It was 41 years ago today we were married. Not an auspicious anniversary but every one is to be appreciated. I remember my Grandparents’ and my Parents’ 40th celebrations. Our own last year was completely different than those two as many of our life decisions have been. And while last year was carefully planned and executed, this year was not.
I was sitting on the sofa, exhausted from a busy day of physical activity. I had made a nice dinner using a pasta recipe my Grandmother used to make. We were doing a ‘chewing gum for the mind’ evening of tv, nothing intellectual, just a few programs like American Pickers and Pawn Stars, real mind expanding stuff…while discussing our approach to dinner the next evening since the butcher didn’t have the cut of meat I needed when I went that day, but would have it the next day. A text message came in from our daughter who recently moved to Sydney and sold her house in Adelaide and for whom every day is a revelation at the moment. As I reached for the phone I saw the date. Cripes! Tomorrow is our anniversary.
How in the world I could have forgotten? I had remembered a week or so ago but then forgot again. Oh, yes, I remember now…the optometrist, the heating service man, the continuing decluttering activity, bone density test, ongoing exercise to improve back issues, the repair of the rammed earth walls of our house which had fallen to me to do. Ga. And then there is always the never ending housework and meals to conceive and prepare. I remembered how I forgot.
And then I wondered if Don had also forgotten. I was hopeful. We both forgot our 9th anniversary and miraculously both remembered at the exact same moment, so it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. I pondered. How should I handle this? Being nearly brain dead I was so tired, I just decided to say “Maybe we should rethink dinner plans for tomorrow night.”
Quiet…Waiting… (He) ”I’m listening….”
Me: “Think carefully…what is the date tomorrow?”
He: “Aaaaaah, oooooh, eeeee, uuuu (all the vowels) I forgot!”
Me: “It’s fine so did I until now. I was hoping you had forgotten too.”
He: (wisely) Thank you for reminding me.
It turns out we both have doctor visits on the day, he to have an eye injection for macular degeneration, and me for follow up on the bone density test and to get a Covid booster. So it turns out this is how we celebrate now. It was unlikely either of us were going to feel like kicking up our heels. We agreed that dinner at the golf club would be perfect. No doubt this will be the anniversary we will remember as the one we almost forgot.
ardysez 
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