no, Sgt. Pepper didn’t teach the band to play on that day, but Susan and I were married. That’s her above, on our honeymoon, a bit tipsy and jolly in Hyde Park (w/me as the drunk photographer).
18 years, 4-5 jobs (depending on which of us you ask), 3 houses (and a few rentals), two continents and one child later, we’re still together. 18 years… freaks me out, that does. It doesn’t seem that long. Does a long time ever seem like one, though, once you’re past a certain age?
To celebrate we went for tapas at Harvest Vine on Saturday. We hadn’t been there in years. The food was good and it’s a nice people watching scene around the bar and open kitchen upstairs, and there’s a nice view of the trees turning over to fall colors outside the window. My only complaint was the service, which was too, well, American: always filling your water glass, a bit too eager to take your plates, ask if you want dessert, bring the check etc. Some people like this and think the service is not ‘attentive’ if they don’t behave this way, but isn’t the whole point of tapas to spend 3-4 hours enjoying good food and wine and conversation, and to play out slowly, and not be hurried? I offered this bit of philosophy to the waiter who I think decided I was drunk at that point. He was half right.
The next day I phoned my parents for our weekly chat and told my dad about the evening before (they love interesting food outings):
Me: “We want to a tapas bar for our anniversary last night.”
Dad: “Well, that will add some spice to your marriage!”
Me: “No a tapas bar, dad!”
We’re not quite dead.
As for my lovely wife, I’ll let Nick Drake speak for me this time
Time, has told me
You’re a rare, rare find
Indeed she is.
