Stats are down, les gens sont en vacances. I know some of my regular readers are checking here, thinking I might have posted something of interest - but no. In truth, after a day of intense work, and a weekend of deliberate enjoyment and non-work, J.and I are celebrating our 24th anniversary. We just had a Blue Sapphire martini and some excellent cheese, and are headed out for dinner - after I drink some strong tea, skipped at the usual 4:00 hour, but feeling rather necessary at the moment.
Twenty-four years. I remember my parents' 25th wedding anniversary, around the time I graduated from college and moved to New England. Ages ago - and yet, just around that corner we passed a few blocks ago. Better not to think that way, but to simply remember that very hot August day, the clink of champagne bottles in the trunk, the grassy hilltop, the Vermont hills falling away in the blue distance, the short white silk dress I'd made myself, J.'s pink shirt and black beard, a pick-up choir of friends and family singing a Bach chorale, faces of loved ones now dead, now grown, still very dear.
Wow! Happy 24th Anniversary to both you and J! and many many more! Thanks for sharing this happy occasion, Beth. Have an extra toast proposed by your blog friends, eh!?
Posted by: Marja-Leena | August 01, 2005 at 08:30 PM
Happy twenty-four...and here's to many more! :-)
Posted by: Lorianne | August 01, 2005 at 09:42 PM
Happy Anniversary to both of you! Though my husband and I have been married only some 20 years, our 24th of togerthness is fast approaching, too...
Posted by: maria | August 01, 2005 at 09:59 PM
Joyeux anniversaire! Je suis curieuse maintenant et je veux voir une photo!
Posted by: Martine | August 01, 2005 at 10:10 PM
Bon anniversaire! And many more. Sounds like it was a wonderful wedding.
Posted by: leslee | August 01, 2005 at 10:13 PM
What sweet recollections of your parents' 25th. I wonder what it will be like for you, a year from now... something similar, I'd think.
Posted by: Peter | August 02, 2005 at 01:26 AM
Yes, congratulations..but what is a Blue Sapphire martini?
Posted by: Jenny | August 02, 2005 at 07:07 AM
Thanks so much, everyone! We went out on foot last night and had a wonderful Italian meal at a bring-your-own-wine restaurant on rue Duluth, with the best fried eggplant appetizer we've ever tasted - paper thin slices with an ethereal batter, crisp and light, with fresh lemon and grindings of black pepper....a real treat.
Maria, congrats on all those years of togetherness. This is 26 of those for us.
Martine, je promet produire une photo.
Peter, that was unclear writing on my part. The recollections are of our wedding, not my parents' party - which was fun too but different.
Jenny, it's relatively new to us too. Bombay Sapphire is a British gin that comes in a blue bottle; I'm so clueless about these things, probably it's called a Bombay Sapphire martini! Anyway, it was a good evening -- and now it's back to work.
Posted by: beth | August 02, 2005 at 09:12 AM
Bit late with this, but: Happy Anniversary! Fantastic. Here's to 24 more....
Posted by: kirsten | August 02, 2005 at 09:31 AM
What a wonderful post to come home to.
Posted by: Chris Clarke | August 02, 2005 at 10:23 AM
Woo hoo! Happy anniversary!
Posted by: blork | August 02, 2005 at 10:25 AM
O my goodness, 24 years! Please have several more glasses of Blue Sapphire martinis on me! How amazing!
Posted by: Planethalder | August 02, 2005 at 11:39 AM
Happy anniversary, Beth! Here's to many more. Sometimes one just has to take time for a Blue Sapphire martini and a bit of remembering, and you did!
Posted by: Tom Montag | August 02, 2005 at 01:14 PM
I hope you had a lovely evening. Long term partnerships which are loving and creative are very special. I am pleased for you both.
Posted by: Coup de Vent | August 02, 2005 at 01:17 PM
Happy anniversary from B. and me as well!
Posted by: language hat | August 02, 2005 at 03:20 PM
You are all so nice and these good wishes were really unexpetced! J. and I both thank you.
Posted by: beth | August 02, 2005 at 03:54 PM
And a belated happy anniversary from me too! Never heard of this Bombay Sapphire gin, and I like gin...
Posted by: Jean | August 02, 2005 at 05:14 PM
Congrats from me as well...and many blessings to you.
Grace and Peace,
Joe
Posted by: JTFS | August 02, 2005 at 05:18 PM
And a très très joyeux anniversaire from me too, Beth and J. Enjoy yourselves with something new to celebrate every day. Hope we can have a Blue Sapphire Martini (new to me too) together one day. Saluts!
Posted by: Natalie | August 02, 2005 at 05:48 PM
Congratulations! Here's hoping the party was memorable!
Posted by: Another Peter | August 02, 2005 at 09:18 PM
Happy anniversary! ...and your blog always offers something interesting to read!
Posted by: ernesto Priego | August 03, 2005 at 01:25 AM
Congratulations, Beth & J! Here's to another wonderful 24 !
Posted by: karen | August 03, 2005 at 02:30 AM
How wonderful....! Happy Anniversary to you.
Posted by: susanne | August 03, 2005 at 01:52 PM
Happy anniversary! Lovely recollections of it. We are in our 24th year also and I don't know where the years have gone.
Posted by: Loretta | August 03, 2005 at 06:43 PM
Add my congrats to you both. From the things you've said about how you spend time together, it seems you have a truly interwoven and compatible, loving and stimulating relationship. My toast is for your next 24 years.
Posted by: susurra | August 04, 2005 at 02:28 AM