Last year we revisited my past of 19 years ago. Today, I have known my husband for twenty years. We started out as childhood friends and then progressed to teenage lovers. It wasn’t over night, and we’ve traveled down a long, winding road that was full of forks, full of bumps, full of hardships. But we overcame it all. I don’t know many people who can say they still have someone in their lives they met when they were nine years old.

Normally, I’m anticipating anniversaries long before they happen, birthdays too. But this year I was so focused on something else that I didn’t even notice that it was our anniversary until my husband came in and told me he had reservations for us. We’re going to go out for dinner and then have a night alone. I wonder if we’re going to try for a new record No more deprivation for me!

Before I slip off into the night of a thousand pleasures, I should post a picture of the huge spider that stalked me today:

I think it was poison. I didn’t kill it, but I scooped it in a bowl and tossed it out the front door. I haaaate spiders! I hate dealing with spiders. I hate dealing with any animal (bug, reptile) that is in a category with poisonous members. I don’t mind wild mice, rats, dogs, cats, but poison reptiles and bugs? Yep, that’s right there at the top of my list of things to avoid.

The baby sitter is secured. We’re off for the night. Don’t wait up.