It’s Sunday morning here. Autumn has arrived and Mother Nature herself has watered our modest little garden where the roma tomatoes, funky sweet cucumbers, heavily scented oregano and basil, and California bell peppers continue to supplement our salads during the week.
The normal routine of a Sunday morning continues as the girls stay upstairs watching another rerun and I remain with the Lu-dog down here in our newly designed den watching the NFL. Even though the Sunday routine sounds a little boring, it is exactly what we had planned to keep things quiet, relaxed and comfortable ensuring Bonnie gets the rest she needs before entering into her final chapter of her breast cancer recovery. Tomorrow is “reconstruction day” and I will reserve that blog for Tuesday when she arrives home after this two-day event.
This particular blog will discuss how we arrived here with twenty-three years together as Mr. and Mrs. Cheney. Last night while we waited for the hostess to let us know our table was ready we sat outside with our wines and enjoyed each other’s company at a highly recommended restaurant in Mill Valley called the Buckeye Roadhouse. This place exceeded all expectations – completely, and a place that’s only thirty-five minutes south of our place we can certainly see a return in our near future.
The evening started off with a broadcast text to the group in my phone that keeps Bonnie’s entire network posted regarding her cancer recovery. I posted something along the lines that if someone had told me we’d be living within reach of San Francisco twenty-three years ago I’d have found them suspect. Now I am just plain happy. That was before the “Oysters Bingo” appetizers which, as explained by our waiter, is why people come in for Sunday brunch to enjoy with a pair of blood mary’s. See why we’ll be returning?
Bonnie enjoyed the duck, Logan feasted on Petaluma Chicken and I consumed the NY strip cooked perfectly with a cabernet reduction and blue-cheese stuffed baked potatoes. We all over dressed – this was of course our anniversary dinner and it was nice to dress up for the occasion.
When arriving back in Petaluma we rolled right past the house and walked right into our favorite little wine bar where our friend and Maine native was behind the sticks. After a brief conversation about our collapsing Boston Red Sox we retreated to a table with a pair of zinfandels and enjoyed the rest of our evening.
I had a great phone call with my friend Ronnie this morning. Ronnie and I go back to 1981 and our conversations normally center around beer, football, our disdain for the Michigan Wolverines and our concerns for the Notre Dame football program. We always laugh with each other and while his Cleveland Browns wrestle with the Miami Dolphins I provided him a marketing idea I’ve been kicking around with the original six teams of the NHL. The laughter continued.
One of my favorite cartoons as a kid was “The Flintstones” and today as we celebrate our 23rd anniversary I find it only too appropriate to provide you all with the song written by Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera … to the tune of the William Tell Overture, titled “The Hot Piano”:
Happy Anniversary
Happy Anniversary
Happy Anniversary
Haaappy Anniversary
Pour a cheerful toast and fill it
Happy Anniversary
But be careful you don’t spill it
Happy Anniversary
Ooooo Happy Anniversary
Happy Anniversary
Happy Anniversary
Haaappy Anniversary
Ooooo Happy Anniversary
Happy Anniversary
Happy Anniversary
Haaappy Anniversary
Happy she and happy he
They’re both as happy as can be
Celebrating merrily
their happy anniversary
Ooooo Happy Anniversary
Happy Anniversary
Happy Anniversary
Haaappy Anniversary
Ooooo Happy Anniversary
Happy Anniversary
Happy Anniversary
Haaappy Anniversary
We now state emphatically
its happy anniversary
Not another day could be
a happy anniversary
Ooooo Happy Anniversary
Happy Anniversary
Happy Anniversary
Happy (slow)
Happy (slow)
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy (fast) Anniversary!!!
Peace,
Papa
