Our 18th Anniversary

A genuine feeling of surprise is a hard sensation to come by as an adult. I’m not sure what I was expecting when Kiel asked me to get dressed up and meet him outside the house by the garage. He took my hand and led me up the creaky staircase to our attic, and as we rounded the last step shielding me from its view I felt that gleeful warmth you get from an unsuspecting sight. He did it. I was truly surprised at the beautiful scene and meal he created. It was one of the most magical moments I could ever imagine. He transformed our ordinary garage attic filled with random yard accessories, holiday decor, and forgotten mementos into our own private bistro lit up by the warm glow of Christmas lights and candles. It somehow felt like a completely different space. We each took turns pointing out something that sparked a happy memory, from Mickey Mouse ears to the thermos we took on our first picnic date. I couldn’t ask for a better way to celebrate our 18th anniversary at home.

Our 18th anniversary had an element of the carefree, anything could happen vibe of our first date. It seems like a lifetime ago that we went out together alone for the first time and headed to the Cable Car, a local independent indie theater, and enjoyed hot chocolate on the outdoor seating afterwards. I vividly remember spilling almost my entire mug of hot chocolate all over Kiel’s pants. I was mortified but luckily he had extra clothes in his car. He didn’t seem to mind one bit. Afterwards we parked near the airport to talk and watch the planes take off. Our night ended at Walmart to buy light sabers, followed by a “Jedi duel” at a baseball field where we continued to talk in the dugout well past midnight. Clearly we were both very much into the latest Star Wars movie with Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman. It was a very random first date but couldn’t have been more perfectly us.

I’ve found that this time spent in isolation has really increased our creativity, given us time to reflect, and made us much more appreciative of the things we already have. This pork tenderloin meal prepared by Kiel and enjoyed in our own space is infinitely better than any restaurant he could have taken me to. Had the world been normal, this attic meal would not have happened. While there is so much that is wrong with our current situation I do love the way that time feels like it has slowed down. With no where to go, there is no rush to be someplace else. It’s easier to take the extra time to prepare a delicious meal or string up a set of Christmas lights in a part of our home that we spend very little time in. There is so much to be thankful for and I’m grateful for the memories we have been able to create as a family at home.