER!" This is not bad. My life before a husband and child seems like a lifetime ago, a dream. I just cannot seem to imagine my life without Kevin and Charlie.
Our anniversary day started out in the afternoon when a beautiful bouquet of my favorite flowers (stargazer lilies, gerbera daisies, and tulips) showed up at school with a simple note that said, "Happy Anniversary Love, Kevin". I have vowed to have flowers on my desk all year and this adds such a "happy" element to my classroom. The scent of lilies is still lingering throughout the room. The day had only just begun and I was one happy girl.
The little black dress from H and M that had been waiting forever for a chance to finally see the light of day was removed from its hanger and the tags were snipped off. I decided the jewelry that I wore on the day I said, "I do" was not only appropriate, but was a perfect accent to my outfit. In the spirit of the day, Kevin wore his "wedding jacket." We looked great and I realized that we need to get dressed up and go out more than just twice a year.
Nana showed up at 6:00 to spend quality time with Charlie and we were out the door. "So, where are we going?" I asked. We had agreed the previous week that Kevin would choose the restaurant and I would take care of the after dinner venue. "You SO don't like surprises," was all he had to say. He's right. This Control Freak wants to be in control and know what is lurking around every corner. I am not patient when it comes to things like this. The only clue he had given was that "we could walk if we wanted to be adventurous". Not in these shoes. Anyway, as we turned left onto Telegraph Ave. from Grand Ave. I knew where we were headed and I knew he took the "long way" to throw me off the trail. But as we pulled in front of the Fox Theater, I realized I was wrong. Yes, I was wrong. Across the street was the tiled restaurant that we drove by two years earlier and Kevin stated, "We need to try this." I couldn't remember the restuarent, but I do remember the day in question. We entered Flora, Oakland's premier restaurant and boy, is it deserving of being "the best".
We started at the bar, Painkiller #2 for me and a gimlet for Kevin. No, the Painkiller wasn't in anticipation of the evening. It just happened to be the only "girlie" drink on the menu. Anything with pineapple juice and rum works for me. After settling in and toasting to the rest of our lives, we were seated. Before we looked at the menu, I handed Kevin his gift and a card (yes, it was sappy). Now, like the most caring, thoughtful, kind wife I am, I had been listening to Kevin for months. I knew he had been searching high and low for the Life of Joseph Banks by Patrick O'Brian, his new-found, favorite author. I, too, had hit a few used bookstores and when I turned up empty, I turned to Amazon. The two women to the right of me looked strangely at Kevin's reaction and tried with all their might to read the title. I wanted to say, "It may be just a book to you, but it's better than sex to him." Okay, maybe not better than sex, but a close second. If I never bought Kevin anything other than books, he'd be happy as a clam. So, easy for me.
We reviewed the menu and while I was pretty sure I would be eating salmon that night, I asked our waitress what her favorite was. I was right, salmon over a corn, cherry tomato, basil, and mushroom "salad" it was. Kevin, not surprisingly, had the New York steak with an onion tart. A mixed green salad and bay scallops over fresh sweet peas would be shared prior to our meal. Now, what to drink? Red or white? I knew white complimented fish, but when I came across THE ONE, I knew I had to have it. How did I know it was the one? First, it was a Syrah, our version of the Australian Shiraz and to include Jon and Michael in our anniversary celebration was a must. Second, it was called "Boom Boom". "Broom Broom" means food. Don't ask, we don't know how food became "broom broom", but we know that is what Charlie wants. "Bomb Bomb" is baseball and his snuggle dog. Again, I get the snuggle dog because Kevin "snuggle bombs" Charlie before he goes to bed. Anyway, "Boom Boom" was just too a little too good to pass up. Next, it was from the Colombia Valley ( too close to Linfield). Really? Can it get any better. Why yes. Yes, it can. The winemaker was none other than Charles Smith, not just Charles, but Charles Smith. And what a glass it was.
We enjoyed wonderful conversation while humming our way through dinner. We did, however, have some amazing entertainment to our left. We watched a first date in action. He was a CEO, proud to mention to his date, and looked every bit of the Bill Gates type at about 5' 5" and she was "desperate" and very opposite Bill Gates type. It was clear what she wanted as she held his hand and touched him and it was clear what he did not as he kept saying things that in my opinion would turn any woman away. "I'm not wimpy, I'm just strategic," was one comment I heard. Kevin and I chuckled and commented on how happy we were that we would never have to experience a "first date" again.
A chocolate, peanut butter and nougat dessert brought our meal to a delicious ending.
Anything with peanut butter and chocolate gets my vote, but I also had to have the drink that I saw the bartender create from this beautiful antique. It turned out to be absinthe, a drink that was illegal until five years ago. It was potent, but worth the few sips of licorice I could handle until I turned it over to Kevin. We exited with a happy tummy knowing we would be back.
My turn! So, wanting to keep in the spirit of "our wedding" day, I drove Kevin to the bar that we danced the night away...post wedding reception. Unfortunately, the Serenader was closed and in it's place was the Heart and Dagger. Now, the Serenader was an Oakland favorite which was historically a black bar and I don't mean the decor. On our wedding night, Deanna and Kristie, were asked if they were in the right place. Does that tell you something? Live music, cheap drinks, and Harleys roaring in and out of the "parking lot"- the front of the bar was just what Oakland needed on any given night. We had such a great time that night. Good times and good memories!
We looked out onto the patio and I was secretly hoping I'd see Candi with her big personality, big voice, and big BOOBS! No such luck. The Heart and Dagger is just the opposite of the Serenader. It's a predominantly white bar of 20 and 30 year-old hipsters. We saddled up to the bar and enjoyed a drink and conversation next to James, the token black man in the bar, who shared our sadness in the closure of the Serenader. Regardless, I was glad we entered. To me it will always be the Serenader.
After we shared some memories, we returned home to relieve Nana of her duties and continued on with our anniversary celebration....
