A few weeks ago my cousin Jodi devoted her blog to the lake. Jodi was lucky enough to live near my grandparents while growing up, and has been able to spend much more time at the lake than I have. We try to get there for at least a few days out of the summer. Even so, we have some very special memories.
Our family vacations have been filled with the loving arms of my grandparents. They are a shining example of how to have a long and healthy marriage. They have lots of wisdom and stories to share. The lake is what it is because of them, because of what they have built, together, over 62 years.
Our family vacations at the lake have also been filled with boat rides, tubing, swimming, attempts at fishing, sunburns, laughter, stories of our infamous lake monster, sunrises on the deck, sunsets on the deck, conversation, and lots of family (sometimes lots and lots of family when we have our reunions). To me, there is no place on earth like the lake. I bet Nick can't think of a summer without the lake. Jack is building memories now that will no doubt last a lifetime. The other day when Jack was in the water he said: "I love my dad because he gets me surprises. I love my mom because she has lots of grandparents." LOL (He has five on my side, and two on Bernie's side).
In August of 2002, Bernie and I picked out my engagement ring before we left for Georgia. The salesperson said it would be ready in about three weeks. Bernie had them rush the order. He picked up the ring and stored it in his backpack. When we got to the hotel on the first night of our drive, Bernie read me the riot act as I went to pull the toothpaste out of his bag. I was confused. I didn't know what he has hiding. He was afraid I would find the ring. One afternoon after we got to the lake, Nick, Bernie and I went out on the pontoon boat. We anchored in the middle of the water to go for a swim. Instead, Bernie got down on one knee and proposed. I was completely surprised! Of course, I said yes. Nick thought we were married right then and there. He had no idea about the wedding planning that was to follow. My grandparents were thrilled. My Aunt Kelly said, "finally!" Bernie had told her earlier in the week and showed her the ring. She was having a hard time keeping it a secret. Bernie says he proposed on the boat so that he could throw me overboard if I said no. He was also planning on bringing a fake ring so that he could pretend he dropped it in the lake. He intentionally fumbled with my ring, just to make me nervous.
Our 10th anniversary was this year. We learned of our loved one being sick on the eve of our anniversary and just didn't feel like celebrating. There were obviously more important things going on and I figured we would just have a bigger celebration on a non-milestone year (11, 12, etc.). I never gave it a second thought.
Until the other night.... Bernie had a surprise for me. I had been joking about how it wasn't fair that Jack gets all the surprises. He had wanted to give it to me on the Pontoon boat, but the boat is out of commission. He had wanted to give it to me outside, but it barely stopped raining. With all that, he decided to give it to me on the dock. I was putting Vivi to bed and she wouldn't go to sleep. Eventually she did. He brought the champagne from home that he bought for our anniversary but we hadn't opened. There had been a break in the rain, and the lake was quiet. The moon was dancing on the water. It was like we were the only two people in the world, alone, on our own island. There are some moments in life that you want to last forever. This was one of them.
The traditional tenth anniversary gifts are aluminum and tin. The modern gift is diamond jewelry. Bernie had decided to cover all the bases. He picked out a beautiful diamond necklace with matching earrings, he put them in a heart shaped tin box that he had engraved, and surrounded them with Hershey kisses which are of course wrapped in tin foil. The jewelry is gorgeous. I was completely surprised and overwhelmed that he had done all this. I am one lucky girl.
Speaking of wedding anniversaries, Happy 42nd Anniversary today to Bernie's parents, Barbara and John. Congratulations! Plan on celebrating at some point in the next week or so with us and with Chesapeake Bay blue crabs and lemon meringue pie.
Tonight's quote is what my husband engraved on that heart shaped box:
Love does not consist in gazing at each other,
but in looking outward in the same direction.
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
So true.
Under the quote, he engraved: May I have this Dance; which is also what is engraved on my wedding band.
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